The UK and EU have hardened their stances ahead of the upcoming trade talks, as France warned they would not be ‘blackmailed’ into accepting a bad deal.
Boris Johnson has insisted that the transition period will not be extended beyond 31 December, raising the renewed prospect of a no-deal Brexit.
Meanwhile civil servants have been told to stop leaking, following reports that Priti Patel is demanding a formal leak inquiry into hostile briefings and allegations of bullying.
It comes as voting opens in the Labour leadership contest, with the party’s half a million members, registered supporters and affiliates facing a choice of Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, or Lisa Nandy, to succeed Jeremy Corbyn on 4 April.
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Patel demanding leak inquiry into hostile briefings against her
Priti Patel is demanding a formal leak inquiry into hostile briefings at the Home Office amid a slew of allegations being made over bullying and distrust from intelligence chiefs.
Priti Patel is demanding a formal leak inquiry into hostile briefings at the Home Office amid a slew of allegations being made over bullying and distrust from intelligence chiefs.
An ally of the home secretary told The Times she was “absolutely livid” at the leaks while a former cabinet minster defended Ms Patel, insisting there was an element of sexism in the briefings against her.
The security services were dragged into the row when the Sunday Times reported officials alleging intelligence chiefs do "not trust" her and have decided to share less intelligence with her.
A government spokesman responded: "The home secretary and MI5 have a strong and close working relationship, and baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest.
"The home secretary receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors, and no information is being withheld."
'Misogyny' in briefings against Patel, says former cabinet minister
Tory former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said there was an element of misogyny in the briefings, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office.
"It happens again and again and I don't believe these allegations against Priti Patel.
"I think she's a highly effective Home Secretary and I think whoever is making these briefings should stop it because I think they are unfair and they are damaging."
Tory former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers said there was an element of misogyny in the briefings, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office.
"It happens again and again and I don't believe these allegations against Priti Patel.
"I think she's a highly effective Home Secretary and I think whoever is making these briefings should stop it because I think they are unfair and they are damaging."
Voting opens in Labour leadership contest
Labour will begin sending ballots to its half a million membership, registered supporters and affiliated supporters across the country as voting opens today. It is likely a large proportion of members have already made up their minds – given the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has already been going on longer than the entire general election campaign.
Ballots will be sent out by email, so members can theoretically vote online almost instantaneously. It is likely a significant proportion will do so. For those who don’t, expect a flurry of voting closer to the deadline of 2 April.
But for the three remaining candidates – Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey – the coming days will be crucial in winning the support of the undecided and wavering voters, or those unsure who to mark as their second preference.
Labour will begin sending ballots to its half a million membership, registered supporters and affiliated supporters across the country as voting opens today. It is likely a large proportion of members have already made up their minds – given the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has already been going on longer than the entire general election campaign.
Ballots will be sent out by email, so members can theoretically vote online almost instantaneously. It is likely a significant proportion will do so. For those who don’t, expect a flurry of voting closer to the deadline of 2 April.
But for the three remaining candidates – Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey – the coming days will be crucial in winning the support of the undecided and wavering voters, or those unsure who to mark as their second preference.
Keir Starmer vows to scrap salary threshold for migrants
Sir Keir Starmer, the clear frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, has said that salary thresholds are not the "right measure for worth of an individual coming to this country".
Last week, the Home Office announced that it would introduce a points-based immigration system - with points awarded for key requirements like being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold.
The salary threshold for skilled migrants will be lowered to £25,600 for those coming to the UK with a job offer and there may be concessions for those earning no less than £20,480 as long as they still meet certain requirements or their occupation is short of staff.
Sir Keir told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The position the government has just taken is completely wrong - where they are equating the worth of an individual coming to this country by how much money they earn. I think that's profoundly the wrong approach...
"I think the idea that if you don't earn a certain salary you're not bringing anything of any worth to this country is offensive."
Asked if he would do away with salary thresholds, he replied: "I would - I do not think they are the right measure for the worth of an individual coming to this country.
Business leaders urge PM to avoid red tape as UK draws trade battle lines
Business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to avoid heaping misery on firms with post-Brexit red tape as the UK draws battle lines for trade talks with Brussels.
As the government prepares to spell out its demands this week, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) appealed to the government to limit bureaucracy for firms that are already fearful of a no-deal exit at the end of the year.
Senior ministers are expected to sign off on the UK's negotiating blueprint on Tuesday, which will underline the prime minister's desire for a Canada-style trade deal with limited tariffs on goods.
