Boris Johnson news – live: Huawei banned from UK's 5G network, as PM warned of new 'Cold War' with China
Boris Johnson has committed himself to an “independent inquiry” into the handling of the coronavirus crisis for the first time. PMQs also saw Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer call for British Airways to be punished unless it pulls plans to rehire 30,000 staff on worse pay.
Meanwhile, chancellor Rishi Sunak dodged questions over whether the government would honour its elections manifesto commitment not to raise taxes, telling MPs on the treasury committee: “Those decisions are made as always in future budgets.”
It comes as Donald Trump has taken credit for having “convinced” the UK not to use Huawei following the ban from Britain’s 5G networks. Health secretary Matt Hancock denied the US president had forced the decision, saying “we all know Donald Trump don’t we”.
Breaking: Chris Grayling misses out on job chairing Westminster intelligence committee
Boris Johnson’s preferred candidate Chris Grayling has missed out on the chairmanship of the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, after members elected Tory MP Julian Lewis, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.
The former cabinet minister - nicknamed “failing Grayling” after a string of mishaps as justice and transport secretary - had been expected to claim the job after Mr Johnson put forward a committee with a built-in Tory majority.
Dr Lewis's first job will now be to decide on when - and if - to publish the long-delayed report completed by the committee last year under his predecessor Dominic Grieve into Russian efforts to interfere in UK politics.
Tom Peck: Boris Johnson's logic is bulletproof. Every mistake is your fault for not supporting him
Prime Ministers Questions now follows an extremely familiar pattern, writes our political sketch writer Tom Peck.
Every week, Keir Starmer stands up and goes through as many of Boris Johnson’s most recent lies and failures as can be squeezed into the time allowed, and in response Boris Johnson blames him for not being “supportive” enough of the various lies and failures that have just been identified.
This week, we would learn that there is a government report that Johnson hasn’t read but is “aware of” that predicts more than a hundred thousands deaths from Covid-19 over the winter, unless several preventative measures are taken, one of which is getting the test, track and trace system working properly, which it currently does not.
In response, Johnson, doing his very best Donald Trump tribute act, would state again that the system WOULD be “world-leading” and “world-beating”, which he previously said it would be when it was meant to launch two months ago but then didn’t. He would then blame Starmer for “knocking people’s confidence” in the test, track and trace system that doesn’t work, by doing his constitutionally-prescribed job and pointing out that it doesn’t work.
You have to applaud, really. Johnson nods in easy lies all the time, but this was the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of lies – like a brilliant overhead kick from forty yards.
London mayor condemns 'ridiculous' government confusion over its face covering rules
It comes after Downing Street contradicted the health secretary over whether face coverings would be required in takeaway food shops, after Michael Gove was spotted in a Pret without one.
Priti Patel bemoans French refusal to 'break' Channel crossing route
With numbers of desperate migrants attempting to the make the treacherous journey across the Channel at record levels this year, Priti Patel has expressed her displeasure at France's alleged unwillingness to "break this route" by making it "unviable".
The home secretary told MPs on the Home Affairs Committee that she is at loggerheads with France over differing "interpretations" of maritime law, and is trying to convince French authorities that they should intercept boats in French waters and return them to the continent.
"We are fundamentally looking at changing ways of working with France. I've had some very, very, I think it's fair to say, difficult discussions with my French counterpart, even looking at interceptions at sea, because currently the French authorities are not intercepting boats at sea," Ms Patel said.
"And by that I mean boats that are just 250 yards away from the French coast. I feel there could be stronger enforcement measures on the French side and they have heard that from me.
"We want to break this route, we want to make this route unviable, and in my view the only way we can do this is by intercepting and returning the boats back to France."
Asked by the committee if French authorities have powers to intercept boats in French waters, because officials there claimed they do not, she said: "That's absolutely right and that is what we are working to achieve, right down to sharing legal advice, legal guidance in terms of maritime laws.
