Bournbrook Live

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Joy Morrissey, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to confirm that he will work with parents and relevant support systems to improve the mental health of children during the pandemic.

PM thanks the question and announces a new ‘youth mental health ambassador’, Dr. Alex George.

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Julie Elliott, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about the government support for care workers hired in the private sector.

Johnson skirts around the question, vaguely mentioning a national living wage before sitting down quickly.

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Damian Green, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to comment on increased police numbers in Kent.

Johnson thanks the question and Green himself. Pledges a further 20,000 police officers.

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP:

Begins by pointing out that Johnson was not born in the UK. Asks the PM the high cost of citizenship applications for children.

PM refers to UK citizenship as a ‘wonderful thing’. Says he will ‘study’ the issue, and that UK citizenship is a ‘prize worth investing in.’

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Laurence Robertson, Tory MP:

Opens with comments on severe flooding over Christmas, asks the PM appoint a body to oversee flooding drainage infrastructure.

Johnson agrees to ‘study the proposals raised’. Thanks the Environment Agency and pledges further investment.

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Stephen Farry, Alliance MP:

Asks the PM to make UK-EU food exports on the Irish border a top priority.

PM thanks the question and adds that he does not wish to see barriers on the Irish border.

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Claire Coutinho, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to commit to ensuring the ‘catching up’ of missed education for children.

Johnson: “Yes indeed.”

PM confirms that education is a top priority.

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Ian Blackford, SNP Commons Leader:

Lambasts the PM for visiting Scotland, citing an outbreak at a factory he visited on his trip. Asks the PM if he knew.

Johnson responds that ensuring Scotland’s distribution of vaccines is in his job description. Blackford shakes his head.

“The government remains very willing to help Scotland.”

Blackford refers to the PM’s trip as an “absolute shambles” and “utterly reckless”. Asks the PM “why be so reckless?”

Johnson retorts that Scottish people want to see the ‘whole UK working together’. Blackford shakes his head again.

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Moving on with Marco Longhi, Tory MP:

Asks the PM about a boxing club in his constituency helping at risk youths. A softball.

PM pays tribute to the boxing club and praises the benefits of boxing.

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And now the main event, Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer:

Starmer opens with more generous words for Tom Moore and a tribute to the NHS, describes the vaccination as ‘remarkable’.

Starmer asks the PM on the South African variant and the lack of border closure.

Johnson denies SAGE advice for border closures, clarifies travel restrictions from South Africa.

Starmer challenges the PM to publish SAGE advice in full. “We know the South African variant is spreading across England”.

Johnson accuses Starmer of undermining border restrictions in the past. States that much of the UK’s supply lines rely on an open border.

Starmer calls Johnson’s comments “complete nonsense”.

“Our schools are shut and our borders are open.” - Starmer.

Starmer clarifies his question and calls for the government to secure the border to prevent further waves.

“Why does the Prime Minister think that the variants of the virus would behave differently and only arrive by direct flights?”

Johnson says Starmer “can’t have it both ways.” Before clarifying the stringent travel restrictions. Lambasts Starmer for wanting to remain in the EU vaccination scheme.

“Nonsense.” Snaps Starmer, before accusing the PM of using pre-prepared ‘gags’. “The truth escapes him.”

Starmer changes track and asks the PM about cladding, in the legacy of the Grenfell disaster. Asks why hundreds of thousands of people still live with insecure cladding.

Johnson hangs on the last question and tells Starmer to ‘consult YouTube’. On cladding, the PM agrees with the problem, mumbling as he vaguely discusses ‘work under way’ to resolve the issue.

Starmer challenges the efficacy of the government response. References a doctor in Sheffield who has to pay a £52,000 bill for cladding repairs and a 27-year old who went bankrupt after a similar bill.

Johnson expresses regret for those effected, pledges funding to replace insecure cladding and build safe buildings. He then boasts about the 10M vaccinated against COVID-19 and throws a few light jabs at Labour before the Speaker intervenes.

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Former PM Theresa May:

Pays tribute to Tom Moore, ‘a true gentleman’.

Asks the PM about a bill to increase sentencing for causing death by way of drunk driving.

Johnson agrees with May, pledges to bring forward the proposed changes, and to ‘tighten the law’.

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Clare Hannah, SDLP MP:

Asks the PM on the EU’s vaccine war with the UK and vaccine supply in Northern Ireland.

Johnson refers to the EU’s move as 'most regrettable’ and accuses Brussels of undermining the Good Friday Agreement.

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Johnson has entered the chamber and the session is about to begin..

The Speaker opens the session with a message of condolence to Captain Sir Tom Moore.

“He exemplified the best of our values”.

A minute of silence commences.

Johnson addresses the room with a eulogy for Sir Tom.

“As captain Tom reminded us ‘please remember, tomorrow will be a good day’”.

Johnson calls on the public to ‘clap for Tom’ at 6pm this evening.

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Posted at 11:55 UK time

Hello, and welcome to this week’s coverage of PMQ’s on Bournbrook Live. I’m S.D. Wickett and I’ll be taking you through the events of the day.

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Posted 1pm UK time:

That’s all for today, thank you for following PMQ’s with us, and I hope to see you next week.

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Sally-Ann Hart, Tory MP:

Asks the PM about removing red tape for fisheries.

PM is ‘grateful’ for the question, states that the government will provide financial support.

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Peter Dowd, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about military pensions for veterans living abroad.

PM thanks Dowd for raising the issue. Assures that the ‘necessary meeting’ will take place.

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Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Tory MP:

Asks the PM for an exit strategy from lockdowns and tiers.

PM states that any lifting of restrictions is presupposed on the success of the vaccine.

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Seema Malhotra, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about dangerous cladding, almost four years on from the Grenfell disaster.

PM: “Of course we will.”

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Damian Collins, Tory MP:

Asks the PM for clarity on localising the vaccine rollout.

PM: “What we are doing is giving public health officials at local level all the information we can give them."

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