Katy Balls

Rishi Sunak's spending review is already dividing opinion in the Tory party. The Chancellor has confirmed reports that he intends to go back on a Tory manifesto pledge and cut foreign aid from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent. He insisted this amounted to a one-off cut — the idea being that it will be a 'temporary' response to exceptional circumstances — and the exceptional strain on public finances as a result of coronavirus.  As the current target is written into law, the understanding is that the government will likely have to pass new laws in order to cut its overseas aid budget.

Ministers have been keen to stress that Christmas this year will not be normal. Boris Johnson went so far to say on Monday that it 'tis the season to be 'jolly careful'. However, as expected, there will be a softening of the current rules. Following a Cobra meeting this afternoon, the UK government and devolved administrations have agreed on a joint approach to socialising over the Christmas period. The rules will be relaxed so that people can form a 'Christmas bubble' made up of three households for the period from December 23 to 27. During this time, travel across the UK will be permitted, including between tiers so that people can meet up with their household bubbles.

Boris Johnson's statement to the Commons announcing the end of the national lockdown was meant to hit an optimistic note. However, he faced two hurdles when it came to achieving this.  Firstly, his internet connection in No. 10 broke down and Johnson was cut off from MPs midway through the session. Secondly, the measures he announced in place of the national lockdown can't really be described as a great liberation; social distancing is here for the foreseeable future. What's more, those who find themselves in the new ramped up Tier 3 – with the tiers for each area to be announced on Thursday – could struggle to see much difference at all with what came before.  There were bits of good news.

This week Boris Johnson is expected to announce an end to the national lockdown. However, with a return to normal still far away with the UK to move back into a stricter form of the three tier system, good news remains limited for the time being. That's also the case with the Chancellor's spending review. When Rishi Sunak gets up at the despatch box on Wednesday to announce his funding decisions, there will be hints of the difficult decisions he and Johnson face in the coming months and years as a result of coronavirus spending. Sunak and Johnson must decide whether to implement tax rises in this parliament, or fight the next election not being able to rule out 'hard choices'.

After a weekend of torrid headlines over infighting in 10 Downing Street, Boris Johnson had hoped to use this week to prove his critics wrong about the state of the government. Following the departure of his senior aides Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain and amid speculation the Tory party could pivot to a softer form of Conservatism, the Prime Minister planned to reassure voters about his commitments on Brexit – with talks nearing their conclusion – as well as the leveling up agenda. Some in government were even describing this as a 'reset week'. However, such plans have become more complicated. The Prime Minister is self-isolating this evening after coming into contact with an MP who has since tested positive for coronavirus.

With Boris Johnson's senior aides Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain both working from home until they officially leave their roles, attention is turning to what will follow the Downing Street Vote Leave era. Up until now, aides from the Vote Leave campaign have held the balance of power in No. 10. This has seen Johnson successfully re-establish the Tories as a party of Brexit and adopt a more combative approach on a range of issues. As I say in the i paper, the departure of the pair marks a new chapter for Johnson’s government.  One place where this is broadly being viewed positively is the Tory backbenches. 'It’s good news that Vote Leave are weakening their grip,' one Conservative MP from the 2015 intake says of this week’s events.

After a week of infighting in Downing Street which saw the resignation of Director of Communications Lee Cain and senior aide Dominic Cummings, both men have left the building for what government aides believe will be the last time. Although Cain and Cummings intended to continue their work until mid December, the suggestion is that they will do this working from home.  Johnson held a meeting with the pair this evening where he discussed their departures. While they decided it was best for them to work remotely until they left, one person aware of the discussion say it was amicable – with the Prime Minister paying tribute to them both for their work.