Business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to avoid heaping misery on firms with post-Brexit red tape as the UK draws battle lines for trade talks with Brussels.
As the government prepares to spell out its demands this week, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) appealed to the government to limit bureaucracy for firms that are already fearful of a no-deal exit at the end of the year.
Senior ministers are expected to sign off on the UK's negotiating blueprint on Tuesday, which will underline the prime minister's desire for a Canada-style trade deal with limited tariffs on goods.
Keir Starmer dismisses shadow cabinet speculation
Labour leadership contender Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed speculation that former leader Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn could be appointed to his top team if he wins the contest in April.
Just last week Mr Corbyn declined to rule out accepting a job in the shadow cabinet and said he would be "happy to serve the party in any capacity".
But asked about the suggestion the Islington North MP could join his shadow cabinet, Sir Keir said: "I haven't discussed that team with anybody.
"I'm focused on winning this race and getting as many votes as I can."
Johnson’s government set to spend more than Labour under Blair, says think tank
The newly appointed chancellor is poised to use his Budget to boost spending to higher levels than under Tony Blair’s government, according to a new think tank report.
The newly appointed chancellor is poised to use his Budget to boost spending to higher levels than under Tony Blair’s government, according to a new think tank report.
Economic analysts at the Resolution Foundation said Whitehall spending could be set to rise to as much as £1 trillion for the first time by 2023-24, with tax hikes likely to be required.
Rishi Sunak is likely to use his Budget on 11 March to boost spending to 40 per cent of GDP, a figure higher than at any point Mr Blair’s tenure, the report said.
Johnson ‘privately agreed to sell off Channel 4’, Tory MPs claim
Boris Johnson has confirmed he is planning to sell off Channel 4, senior Tory MPs have claimed.
The prime minister believes that privatising the publicly-owned broadcaster is a “great idea”, according to a report in the Sunday Express.
His alleged remarks come in the wake of a series of rows between Downing Street and Channel 4 over its coverage of the election campaign.
Boris Johnson has confirmed he is planning to sell off Channel 4, senior Tory MPs have claimed.
The prime minister believes that privatising the publicly-owned broadcaster is a “great idea”, according to a report in the Sunday Express.
His alleged remarks come in the wake of a series of rows between Downing Street and Channel 4 over its coverage of the election campaign.
Lords under fire over rising expenses bill as peers claim more than average worker’s salary
The House of Lords has faced criticism after it emerged that a soaring expenses bill meant peers received tax-free payments worth more than the average British worker’s salary.
Peers’ expenses and daily attendance allowance claims rocketed to £23m in the year to last March, an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year, according to The Sunday Times.
The average tax-free bill was £30,827, which is higher than the median salary of an ordinary British worker, while 31 members of the Lords claimed more than the take-home pay of an MP.
The House of Lords has faced criticism after it emerged that a soaring expenses bill meant peers received tax-free payments worth more than the average British worker’s salary.
Peers’ expenses and daily attendance allowance claims rocketed to £23m in the year to last March, an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year, according to The Sunday Times.
The average tax-free bill was £30,827, which is higher than the median salary of an ordinary British worker, while 31 members of the Lords claimed more than the take-home pay of an MP.
France will not be ‘blackmailed’ into accepting bad post-Brexit trade deal
France has warned the UK that it will not be "blackmailed" into accepting a "bad" post-Brexit trade deal because of Boris Johnson's December 31 deadline.
It comes as the 27 remaining EU members meet in Brussels tomorrow to agree the negotiating mandate for the talks on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.
In a sign that the EU is prepared to take a tough line, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted that her country's farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.
She told TV station France 2: "In this negotiation it must be understood by British businesses that we do not want a bad agreement - almost certainly, that we will sign up to no blackmail."
"It is not because that Boris Johnson wants a deal at all costs for December 31 that we will sign, under pressure, a bad deal."
It comes as the 27 remaining EU members meet in Brussels tomorrow to agree the negotiating mandate for the talks on the UK's future relationship with the bloc.
In a sign that the EU is prepared to take a tough line, French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin insisted that her country's farmers, fishermen and businesses would not pay the price for a trade deal to be in place by the end of the year.
She told TV station France 2: "In this negotiation it must be understood by British businesses that we do not want a bad agreement - almost certainly, that we will sign up to no blackmail."
"It is not because that Boris Johnson wants a deal at all costs for December 31 that we will sign, under pressure, a bad deal."
