Morning Call: Boris Johnson in the ICU

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Bush <Stephen.Bush@newstatesman.co.uk>
To: Add1dda@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Apr 7, 2020 5:32 a.m.
Subject: Morning Call: Boris Johnson in the ICU

Email not displaying correctly? View content online
By Stephen Bush, political editor
Good morning. Boris Johnson has been admitted to intensive care at St Thomas, an NHS hospital, as his condition worsened.   The Prime Minister has not been on a ventilator but has received oxygen, Michael Gove said on his morning broadcast round. and has been moved to intensive care as a precaution in case he needs ventilation.   Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, will assume the Prime Minister's responsibilities as part of his role as First Secretary of State, the Prime Minister's de facto deputy, while the PM recovers.    Politicians from across the spectrum have wished the PM a full and speedy recovery, and have extended their thoughts and prayers to him and his family, as mine also are and yours will be too.   I know, too that the news will be a source of further anxiety to many of you. The NHS has produced a helpful and short guide to tackling feelings of unease and anxiety arising from the epidemic.   I think almost all of us are, at least intermittently, finding this period a struggle but I also know from reading your emails that many of you are also battling feelings of guilt: because you are anxious despite still having a job, or being furloughed on a good income, or being together with your family.   It's ok – considering the circumstances, I'd say it's human and healthy – to feel anxious or unhappy even while knowing that others have it worse than you.  Stay safe and look after yourself, and thanks as ever for all your emails (I'm sorry I'm often bad at replying to them!) and for reading Morning Call.
RED ED REDEMPTION WESTMINSTER Keir Starmer completed the finishing touches to his Shadow Cabinet, bringing back Ed Miliband and promoting his allies. Junior roles will be appointed and announced today.   KURZ CORRECTION AUSTRIA Sebastian Kurz has outlined plans to gradually ease restrictions on movement in Austria starting next week. The country's high number of respirators per head has seen the country tackle the covid-19 outbreak more effectively than many other nations. However, it is uncertain if Kurz's plans to gradualy ease restrictions can be carried off without a major spike in infections.   YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN XI? ADDIS ABABA African Union finance ministers and the IMF have called for debt relief and delays on repayment as the continent battles covid-19. The G20 nations are facing calls to delay payment deadlines and provide support with balance of payments and liquidity.    ABE'S GOT A HEFTY PACKAGE JAPAN PM Abe Shinzo has announced a stimulus package totalling more than 30 per cent of Japan's GDP to provide support for those facing a loss of income and to boost the Japanese economy, and confirmed that he will announce a state of emergency within days as the country continues to battle covid-19.      "And here, are curly quotes!" - Followed by a description of an offbeat story.      Sarah on how celebrities and social media are spreading coronavirus conspiracies My blog on the return of Miliband and Milibandism Patrick on what Keir Starmer's sackings really have in common Keir Starmer on how he'll tackle Labour antisemitism (Jewish Chronicle)     There were not one but two howlers in yesterday's email: I gave two Labour MPs the same job - Anneliese Dodds is shadow chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves is shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which leads up the government's covid-19 response and the Brexit talks.  Worse still, I forgot that the SPD now holds both the finance minister and foreign minister positions in the grand coalition - Olaf Scholz is not a CDU member and that party's position on how to tackle the crisis remains unchanged. Apologies. Say hi via Twitter, Facebook, or just hit "reply".
© copyright 2020 New Statesman LTD. John Carpenter House, 7 Carmelite Street, Blackfriars, EC4Y 0AN, United Kingdom. To stop receiving news and offers from the New Statesman, please click here.