Asked PM at #LiaisonCommittee what Govt was doing to stop new South Africa variant spreading in the UK. Asked why people have been able to travel from SA to UK for last 4wks without being tested & can go on public transport.

PM didn’t know. Said he’d look at it ..1/6

PM told me pre-travel tests were coming in (Good)

But they arent in place yet (4 wks after we were warned on SA).

Other countries introduced those tests months ago. So I asked why the tests hadn’t been introduced in November as Spain, Greece & others did. No explanation ...2

PM refers to quarantine measures since 8 June. But @CommonsHomeAffs was told today of huge weaknesses in border & quarantine arrangements - 90% of passengers not even checked to see if they filled in the forms, even less follow up later on. Why wasn’t system strengthened? ...3

Asked what Govt was doing to prevent new Brazil variant spreading to the UK - we were warned about it 3 days ago.

Some confusion as PM seemed to announce that a Brazil travel ban was in place (it currently isn’t and he’d already said half an hour previously that it wasnt) ...4

Trouble is PM always seems to delay decisions on border measures. Did so last Spring, still doing so now. Likewise on Xmas/lockdowns/schools etc. PM always gives impression he’s delaying difficult decisions til last possible minute & making things worse. That’s not leadership ..5

The UK vaccine programme is crucial & is making important progress - we desperately need it to succeed. But that’s why we need to make sure new variants don’t undermine it. I urged PM to look again at Covid border measures UK needs in the light of these new, emerging strains 6/6