Boris Johnson’s government has been accused of “keeping the public in the dark” over the “astounding” true cost of Brexit, as a Whitehall watchdog revealed at least £4.4bn of taxpayers’ money has been spent on preparations since 2016.
It comes as former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith leads a new rebellion over Huawei’s role in Britain’s 5G network, tabling an amendment to the telecoms bill to prevent a future role for “high risk vendors” in the UK.
Home secretary Priti Patel has been defended as an “assertive” leader who has “never crossed a line” by a group of nearly 100 allies. Amid bullying allegations, supporters signed an open letter stating: “We do not recognise the picture that has been painted of her.”
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
‘Astounding’: Watchdog reveals £4.4m cost of Brexit preparations
We still don’t know what our relationship with the EU will be next year. But we do know how much it has cost getting us to this point in the process.
The National Audit Office says at least £4.4bn has been spent on the Brexit process since 2016. Government departments have shelled out the staggering sum on extra staff, external advice and advertising.
If the staff working on Brexit had been gathered in one department, it would have been the sixth largest in Whitehall.
The Lib Dems said “billions of pounds have been thrown away in a bid to paper over the Tories' Brexit mess”.
The chair of the European Movement, former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell, said the report highlighted “the astounding cost of Brexit that has been hidden from the public”.
“The lack of detail and limited data contained in the report is indicative of the secretive way that the government is delivering Brexit,” he added.
All the details here:
Boris Johnson's government has already spent £4.4 billion on Brexit preparations, new figures reveal
The 22,000 civil servants working on EU withdrawal amount to 5 per cent of Whitehall total‘She never crossed the line’: Priti Patel allies issue defence
The home secretary Priti Patel has been defended as a “tough, assertive” leader who has “never crossed a line” by nearly 100 allies as she faces a series of bullying allegations.
In a letter to The Telegraph on Friday, more than 90 people including former Charity Commission chief William Shawcross and Conservative election guru Sir Lynton Crosby came to her defence.
They said she is “right to ask tough questions” of officials, adding: “We do not recognise the picture that has been painted of her this week.
“There’s no argument that she is a tough, assertive and effective leader, but even under extreme pressure she has never crossed a line or lost her temper.
“She expects high standards, as a strong leader should, but is always professional. She gives her all for this country and deserves far better treatment than she has received.”
A Cabinet Office inquiry into allegations Patel broke the ministerial code is under way.
Among the claims are that a senior official at the Department for International Development had reported a “tsunami” of allegations of abuse by officials in Patel’s private office when she was secretary of state, BBC’s Newsnight reported earlier this week.
IDS leads new backbench rebellion over Huawei
Plenty of trouble ahead for the government next week: there’s the budget to get through and a Tory rebellion brewing over Huawei’s involvement in Britain’s 5G roll-out.
Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith has tabled an amendment to the Telecoms Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill when a vote comes before the Commons on Tuesday.
It would – if passed – would lock out “high-risk vendors” such as Huawei from the network by the end of 2022.
Both the ERG and Damian Green, head of the moderate “one nation” group, are reportedly on board with the amendment.
Earlier this week’s IDS compared the UK’s establishment’s apparent dependence on Huawei to heroin addiction. He also compared allowing them a role in infrastructure to giving “Nazi companies in Germany” a role in supplying the UK’s radar technology in the 1930s.
Boris Johnson facing Tory revolt over Huawei 5G decision
Senior Conservatives mount Commons bid to lock 'high-risk' vendors out of network by 2022Government’s big infrastructure plan pushed back
The National Infrastructure Strategy – expected to see £100bn invested in the economy and tackling the climate crisis – is to be delayed.
The plan to boost was set to be published alongside the chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget on Wednesday next week.
Whitehall sources were unable to say when it would now be published, but expected the delay to only be a matter of days or weeks.
However, Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the delay represented “absolute chaos” in government.
“We are facing the threat of climate change and an economy at risk of recession. That’s why we desperately need an immediate start to large-scale infrastructure investment,” he said. “Delaying implementation of investment is unacceptable.”
Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, expressed disappointment at the delay but expressed confidence that ministers remained committed.
“Naturally we are disappointed about the further delay in the government’s formal response to the national infrastructure assessment, which we published over 18 months ago,” he said.
‘Rude’: Amber Rudd ‘no platformed’ at Oxford
Former Tory cabinet minister Amber Rudd has shared her frustration at being “no platformed” – denied a chance to speak – by students only 30 minutes before she was due to appear at an event at Oxford University.
The former home secretary said it was “badly judged and rude” of the students, who decided to snub her over her involvement in the Windrush scandal.
Rudd said: “It was supposed to be all about International Women’s Day, to inspire young women to get into politics. This is outrageous and so disappointing.