"A lot of this is governed by maritime laws and the French authorities' interpretations of what they can and can't do at sea. It is our advice that they can go ahead and do that. That has been part of the discussions that we have been having with the French authorities throughout the entire coronavirus crisis."
Her comments come just days after she hailed a "new operational approach" to dealing with crossings after meeting French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and agreeing to set up a Franco-British intelligence cell.
At the same time at least 180 migrants came to the UK across the Channel - a new single-day record - which came just days after some 500 people were brutally evicted from a Calais refugee camp, in the largest crackdown since the "Jungle" was cleared in 2016.
Parliament’s sleaze watchdog has warned that a lack of openness is undermining the Westminster standards system, as she appealed for a new right to name MPs who are under investigation, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.
In 2018, the House of Commons ruled that the Standards Commissioner could no longer reveal details of inquiries which she is undertaking, including the names of MPs under investigation and brief details of the allegations against them.
In her annual report published today, Commissioner Kathryn Stone warned that this left the public with the impression - often for a number of months before the results of the inquiry are published - that serious complaints are being ignored by the authorities.
And she said it allowed MPs to stand for re-election without voters being aware that they are under investigation. Ms Stone also raised concerns over the new Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme introduced following the “Pestminister” scandal over alleged cases of sexual harassment and bullying.
Writing in her annual report, Ms Stone said: “Openness is one of the seven principles of public life. It is a foundation of the parliamentary standards system. I am sorry to say that for the last two years there has been less openness than before about my inquiries."
Downing Street contradicts Matt Hancock on mandatory face coverings in takeaway food shops
The official Downing Street spokesperson has contradicted the health secretary in their attempt to defend Michael Gove's maskless appearance in a Pret a Manger earlier this week.
Matt Hancock had previously told Sky News: "You do need to wear a face mask in Pret because Pret is a shop.
"If there's table service, it is not necessary to have a mask. But in any shop, you do need a mask. So, if you're going up to the counter in Pret to buy takeaway that is a shop ... but if you go to your local pub you can't go to the bar."
But Boris Johnson's spokesperson later gave an alternative explanation, saying: "We will be publishing the full guidance shortly but my understanding is that it wouldn't be mandatory if you went in, for example, to a sandwich shop in order to get a takeaway to wear a face covering.
"It is mandatory ... we are talking about supermarkets and other shops rather than food shops."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also waded backhandedly into the debate, posting a picture of himself in Pret donning a mask - albeit a valved mask, which do not prevent the virus from spreading to others - in an apparent dig at his ministerial colleague.
Some on social media took issue with his choice of venue to make the claim that the VAT cut would save jobs, given the sandwich chain recently closed 30 outlets and at least 1,000 jobs.
The law change on face coverings, announced in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon, came after a period of confusion, described by Labour as "days of ministerial muddle".
Rishi Sunak has defended his controversial jobs retention bonus, describing the £1,000 reward to firms for each employee kept on who would otherwise be laid off constituted a a "significant incentive" for businesses to retain workers.
Mr Sunak was forced to issue a ministerial direction requiring the scheme announced last week to go ahead after the head of HMRC formally questioned whether it represented value for money.
Giving evidence to the Commons Treasury Committee, the Chancellor said the "vast majority" of the government financial support schemes during the coronavirus crisis had required such directions.
"I firmly believe that it will and can make a difference," he said. "I think the way it is designed, particularly for those who are lower paid, it will serve as a significant incentive and reward to those especially small and medium sized companies to protect employment.
"We have the prospect of many people losing their jobs. I am determined to do what I can to protect as many of those jobs as possible and this I believe will help do that."
Government accuses SNP of 'stirring up division' over demands for Brexit extension
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has urged the UK government to "recognise reality" and reconsider its refusal to extend the Brexit transition period beyond 2020 - an idea he said the EU has expressed its "ongoing openness" towards.
He added in the Commons: "We are in unprecedented times. A health pandemic, an economic crisis, the very real threat of a second wave of Covid-19 later this year. Now is the moment for the UK Government to recognise reality and to reconsider its position."
