Mr.Talha Posted July 18, 2021 Posted July 18, 2021 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57879730 The prime minister and chancellor are now self-isolating after contact with Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has tested positive for coronavirus. No 10 initially said they would not have to isolate, as they were taking part in a pilot scheme that involves daily testing instead. But opposition parties said it suggested there was "one rule for them and another for the rest of us". The PM later said they had "briefly" considered taking part in the scheme. But Boris Johnson said it was "far more important that everybody sticks to the same rules and that's why I'm going to be self-isolating until Monday 26 July". In a video published on Twitter, Mr Johnson added: "I know how frustrating it all is, but I really do urge everybody to stick with the programme and take the appropriate course of action when you're asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace." He will now conduct meetings remotely at Chequers. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: "Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restrictive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren't the same for everyone is wrong." Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister and chancellor had been "busted yet again for thinking the rules that we are all following don't apply to them". "The public have done so much to stick to the rules. At a time when we need to maintain confidence in self isolation, parents, workers and businesses will be wondering what on earth is going on in Downing Street," he said. Mr Javid tested positive on Saturday morning after a meeting at Downing Street the day before, and both Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak were contacted by NHS Test and Trace. No 10 had said a workplace pilot scheme would allow the prime minister and chancellor to keep working from Downing Street by taking daily tests. A spokesman said they would only be able to carry out essential government business and would self-isolate at all other times. But the announcement met with an angry response. Labour's Jonathan Ashworth had told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that it was unfair that politicians appeared to have access to "VIP testing" to avoid self-isolation, while Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey asked if it was only available to "the privileged few". This must be one of the fastest government U-turns ever: 157 minutes after saying the PM and chancellor wouldn't be isolating, Downing Street decided they would. The reason is set out by Rishi Sunak on Twitter - ministers can't be seen to be following different rules to everyone else. But questions will be asked about why No 10 initially said they would be escaping isolation. Who made the decision? Who signed it off? The prime minister and chancellor must have known about the plan. There's also the fact that the PM and chancellor had the choice over whether to isolate - which most people don't at the moment. The political symbolism is also highly significant. Three senior government ministers will be in isolation on the day almost all legal restrictions are lifted in England. 2px presentational grey line The managing director of the Iceland supermarket, Richard Walker, also criticised the proposal for Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak to avoid self-isolation. "Shame the hundreds of Iceland staff who've been pinged can't avoid self-isolation. We can all do a daily lateral flow test," he said. The government said there were 20 public and private sector organisations involved in the pilot scheme, including Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL), Heathrow Airport and Border Force. Heathrow said the programme had been an "important tool" that allowed it to keep the airport open, and was now calling on ministers to extend it beyond the end of July, when it is due to end. But TfL said it was "still waiting for formal notification that we are part of this trial". One London Underground line was forced to close on Saturday because too many staff had to self-isolate. Stepping in for Mr Javid, who is self-isolating after his positive test, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick had defended the plan on the Andrew Marr Show. "The scheme is a well known and long-standing one, it's not just available for politicians," he said. But he added that his own department was not part of the scheme. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I don't want the prime minister of the country to be in isolation at the moment. I need him, you know, at his desk doing his job." He said it was reasonable for Mr Johnson not to self-isolate, given his immunity thanks to vaccination and a previous infection, and the fact that he was being tested. "The point is to do this for everyone," he said.
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