She added: “I would have been quite content to talk to them about Windrush in terms of how it came to pass, what action I took to try to make sure it was corrected and never happens again and my deep regret it happened at all. I want to share what happened honestly and fairly.”
No need for panic buying, says Matt Hancock
The government is working with supermarkets to ensure food supplies as the number of people self-isolating with coronavirus is expected to rise, the health secretary has said.
During his appearance on the BBC’s Question Time last night, Matt Hancock sought to reassure the public following panic-buying in some areas – with supermarkets seeing their shelves cleared of essentials such as toilet roll and paracetamol.
“The government has supplies of the key things that are needed, and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won't be a problem there,” he said.
“And, crucially, we are working to makes sure that if people are self-isolating, they will be able to get the food and supplies that they need.”
He said there was “absolutely no need” for individual people “to go round buying more than they need.” He added: “The very, very strong advice from the scientists, from the medics, is that people should not go buying more than they need.”
Hancock also told anyone self-isolating with coronavirus to stay away from their own family members as much as possible, and to wipe down shared surfaces such as in bathrooms.
He said: “People should try to self-isolate from their families, not only go home, try not to go out shopping, definitely don’t use public transport, but within your own home you should also try to self-isolate.”
Watchdog urged to probe Tory ‘Islamophobia crisis’
The UK’s human rights watchdog is under increasing pressure to investigate Islamophobia in the Tory party after being handed a fresh dossier detailing allegations against more than 300 individuals.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) added claims about MPs, party members, councillors and advisers to Boris Johnson in the document submitted on Thursday.
The dossier sent to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) also reiterates allegations of Islamophobia against the PM himself.
MCB secretary general Harun Khan said the Tories have a “systemic and widespread” Islamophobia crisis and criticised the EHRC for having “failed to give any response” to its first formal call to investigate last year.
The EHRC said it was “actively considering” what action it might take.
A Conservative spokeswoman insisted the party has a “robust approach to discrimination of any kind” and said it “consistently takes decisive action” to deal with incidents of hatred.
‘Imagine if we’d invested in NHS instead of spaffing £4bn on Brexit’
Plenty of reaction to the National Audit Office report showing Brexit preparation plans have cost taxpayers’ £4.4bn since 2016.
Calling for more details, Labour MP Meg Hillier –chair of the influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee – said: “The public has been kept in the dark as to what the government has been doing.”
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: “Billions of pounds have been thrown away in a bid to paper over the Tories’ Brexit mess. The public have a right to know where it is all going.”
The Times commentator David Aaronovitch tweeted: “Had that figure been available and agreed in 2016 I seriously wonder if the outcome would have been the same.”
The author Gareth Powell added: “Imagine if we’d invested in the NHS instead of spaffing £4 billion on Brexit.”
Labour MPs ‘concerned’ about reports members yet to get ballots
Several of the campaign teams behind Labour leadership and deputy leadership bids have complained that some members have not received their ballots.
Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire said it was “concerning that evidence from phone banking” suggested many members had not got them yet.
Fellow MP Louise Haigh, a Lisa Nandy backer, said: “The party need to sort this out immediately and make sure all members are reassured they will get a chance to vote.”
David Lammy, a Keir Starmer backer, also said he found it “concerning” and tweeted: “As a party that talks a lot about party democracy, we have to do much better than this.”
An unnamed source at one of the Labour campaigns told The Guardian: “It’s a small sample, but our phone-banking data is showing 80 per cent of those who haven’t had their ballot paper joined either pre-2015 or post-2019 general election.”
More money for EU Settlement Scheme
The Home Office is providing an extra £8m of funding to help vulnerable people apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, amid criticism over the department’s handling of the project.
Charities and local authorities can bid for the cash to offer advice and support in person, online and over the phone to EU citizens already living in the UK.
The announcement comes a week after campaigners accused the government department of being “less than co-operative” in helping vulnerable citizens apply to the scheme.
Maike Bohn, co-founder of campaign group the3million, claimed some people were “struggling to apply” or still do not know about the scheme and could miss out.
Immigration minister Kevin Foster said: “This new funding means no stone will be left unturned in ensuring everyone gets the help they need.”
‘Absurd and worrying’: Politicians defend Rudd over ‘no-platforming’
More on the growing row over an Oxford University student group’s decision to “no platform” former home secretary Amber Rudd from a speaking event over her involvement in the Windrush scandal.
After cancelling the former Tory MP’s appearance, UN Women Oxford posted on its Facebook page: “We are deeply sorry for all and any hurt caused to our members and other wom*n and non binary people in Oxford over this event.”
Several current and former MPs have criticised the move.
Dehenna Davison, the newly-elected Tory MP for Bishop Auckland, tweeted: “Outrageous. Academic institutions are where you are exposed to ideas you don’t agree with, and where you can challenge them through rigorous debate.