PM has full confidence in Priti Patel amid allegations of bullying
Asked if Boris Johnson was concerned about reports of bullying by Priti Patel, the PM's official spokesman said: "The prime minister has full confidence in the home secretary and the vital work that she is doing to make our streets safer and take back control of the UK's borders."
Asked if Boris Johnson was concerned about reports of bullying by Priti Patel, the PM's official spokesman said: "The prime minister has full confidence in the home secretary and the vital work that she is doing to make our streets safer and take back control of the UK's borders."
Pressed on whether the PM had confidence in Home Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam, Mr Johnson's spokesman said: "The prime minister has full confidence in the civil service, which is working very hard to deliver on the government's priorities."
The spokesman said that Ms Patel receives the same intelligence briefings from MI5 as her predecessors.
The spokesman said that Ms Patel receives the same intelligence briefings from MI5 as her predecessors.
Sexism to blame for attacks branding home secretary a bully, former cabinet colleague says
Sexism is to blame for a spate of media attacks on Home Secretary Priti Patel, her former cabinet colleague Theresa Villiers has claimed.
Ms Patel is said to be “absolutely livid” over a series of allegations branding her a bully and suggesting that she is distrusted by intelligence chiefs. An ally said she was demanding a leak inquiry to be carried out by the Cabinet Office.
Sexism is to blame for a spate of media attacks on Home Secretary Priti Patel, her former cabinet colleague Theresa Villiers has claimed.
Ms Patel is said to be “absolutely livid” over a series of allegations branding her a bully and suggesting that she is distrusted by intelligence chiefs. An ally said she was demanding a leak inquiry to be carried out by the Cabinet Office.
No-deal Brexit expectations ramped up by No 10
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there was “absolutely” no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.
The comments - which represent a significant hardening in Downing Street's position - came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of “blackmailing” the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.
The PM’s spokesman denied the blackmail allegation and said that there would be no extension to negotiations once the 11-month transition period agreed by Mr Johnson comes to an end.
“The UK’s primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on 1 January 2021,” he said.
Asked later whether this meant that avoiding alignment with Brussels regulations and preventing any role for the European Court of Justice in ruling on future trade disputes were greater priorities than ensuring smooth trade after the end of this year, a senior No 10 source said: “Yes.”
The source added: “Our overriding objective in the negotiations is by 1 January to have taken back control and we won’t agree to anything that doesn’t deliver that. Which means no rule-taking form the EU and no role for the European Court of Justice.
“Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by 1 January.”
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there was “absolutely” no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.
The comments - which represent a significant hardening in Downing Street's position - came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of “blackmailing” the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.
The PM’s spokesman denied the blackmail allegation and said that there would be no extension to negotiations once the 11-month transition period agreed by Mr Johnson comes to an end.
“The UK’s primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on 1 January 2021,” he said.
Asked later whether this meant that avoiding alignment with Brussels regulations and preventing any role for the European Court of Justice in ruling on future trade disputes were greater priorities than ensuring smooth trade after the end of this year, a senior No 10 source said: “Yes.”
The source added: “Our overriding objective in the negotiations is by 1 January to have taken back control and we won’t agree to anything that doesn’t deliver that. Which means no rule-taking form the EU and no role for the European Court of Justice.
“Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by 1 January.”
House of Lords bid to derail Boris Johnson plan to extend terror sentences
Two former reviewers of the government’s anti-terror legislation have launched a bid to stop Boris Johnson changing the law so that Islamist prisoners currently in jail can be kept behind bars for longer.
The prime minister says the new law being rushed through parliament in the wake of this month’s Islamist knife attack in Streatham must be passed by Thursday to avoid the release over the coming weeks of offenders who pose a threat to the public. The House of Lords is being asked to complete all stages of the bill in a single day on Monday.
Two former reviewers of the government’s anti-terror legislation have launched a bid to stop Boris Johnson changing the law so that Islamist prisoners currently in jail can be kept behind bars for longer.
The prime minister says the new law being rushed through parliament in the wake of this month’s Islamist knife attack in Streatham must be passed by Thursday to avoid the release over the coming weeks of offenders who pose a threat to the public. The House of Lords is being asked to complete all stages of the bill in a single day on Monday.
Sunak warned to not abandon Javid’s borrowing rules in March budget
New chancellor Rishi Sunak has been warned not to ditch tax and spending rules favoured by his predecessor Savid Javid when he delivers his first budget next month.
David Gauke, a former Tory MP and cabinet minister, has said Mr Sunak needs to demonstrate he is not simply a “creature of No 10” by maintaining fiscal discipline in the government.
