PMQs: Boris Johnson told to ‘stop bargaining with people’s lives’ – Press and Journal

Boris Johnson has been told to stop bargaining with peoples lives and agree an extension to furlough and a second national lockdown.

Sir Keir Starmer urged the prime minister to end his corrosive approach which results in local battles for cash.

He told the Commons: This is a prime minister who can pay 7,000 a day for consultants on track and trace, which isnt working, can find 43 million for a garden bridge that was never built but he cant find 5 million for the people of Greater Manchester.

I really think the prime minister has crossed a Rubicon here, not just with the miserly way that hes treated Greater Manchester, but the grubby take it or leave it way these local deals are being done.

Its corrosive to public trust to pit region against region, mayor against mayor, council against council, asking them to trade away their businesses and jobs.

Mr Johnson said he was proud of the governments support to the entire country, adding: I think its the height of absurdity that he stands up and attacks the economic consequences of the measures were obliged to take across some parts of the country when he wants to turn the lights out with a full national lockdown.

The prime minister said he would do whatever it takes to get the country through the crisis and rejected the circuit-break idea, adding: Itd involve closing schools, itd involve shuttering businesses with all the psychological, emotional damage that lockdown of that kind brings.

So, can I ask the PM, if hes finding life such a struggle, how on earth does he expect many workers to get by on just 5.84 an hour when the Tory cuts to furlough sink in?

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the treatment of Greater Manchester this week was something the people of Scotland were all too familiar with, before piling on pressure over the furlough scheme.

He said: Next week, just as the pandemic is worsening, the Tory government will scrap the furlough scheme in a move that will cause a wave of mass redundancies across the UK.

Meanwhile, behind closed doors the prime ministers complaining that he cant get by on his 150,000 salary.

So, can I ask the PM, if hes finding life such a struggle, how on earth does he expect many workers to get by on just 5.84 an hour when the Tory cuts to furlough sink in?

Mr Johnson responded: Actually, Im proud of what weve done to support people on low incomes throughout this period and indeed before. It was this Government that raised the living wage by record amounts.

Weve just increased Universal Credit by about 1,000 a year and he makes the point about furlough and, as he knows, combine UC with the jobs support scheme that weve just announced and workers will be getting 80% of their salary.

We will get this country through this crisis and we will continue to support people of low incomes throughout the period.

Analysis: Boris Johnson starts reconstruction work on Labour's 'red wall'Daniel O'DonoghueWestminster correspondent

Boris Johnson seemingly launched his first major infrastructure project this week, rebuilding Labours red wall across the north of England.

The sight of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham finding out live on television via a text message that his region would be receiving 22million in Covid support, not the 65million requested, will live long in voters minds.

The Government have since been at pains to stress 60million will be provided, but the damage has been done and the election leaflets are already in production.

It was no surprise therefore that this weeks prime ministers questions was a special Manchester edition, although Keir Starmer raised a few eyebrows opting for a drop intro first quizzing the PM on the intricacies of his tier 3 lockdown restrictions.