“No platforming the former Home Secretary (and Women and Equalities Minister!) is very badly judged.”
Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson posted: “If you’re trying to silence Amber Rudd you really are being anti-democratic."
And former Conservative and Lib Dem MP Dr Sarah Wollaston tweeted: “No platforming of AmberRuddUK by Oxford is absurd & worrying. Why are universities allowing ideological fringes to crush freedom of speech in our centres of excellence?”
Tory backbenchers ‘laying down a marker’ on Huawei, says rebel MP
More now on the planned Commons rebellion by backbench Tories over the decision to grant Chinese tech giant Huawei a role in Britain’s 5G network.
Supporters of Iain Duncan Smith’s amendment to the telecoms bill – aimed at preventing a future role for “high risk vendors” in mobile infrastructure – have played down the prospect the government could be defeated on Tuesday.
The move does have the backing of a number of prominent Conservative MPs, including former cabinet ministers Damian Green and David Davis, the chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat and the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady.
But Tory backbencher Bob Seely said they were “laying down a marker” ahead of other legislation later in the year to establish a comprehensive telecoms security regime.
He also said there was “growing momentum” within the party with “three or four MPs” expressing concern to the whips for every one likely to vote for the amendment next week.
“We want to work with the government, not to defeat it. We want to co-operate with the government to get a better solution,” he told the PA news agency.
Officials ‘accelerating’ work on delay phase of coronavirus, says No 10
Boris Johnson was updated on the coronavirus situation by the chief medical officer in a phone call this morning, said No 10.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are still in the contain phase.”
“As the CMO said, it is now highly likely that the infection will spread in a significant way.
“Officials will therefore accelerate work on the delay phase of the government’s plan.”
The Department of Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) was today meeting with representatives of the retail industry to discuss measures to mitigate any risk to foods supplies during the outbreak, the spokesman also said.
Is the government actually working with supermarkets?
Health secretary Matt Hancock last night told a BBC Question Time audience the government were working with supermarkets to make sure food supplies were uninterrupted during the coronavirus outbreak.
But according to the BBC’s business editor Simon Jack, at least one supermarket executive is not convinced there has been any contact from the government.
Jack told BBC News: “They got touch saying they were slightly baffled by Matt Hancock’s remarks last night because they said they had heard nothing at all from government directly. And they had … rung around to others and they had the same story.”
He added: “In their words not mine, ‘Matt Hancock has totally made up that he has been working with supermarkets’.”
Tweeting about it after going on air, Jack said a supermarket source had got in touch to say Defra was “now in contact and trying to make it look like they are very actively engaged”.
PM close to breaching social care promise, councils warn
Council bosses have said next week’s budget should be used to make urgent progress on the cross-party talks on adult social care – which Boris Johnson promised within 100 days of the December election.
The budget falls just 10 days short of the PM’s self-imposed deadline, with no sign of the talks getting under way.
The Local Government Association warned that without a new settlement for social care, local services in England face a funding gap of almost £6.5bn by 2025.
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Boris Johnson close to breaching 100-day promise on social care talks, warn councils
Local Government Association warn town halls are facing £6.5bn funding gapMPs launch inquiry into national cladding problems
The Commons’ Housing, Communities and Local Government committee is launching an inquiry into all the cladding issues which have arisen since the Grenfell Tower disaster.
“Nearly 1,000 days have passed since the fire at Grenfell Tower, these issues must now be addressed,” said committee chair Clive Betts.
Nigel Farage ‘going to launch new party’, says peer
Lord David Owen, co-founder of the Social Democratic Party, has predicted Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage will start a new political party aimed at abolishing the House of Lords.
“Mark my words – Nigel Farage has a proven record of getting shifts of opinion in this country. And now, he has singled out reforming the House of Lords,” the former minister told The Express.
“He is going to launch some new party. He has chosen proportional representation and House of Lords. He will lead with the House of Lords, though. It won't be very hard to pull out.”
Farage has previously talked about rebranding as the “Reform Party” after Brexit.
PM pledges £46m for coronavirus vaccine research
Boris Johnson has announced £46m for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests during a tour of a Bedfordshire laboratory, where British scientists are working on a quick and cheap way to diagnose the virus.
There is currently no vaccine available to protect people against Covid-19, but Johnson said he hoped one will be ready in about a year.
The PM said that it looked like the UK will face a “substantial period of disruption” due to the coronavirus.
‘He should be ashamed’: Fathers react to Boris Johnson’s hesitancy over baby nappy changing
Fathers have reacted to Boris Johnson’s hesitancy over whether he will change his baby’s nappy when the child arrives this summer.
On 29 February, the prime minister and his partner, Carrie Symonds, announced that they were engaged and expecting their first child together.
The baby will be Symonds’ first child and the sixth that Johnson has publicly acknowledged to have fathered.
