UK coronavirus live: Downing Street unable to back up PM’s test-and-trace claim; death toll rises by 85

We’re wrapping up this liveblog for today, so I’ll end with this summary. Have a good evening and thanks for reading.

• Boris Johnson for the first time committed to an “independent inquiry” into the coronavirus pandemic. The prime minister said it was not right to devote “huge amounts of official time” to an inquiry when the UK is “in the middle” of a pandemic. However, in response to a question from from acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, he said there would “certainly” be in inquiry “in the future”.
• Johnson indicated that he had not read a government-commissioned report setting out urgent measures needed to prepare for a possible second wave of coronavirus, telling the Commons only that he was “aware” of it. Johnson was questioned at length by Keir Starmer about the study by 37 senior doctors and scientists, published this week, and the need for an effective test-and-trace system to mitigate any new outbreak.
• The prime minister claimed the government’s test and trace system was “as good as or better than anywhere else in the world” – a claim Downing Street later failed to substantiate with evidence. The claim was made during a testy Prime Minister’s Questions in which Johnson accused Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, of “knocking the confidence” of the British people.
• A further 85 people in the UK have died of coronavirus in the latest 24-hour period, according to government figures. It takes the official death toll to 45,053, although the true figure is much higher when including excess deaths.
• Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, has said she was “deeply unhappy” with the much-criticised Public Health England report last month that failed to explain the reasons why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were disproportionately affected by the coronavirus.
• The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, described as “frankly ridiculous” the government’s insistence that face coverings do not need to be worn in takeaway shops – after Michael Gove was photographed leaving a Pret a Manger without wearing one on the day the government announced that face coverings would be mandatory in England’s shops from 24 July. Khan urged people to wear a face covering in all shops and takeaways:
• Stormont’s health minister, Robin Swann, will recommend to the Northern Ireland executive that the wearing of face coverings in shops in the region becomes mandatory. Swann said “everything possible must be done” to encourage the wearing of face coverings in shops and other indoor spaces.
• Chris Grayling, the former minister who is no stranger to career mishaps, has failed in his bid to become chairman of parliament’s intelligence and security committee. He was widely expected to be elected to the post.
• Pubs in Ireland that do not serve food are set to remain closed until 10 August. Currently only bars that provide a substantial meal are allowed to sell alcohol with it.

A week after the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced VAT cuts on food and drink in the hospitality sector, some well-known names have set out how they will reflect the changes.

McDonald’s, Nando’s, Pret a Manger and Starbucks are among the brands promising price reductions on their menus, my colleague Rebecca Smithers reports.

While for some this will mean only result in a 50p discount on some foods – a Nando’s quarter chicken, for example, will now cost £3.70 instead of £4.25 – it amounts to a saving of more than £5 on a £45 family meal out, according to Deloitte.

As the famous Tesco slogan goes, every little helps.

Pubs in Ireland that do not serve food are set to remain closed until 10 August, PA Media reports.

Currently only bars that provide a substantial meal are allowed to sell alcohol with it.

Ministers are expected to delay plans to fully reopen the industry from next week over concerns about the number of young people who have contracted Covid-19.

Face coverings are also set to be made mandatory in shops following Wednesday evening’s cabinet meeting.

Here’s my colleague Dan Sabbagh’s story on Chris Grayling failing to become the intelligence committee chair – to the surprise, it seems, of almost everyone in Westminster.

One source said Grayling “didn’t see it coming”. The nine members of the MPs’ committee voted five to four in favour of Tory MP Julian Lewis:

This from Tom Newton Dunn, of Times Radio, on Grayling’s stumble at the finishing line:

Chris Grayling, the former minister who is no stranger to career mishaps, has failed in his bid to become chairman of parliament’s intelligence and security committee – having been widely expected to be elected to the post.

The ex-transport secretary was Boris Johnson’s pick for the chairmanship of the influential committee, which scrutinises the work of the UK’s intelligence agencies, and was thought to be a shoo-in for the job.

But it was not to be. The Tory MP Julian Lewis, a former chair of the defence select committee, has been appointed instead.

Westminster scribes are hammering the phones to find out what went wrong for Grayling.

Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, has said she was “deeply unhappy” with the much-criticised Public Health England report last month that failed to explain the reasons why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were disproportionately affected by the coronavirus.

Her frank admission came at the tail end of a hearing of the Commons women and equalities committee, when she was asked whether the data collected on the the impact of coronavirus on BAME communities was good enough. (You can watch it back here.)

She replied:

Certainly, I was deeply unhappy with the PHE report that we commissioned because what I was expecting was the information around co-morbidities and other factors, occupational information for example.

So from the perspective of the equalities minister after waiting six weeks to then have that report which, while helpful in confirming what we knew rather than it being anecdotal, did not actually explain the why, which is the work that I’m taking forward.

So from that perspective, no [the data is not good enough], because if it was then I wouldn’t have to be doing the work that I am doing. I was very unhappy with that. But as the minister, the responsibility at the end of it lies with me, so that’s why I’m very focused on getting the data rather than just complaining that it’s not there.

Some breaking news from Westminster: Labour is poised to make a formal apology to antisemitism whistleblowers as part of a settlement designed to draw a line under allegations made during the Jeremy Corbyn era.

The whistleblowers sued the party for defamation in the wake of a BBC Panorama investigation last year. No final settlement has been reached but sources said an agreement was imminent.

My colleagues Jessica Elgot, Heather Stewart and Lisa O’Carroll have the full story:

Earlier today Downing Street said there would be an exemption on mask use for takeaway purchases, following pictures yesterday of Michael Gove leaving Pret a Manger without a face covering.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the government’s approach was “frankly ridiculous” and urged people to wear a face covering in all shops and takeaways:

On this week’s Politics Weekly podcast, Heather Stewart and Polly Toynbee discuss the latest news from Westminster.

Dan Sabbagh breaks down yesterday’s Huawei decision and why it spells trouble for the Tories.

Plus, Rajeev Syal talks to Vaughan Gething about the Covid-19 response in Wales and Welsh independence.

You can listen here:

A further 85 people in the UK have died of coronavirus in the latest 24-hour period, according to government figures.

It takes the official death toll to 45,053, although the true figure is much higher when including excess deaths.

Stormont’s health minister, Robin Swann, will recommend to the Northern Ireland executive that the wearing of face coverings in shops in the region becomes mandatory.

According to PA Media, Swann said he did not want to pre-empt decisions by the country’s executive but that “everything possible must be done” to encourage the wearing of face coverings in shops and other indoor spaces.

He added:

The chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser agree. It is also the case that making it mandatory would provide clarity and reassurance for members of the public.

We need to promote every available measure to stop the spread of Covid-19, both now and into the autumn and winter, given the risk of further waves of infection. Wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces will have to become second nature if we are to keep each other safe.

Swann said making the wearing of face coverings mandatory would also “show solidarity” with those who are due to come out of shielding from 31 July.

This from Sky News reporter Inzamam Rashid on the Public Health England report on why black, Asian and minority ethnic people (BAME) are disproportionately contracting and dying from Covid-19:

Well, well, well. Rishi Sunak’s team (it must have been his advisers, as the man himself is currently being quizzed by MPs) has tweeted a picture of the chancellor leaving a Pret a Manger wearing a snazzy-looking face mask.

Only yesterday, Sunak’s government colleague Michael Gove was photographed leaving a Pret without wearing a face covering, prompting some opprobrium following his stance on Sunday that it was not necessary to make such masks mandatory in England’s shops. The government announced yesterday that it would be mandatory for people to wear face coverings in England’s shops from 24 July, following the same move in Scotland.

Greater Manchester has announced plans to hold an online interfaith memorial service for all those who have died from coronavirus.

Rogers Govender, the dean of Manchester, will tomorrow lead a socially distanced service at Manchester Cathedral which will be streamed on its Facebook page.

There will be no choir or singing, in line with current restrictions. An online book of remembrance will also be launched as a permanent tribute to those who have died in Greater Manchester.

If you want to follow Rishi Sunak’s appearance before the Treasury committee, you can head to my colleague Graeme Wearden’s business liveblog. As I said, I’ll have any breaking news lines here.