UK coronavirus live: Johnson facing Starmer at PMQs; care homes may not get vaccine first, says JCVI chief

Imran Ahmad Khan (Con) asks the PM to establish the new infrastructure bank to go to Wakefield.

Johnson says the chancellor will consider this.

Starmer says, when he abstains, he comes to the Commons to explain why. When Johnson does, he runs away abroad, costing the taxpayer £20,000.

That’s a reference to Johnson going to Afghanistan when he was foreign secretary to avoid the embarrassment of the vote on the Heathrow third runway, which he had always opposed.

Johnson criticises Labour again for abstaining. It abstained on legislation to protect veterans from prosecution. Captain Hindsight is becoming General Indecision. “He dithers, we get on with the job,” he says.

Starmer asks what the government is doing to protect the jobs and pensions of those affected by Arcadia going out of business.

Johnson says the government wants to protect all jobs. He says the conduct of Arcadia directors is being scrutinised. And he says the government has a plan to protect high streets.

He attacks Labour for abstaining in the vote yesterday.

Starmer says he will pay tribute to everyone involved in the vaccine project.

Does the government back Labour’s call for emergency legislation to tackle anti-vaccine misinformation online.

Johnson says the government will publish a paper on this shortly.

Starmer asks what is being done to get the vaccine into care homes.

Johnson says Starmer is right to raise this as an issue. This vaccine has to be kept at -70 degrees, which creates practical problems. He says the government is working with the NHS to ensure it can be distributed “as fast and as sensibly” as possible.

That is why it is also important to get the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, he says.

He says Starmer should pay tribute to the government’s vaccines taskforce.

Starmer says people in the top two groups will want to know when they can be vaccinated.

Johnson says it is important that “people do not get their hopes up too soon” about when they will get vaccinated. It will be rolled out as quickly as possible, he says.

Sir Keir Starmer also welcomes the vaccine news, and thanks those who took part in the trials. He says all sides have a duty to play a part in the vaccine roll-out, and to encourage people to get vaccinated.

He says 400,000 people will get vaccinated in the first batch. Who will get priority?

Johnson summarises what the JCVI has recommended. (See 11.23am.)

He says it is important to stress that, although this is good news, the current restrictions are still needed.

Chris Green (Con) asks for an assurance that vaccination will be voluntary.

Johnson agrees. Making it mandatory is “not how we do things in this country”, he says.

Boris Johnson starts by saying the national strategy for the disabled will be published next year. Tomorrow is international day for the disabled.

And he welcomes the news about the vaccine being approved.

From the BBC’s Natalie Higgins, who has been watching a BioNTech press conference in Germany

From my colleague Heather Stewart

Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, has said the impact of the coronavirus vaccine approved for use today “won’t be seen nationally for some months”.

From Northern Ireland’s first minister, Arlene Foster

The SNP MP Amy Callaghan has said she is back on her feet after a brain haemorrhage caused an “imminent risk” to her life. As PA Media reports, Callaghan has given her first TV interview since she collapsed in her home on June 10, only leaving hospital after four months of treatment and rehabilitation. Callaghan, who has previously battled skin cancer, said:

I always knew that I had the strength and the courage and the determination from being unwell previously to see myself through this. But of course there were some very dark times that my family experienced and went through as well, so I do sometimes see how happy they are to have me here and that just means that wee bit extra.