Mr Gauke, who was kicked out of the Conservative Party after rebelling over Brexit, warned that the new chancellor would need to find new ways of raising revenue to stop public finances from deteriorating.
“You have got a new Chancellor who will want to establish that he is not a creature of No 10, that he is independent. He will, I imagine, want to assert that independence,” the former MP told the Resolution Foundation think tank on Monday.
“Fundamentally, we have already got quite loose fiscal rules and if we loosen them much further there is a distinct risk that we will be seeing debt as a proportion of GDP increase in normal years.
“That is a very strange position for a Conservative government to find itself in.”
Mr Gauke added: “One can make the arguments that borrowing costs are very low, that the markets are pretty forgiving. But markets will tend to be forgiving until they are not, and that might happen very quickly.”
The new chancellor is thought to be under pressure from Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings to loosen controls on spending after the prime minister signaled an end to austerity last year.
Mr Gauke’s comments came as a report by the Resolution Foundation said that borrowing under Mr Johnson could rise by as much as £1 trillion by 2023-24 - more than it did under Tony Blair's decade in power.
Additional reporting by PA
Ireland's Varadkar warns against ‘backsliding’ on withdrawal agreement
Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Taoiseach, has urged the UK government to honour all the terms of its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU after reports suggested Boris Johnson had ordered Brexit officials to find ways to “get around” checks on goods in the Irish Sea.
Mr Varadkar told reporters on Monday there could be “no backsliding” on the deal and said he expected Mr Johnson’s government to honour the treaty “in full”.
“We totally understand why they [the UK government] may want to minimise any checks at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland, we want to do that too,” the Taoiseach said.
“But the agreement clearly says if there have to be checks anywhere, they would happen at the ports and airports in Northern Ireland rather than on the land border between north and south.”
He added: “So I am saying to the British Government, there can be no backsliding on the Withdrawal Agreement, let's not even go there and let's focus instead on what should be the next phase, which is negotiating a free trade agreement between the European Union and Ireland and the UK so we can protect jobs and our economy.”
The Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU leaves Northern Ireland within the UK customs area but all EU procedures will apply to goods arriving there.
Downing Street has insisted the UK will “comply with our obligations” under the deal and said only “limited changes” to Great Britain-Northern Ireland trade would be required.
Additional reporting by PA
Johnson not visiting flood-hit areas to avoiding ‘distracting’ from recovery efforts
Boris Johnson has not visited areas affected by recent floods because he does not want to “distract” from recovery efforts, a spokesperson has suggested.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the government was “hugely grateful” to all those who have helped with the response to the floods when asked about Mr Johnson’s absence from the worst hit areas.
“The government has extensive plans in place to deal with these kinds of extreme weather events and we are working tirelessly to help everyone affected,” they said.
“The environment secretary - and his department - is rightly leading the government response to this, ensuring teams who are working around the clock have the support and resources they need.
“It’s important not to distract from that ongoing effort.”
The spokesperson added that Mr Johnson was working at the foreign secretary’s country residence Chevening in Kent during the last week.
“The prime minister was receiving regular updates and working with ministers across government to ensure that people received the help that they needed,” they said.
Government introduces proposal to ban membership of two right-wing terror groups
The government has put forward plans to ban membership of two right-wing terrorist groups in the UK amid concerns over far-right extremism.
Priti Patel, the home secretary, laid orders in parliament on Monday to proscribe the organisation Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD) and to recognise System Resistance Network as an alias of the already-proscribed group National Action.
The proposal must be debated and backed by parliament before membership of the groups will become illegal.
“Recent attacks here and in Germany have highlighted the threat we continue to face from violent extremism,” Ms Patel said in a statement.
“We are working to keep the public safe by increasing funding for counter terror police and strengthening the law to keep terrorists locked up for longer.
“By proscribing these groups we are making it much harder for them to spread their hateful rhetoric.”
Anyone found to be a member of, or offering support to, the groups could face up to 10 years in jail.
Boris Johnson emerges from Downing Street
The PM has emerged to greet the Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković outside Downing Street – his first public appearance in over a week.
The PM has emerged to greet the Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković outside Downing Street – his first public appearance in over a week.
No-deal Brexit threat ramped up
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there was “absolutely” no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.
The comments - which represent a significant hardening in Downing Street's position - came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of “blackmailing” the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there was “absolutely” no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.
The comments - which represent a significant hardening in Downing Street's position - came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of “blackmailing” the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.
