Boris Johnson has been attacked by Jeremy Corbyn over his week-long absence from public view, as the Labour leader accused the “part-time PM” of “schmoozing Tory party donors” instead of visiting flood-hit communities in the north and Midlands.
It comes as Labour demanded an investigation into the true scale of homelessness across the UK after figures showed more than 28,000 people are sleeping rough in a year – five times higher than the government admits.
Elsewhere, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said chancellor Rishi Sunak will have to hike taxes – or entrench austerity – to pay for a “giveaway” budget. Sajid Javid warned his successor not to go on a spending splurge.
Jeremy Corbyn has given up “so many things” already that he is not likely to cut anything out for Lent, his spokesman has said.
The Labour leader, a teetotaler, rarely has the heating on in his office and there’s “not a lot of meat available”, according to his aides.
Asked what the abstemious outgoing leader would give up for Lent, which begins on Wednesday, Corbyn’s spokesman told journalists: “He’s given so many things up already that there’s very little left.
“If you work with Jeremy you will know that the heating is rarely turned on, there’s not a lot of meat available - so he’s a bit short of things to give up. “Certainly the booze is a bit skimpy.”
Downing Street has been silent about whether Boris Johnson intends to give anything up for the six-week period leading up to Easter.
The trues scale of homelessness across the UK has been revealed in figures showing more than 28,000 people were recorded sleeping rough in a year. This is five times worse in the UK than the government admits.
Campaigners and opposition MPs have accused ministers of misleading the public by providing an “unreliable undercount” of people sleeping on the streets.
The latest official rough sleeping figures, which the government calculates based on a one-night snapshot, show 4,677 people were sleeping on the streets in England in 2018.
But council responses to a freedom of information (FoI) request show nearly 25,000 people were recorded sleeping rough at least once in England during the latest year on record.
Shadow housing minister John Healey said the data showed the government’s statistics were “seriously misleading” and demanded an investigation into the “flaws” in the government data.
“These figures expose the shameful scale of rough sleeping on our country’s streets. The Conservatives can’t begin to fix the problem when they won’t admit the scale of it,” he said.
Homelessness five times worse in UK than government admits, figures reveal
Ministers providing 'dramatic undercount' of people sleeping on streets, say campaignersMore now on the earlier statement by health secretary Matt Hancock, who warned against panic measures by schools when it comes to suspected coronavirus cases
“If anyone has been in contact with a suspected case in a childcare or educational setting, no special measures are required while test results are awaited,” he told the Commons. “There is a no need to close the school or send other students or staff home.”
“Once results arrive, those who test negative will be advised individually about returning to education.
“In most cases closure of the childcare or education setting will be unnecessary. But this will be a local decision based on various factors including professional advice.”
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more on the statement by the ex-chancellor Sajid Javid – who offered a pointed warning for the PM not to go on a spending splurge in next month’s budget.
In a Commons statement, the former chancellor said the “critical” rules he drew up – to balance the budget and reduce debt – must not be abandoned, or taxes raised.
“It would not be right to pass the bill for our day-to-day consumption to our children and grandchildren,” Javid said.
He also took a cheeky swipe at Dominic Cummings’ role in his shock resignation.
All the details here:
Sajid Javid warns Boris Johnson not to go on a spending splurge in next budget after shock resignation
'It would not be right to pass the bill for our day-to-day consumption to our children and grandchildren', ex-chancellor saysThe Commons leader has shared a photo of himself with a couple of leading crisp brands. It follows chancellor Rishi Sunak’s selfie with a bunch of Yorkshire Tea teabags, which caused a few idiots to call for a boycott.
Alex Sobel says his Labour colleagues seem “reluctant” to sit close to him. Almost two weeks ago the MP for Leeds North West said he was to be tested for coronavirus after going to a conference attended by a person who later tested positive for the disease.
“I’m in for the Coronavirus statement. My colleagues seem reluctant to sit to close to me!”
Health secretary Matt Hancock is making a statement about the coronavirus outbreak.
He told the House: “7,132 people have been tested for the virus – so far 13 people in the UK have tested positive, of whom eight now have been discharged from hospital. We expect more cases here.”
“We have a four-point plan: contain, delay, research and mitigate. We’re taking all necessary measures ... in the coming days we will roll out a wider public health information campaign.”
Javid says Treasury must be able to work free of interference
Javid turns his focus to the Treasury ahead of the Budget - and makes an argument for his fiscal rules to remain in place to ensure the government can balance the books.
He says the Treasury must play its role as a finance ministry and says he is a low tax Tory.
Rumours have been flying round Westminster that his successor Sunak is preparing to scrap them.
Boris Johnson makes a point of order, where he praises Javid for all his work.
The former chancellor dramatically quit his position at the Treasury during the cabinet reshuffle after being asked to sack his closest aides by No 10.
Javid tells MPs it has been eight years since he's been on the back benches but it is the 'circle of life'. He says he had hoped 'for a little longer to make a difference' in government.
He says he is proud of his record and he has never made a decision or given advice that he did not believe was in the national interest.
