Boris Johnson will hold a Downing Street press conference this afternoon, it has been announced.

It is not yet clear which officials will join the Prime Minister, or what will be discussed. He will then join in with a national clap for Sir Captain Tom Moore at 6pm this evening, after the war veteran and NHS hero died with Covid on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Commons today, Johnson paid tribute to Captain Tom’s life as he called for others to join in with the display of gratitude on their doorsteps. The 100-year-old death raised more than £32 million for the NHS during the first coronavirus lockdown.

He said: ‘We all now have the opportunity to show our appreciation for him and all that he stood for and believed in. That is why I encourage everyone to join in a national clap for Captain Tom and all those health workers for whom he raised money at 6pm this evening.’

Today MPs held a minute’s silence in the Commons out of respect of Captain Tom and other victims of Covid. More than 112,000 people have now died in the UK with the virus.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said of Captain Tom: ‘His dignity and determination in raising money to support the NHS charities caught the nation’s mood at the most difficult time. He exemplified the best of our values.’

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