4 Daily Express Wednesday, April 8, 2020
CORONAVIRUS:
the next election, but is now
an independent politician.
Ms Oakes’s comments drew
an immediate response from
people online.
Karen Lamkin wrote: “I have
just read your comment about
Boris, what a vile, inhuman
thing to say.”
And Linda Derosa posted:
“Disgusting behaviour from a
so-called educated woman.”
Ms Oakes said: “I didn’t
think what I said would upset
so many people.
“It came across as not a
nice thing to say.”comments sparked a vicious
backlash, and were branded
“vile” and “disgusting”.
Yesterday, despite the
56-year-old lawyer issuing an
apology, Labour chiefs
effectively expelled her.
A spokesman for Amber
Valley Labour Group said:
“Following comments on
social media from Cllr Oakes,
which we utterly condemn,
the group withdrew the whip
this morning.”
She will keep her seat until0D\RUH[SHOOHGIRU%RULVWDXQW
A LABOUR mayor has been
kicked out of the party after
claiming coronavirus-battling
Boris Johnson “completely
deserves this”, after he was
admitted to intensive care.
Councillor Sheila Oakes,
mayor of Heanor, Derbyshire,
took to social media in
response to a post asking
people to say a “little prayer”
for the Prime Minister, on
Monday night.
Mr Johnson was taken to
hospital on Monday after his
coronavirus symptoms
worsened. The councillor’s Ms Oakes posted comment onlineSunak. Ministers insisted that
despite Mr Johnson’s absence,
along with other key Number 10
figures, the business of governing
was continuing as normal.
Mr Raab’s first job as stand-in
Prime Minister yesterday was to
lead the Government’s emer-
gency daily coronavirus “War
Cabinet” with senior colleagues
and chief scientific adviser, Sir
Patrick Vallance, and England’s
chief medical officer, Professor
Chris Whitty.
He also fronted the daily
Downing Street coronavirusCabinet. The Foreign Secretary
would chair any Cabinet
meeting.”
The spokesman confirmed that
Mr Johnson had been unable to
speak directly to Mr Raab since
he has been in hospital.
He added: “The Prime
Minister sent a message that he
wanted the Foreign Secretary to
assume some of his responsibili-
ties where appropriate.”
If Mr Raab were to fall ill,
under the established Cabinet
order of precedence he would be
replaced by Chancellor Rishiwould remain in place during his
time in hospital.
The spokesman said: “In rela-
tion to national security matters
the First Secretary of State and
the Cabinet have the authority
and ability to respond in the
PM’s absence.
“The UK has robust national
security architecture, including
the NSC, which is designed to be
resilient and able to operate
effectively under different
circumstances.
“Should any NSC be required,
the Foreign Secretary would
chair it.
“In relation to national secu-
rity, decisions are taken by theBy Paul JeevesBy Martyn Brown
Senior Political CorrespondentTHE VIRUS
IN BRIEF
THE stock market continued to
claw back recent huge losses as
confidence grew that the pandemic
was gradually beginning to peak.
Positive news from some parts of
the world including China and Europe
saw the FTSE bounce, rising three per
cent on opening. This signalled an 18
per cent gain since it dived in March.
Currency analyst Lee Hardman, of
financial services group MUFG, said:
“It has been mainly driven by building
evidence that the lockdown measures
are proving effective.”
Among the day’s FTSE 100 share
price gainers, easyJet peaked during a
26 per cent jump after news that it has
secured a £600million loan.
Markets in Europe, the US and
Japan also saw heartening rises.WEALTHIER families may be
effectively forced into boosting
their savings during the coronavirus
shutdown, a think-tank has claimed.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies
said many better-off households may
increase their savings as spending falls
on “banned” activities such as
transport and leisure.
Poorer households spend more of
their income (55 per cent) on
necessities than higher-income ones
(39 per cent), the IFS said. And 20 per
cent of spending by the richest fifth
goes on eating out and holidays
compared with a smaller chunk (12 per
cent) for the poorest fifth.
The IFS’s Alex Davenport said:
“This makes it harder for poorer
households to cope with temporary
reductions in their incomes.”A FATHER hospitalised with
coronavirus told how he heard
the patient opposite him crying out
for his family as he died alone.
Craig Farley-Jones, 43, listened to
the man in his late sixties calling the
names of relatives
for two hours
before he passed
away at Tameside
hospital last week.
The company
director, right, of
Hyde, Greater
Manchester, spent
six days on
maximum oxygen battling Covid-19.
He said: “I will never forget those
two hours for as long as I live.
“He was shouting for his family by
name, over and over. So please stay
at home and hold your loved ones.”DAILY Express writer Chris
Riches’ dad has been boosted
by Wales rugby legend Sam
Warburton after the life-long fan
suffered two nasty falls in lockdown.
In a video posted on Twitter to
Eddie Riches, 86,
Sam said: “I hope
you’re doing well
mate and stay in
and stay safe
throughout these
times – and thanks
for your support
over the years.”
Eddie, pictured,
said yesterday: “I had been feeling
down and fed-up but that video
really lifted my spirits!”
The message was sent as part of
Twickenham legend Will Carling’s
morale-boosting video initiative.YES: 0901 133 4440
NO: 0901 133 4441
Yes text DXYES to 84988
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Is Dominic Raab
too inexperienced
for Boris’s job?5RRNLHDW
KHOP5DDEV
ILUVWGD\DV
HPHUJHQF\
30VWDQGLQ
DOMINIC Raab was effectively
running the country last night as
Boris Johnson remained in inten-
sive care.
As well as leading the
Government’s response to the
coronavirus crisis, the Foreign
Secretary has the power to order
military action.
Mr Johnson asked the Foreign
Secretary, as part of his role as
First Secretary of State, to stand
in for him after his coronavirus
symptoms worsened on Monday
afternoon.It means Mr Raab, 46, who has
only around 13 months’ experi-
ence of Cabinet duties, will take
on a number of key authorities,
including chairing the National
Security Council if needed.
The Prime Minister usually
chairs Security Council meetings
on a weekly basis, though none
is scheduled during the parlia-
mentary recess, Number 10 said.
Mr Raab will not have the
power to hire or fire ministers
nor will he speak with the
Queen, a duty carried out by the
PM every week.
Mr Johnson’s official spokes-
man confirmed that his letters of
last resort, the sealed final
instructions to the commanders
of Britain’s Trident nuclear deter-
rent detailing what to do in the
event of an attack on the nation,Duties
If Mr Raab, above leaving for Downing Street yesterday,
was incapacitated, Rishi Sunak, below, would deputise