Javid says there is 'no one size that fits' in the relationship between No 10 and No 11, but it has always been that advisers advise, ministers govern and ministers pick their own advisers - in a dig at Johnson.
He says the arrangement proposed by the PM were not conditions he could accept 'in good conscience'. He will not dwell on the past - the comings or goings, he jokes in a clear dig at Dominic Cummings.
He says he hopes his successor Rishi Sunak will be given space to work without fear or favour - and he praises Sunak for his work as his deputy at the Treasury. He jokes that he wanted Sunak to keep his role as chief secretary during the reshuffle but didn't get his way.
Javid says he proud of the work that has been done already, and praises Johnson's record in government.
Here’s the moment Boris Johnson was put on the spot by an SNP MP over the Andrew Sabisky row.
Sajid Javid expected to make a resignation statement shortly
Ex-chancellor Sajid Javid is due to speak after PMQs - in line with the custom allowing former cabinet ministers to address MPs after leaving government.
He's sitting behind Theresa May and alongside Nusrat Ghani, who was sacked in the reshuffle.
Johnson under pressure on climate change
Sir Ed Davey says global action on climate change at the COP26 summit in Glasgow will only happen if the host nation commits to engaging with other big nations. He asks the PM to meet presidents Xi of China, Modi of India and Trump of the US.
Johnson says he spoke to Xi just last week. He says there will be a 'drumbeat' of action leading up to the summit in November.
PM says he does not share eugenicist views of former No 10 aide
SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes raises the views of controversial No 10 aide Andrew Sabisky, who resigned from Downing Street last week amid a storm of controversy over his past comments on eugenics, race and enforced contraception.
Docherty-Hughes movingly speaks of how his disabled brother Graham would not have survived if eugenics was allowed.
The PM, who has not publicly commented on this, said of course he does not share these views and Sabisky no longer works in No 10.
Row over Scottish immigration plans
The SNP's Ian Blackford asks why the PM rejected proposals for a Scottish visa system in its new immigration plans.
Johnson says he was not the only one - the Migration Advisory Committee - also rejected the plans. He says the UK government will ensure it is delivering for the whole of the UK. He says the SNP's plan for a 'border at Berwick' is the problem.
Blackford asks if Scottish businesses matter?
The PM says of course they do. This government will deliver a workable system for the whole of the UK, he says, and urges Blackford to get on with representing his constituents rather than trying to break up the UK.
The Labour leader says people need help, not “trite answers like that”. He asks if the PM agrees with Tory MP Philip Davies, who says the government has done little to protect people from floods.
Johnson says the government is working hard to protect people's homes.
Corbyn says the PM was keen to pose for cameras during the election but then he went AWOL. He refers to Johnson's late response to the London riots as mayor, and his late return from his Caribbean holiday during the Iran crisis.
How can the country trust a 'part time PM', he asks? Last night, Johnson was 'schmoozing Tory donors at a black tie ball' rather than helping ordinary people, Corbyn says.
Johnson says the government is busy working hard to deliver on the people's priorities.
Jeremy Corbyn praises those helping with the response to fight coronavirus and says he hopes there will be resources available for health services.
He goes in on flooding, asking the PM why he hasn't been to visit and quotes a Tory council leader who said the PM had turned his back on victims.
The PM says this is not true. The government has put £2.4bn in and then another £4bn has been pledged.
Corbyn says the PM has been “silent and sulking in his grace and favour mansion”. He asks when the government is going to show people it cares.
The PM says no one should underestimate the anguish flooding causes - but 200,000 households have been protected from flooding by the government.
Corbyn asks why he hasn't called Cobra and says does he not care because there “are no votes on the line”?
Johnson says Cobra is not the only committee meeting room in government and there is major work going on across government.
PMQs begins
Boris Johnson kicks off by paying tribute to victims of Storm Chiara and Storm Dennis and those helping with the response.
Tory Philip Dunne says the floods have caused misery in his constituency - and urges the PM to use his influence to boost spending on flood defences.
The PM says the government is investing massively in flood defences, with a pledge to commit another £4bn on flooding.
PMQs will kick off shortly and give us a glimpse of the lesser-spotted prime minister.
Boris Johnson has faced criticism for failing to visit flood-hit communities over the past few weeks - spending all of the February recess holed up at Chevening, the government residence in Kent.
Cutting crime is “non-negotiable” and there must be “no weak spots” in efforts to do so, the home secretary has told police chiefs.
Speaking at a crime conference on Wednesday, Priti Patel said she is “unequivocal” in her support for officers but added: “We need to pull out all the stops to deliver the decline in crime that people want to see.
“There must be no weak spots. These outcomes will be non-negotiable and I will be unapologetic about holding you to account.”
“Together we can lengthen the long arm of the law to ensure no criminals can escape - and, importantly, the public can have the trust in policing that you all deserve.”
Patel told the audience the police deserve “full respect” for the “incredible job” they do. But she said: “I will also be unafraid to challenge you to do more.”
At the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners summit in Westminster, Patel announced an additional £41.5m of funding for forces in 18 areas of the country worst affected by serious violence. She also launched an eight-week consultation on plans to enshrine a Police Covenant in law.