Mr Blackford said the Covid-19 crisis has "exemplified" how Scotland could "govern itself better as an independent, small country", adding: "Nicola Sturgeon scores more highly with English voters than the prime minister.
"It's now impossible for the UK government to deny Scotland a choice over its future. The prime minister may be the best recruiting tool for Scottish independence since Margaret Thatcher." Credit: Parliament TV In response, Cabinet Office minister Penny Mordaunt said Westminster has been clear the Brexit transition period will not be extended, telling MPs: "Some might argue that it's not only undesirable to do so but now impossible."
She added: "Sadly, the purpose of this debate is not to influence or secure change, or even to suggest any further practical measures that could help business.
"This Opposition Day Debate is designed to do what Scottish nationalists always try and do, sadly, to further divide, to sow seeds of doubt, to undermine confidence and highlight differences right at the moment when everyone should be pulling and working together.
"Stirring up division is clearly something members opposite enjoy and I've never understood those motivations in politics, even though, if that is what floats your boat, to do it now when we should be maximising the benefits, focusing on those benefits for the whole of the United Kingdom for the sake of all of our citizens, well I find that truly amazing.
"It shows sadly the SNP and anyone else supporting them today will have learnt nothing from the last few years."
Rishi Sunak refuses to say whether government will break commitment not to raise taxes
Facing MPs on the Commons Treasury Committee, the chancellor refused to be drawn on whether the government would be able to honour the commitment in the 2019 Tory manifesto not to put up income tax, national insurance or VAT.
"Our ambition is to deliver on all the priorities that we set out but on any questions on future tax policy I can't comment one way or another. Those decisions are made as always in future budgets," he said.
It comes hours after shadow chancellor, Anneliese Dodds warned that raising taxes would be "dangerous" and make it harder for Britain's economy to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Dodds said Labour's support would not be guaranteed if the government went ahead with a rise in capital gains tax, warning against "last-minute decisions around tax without appropriate scrutiny and without proper planning".
Rishi Sunak told the committee that he wants to restore the public finances to a "sustainable footing" over the "medium term" following the coronavirus crisis, saying: "Strong and sustainable public finances are important. That is something over the medium term we will want to return the public finances to."
Starmer would ‘probably’ be PM if election held tomorrow, says polling guru
Keir Starmer would “probably” become prime minister if an election were held tomorrow, according to polling guru Peter Kellner.
The former YouGov president has analysed the latest survey data – and forecast a swing of 70 seats to Labour. Such a result would put the Tories on 295 seats and Labour on 272, leaving Boris Johnson well short of a majority
“They [the Conservatives] would remain the largest party in parliament, but with too few MPs to stay in office,” Kellner wrote for The European. “Keir Starmer would probably become prime minister.”
Government must address ‘injustice’ of excluded self-employed, say MPs
A group of MPs and campaigners have delivered a 350,000-strong petition to the Treasury today – on behalf of the three million people who have been excluded from extended financial support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The petition calling for small limited company directors to also be eligible for the government support of 80 per cent of earnings, and will be delivered alongside other petitions including one to support people who started jobs after February 2020.
Caroline Lucas MP, who is co-chair of the ExcludedUK APPG said: “Unsurprisingly, the [self-employed] feel completely abandoned as they’ve been left with nothing.
“The fact that more than 200 MPs joined the Excluded parliamentary group shows the depth of feeling among MPs who represent areas across the country. There is a deep injustice to this, and the government has to address it.”
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said the cracks in support had become “fissures”.
‘No opportunity’ for more support schemes, says Sunak
Rishi Sunak has been answering MPs questions at the Treasury committee hearing – and said there is “no opportunity to introduce new schemes” to support the UK’s workforce right now.
Tory MP and committee chair Mel Stride asked about the plight of the self-employed, many of whom have been excluded from jobs support schemes because of “administrative complexity”.
Sunak apologised that he could not do more but said there is “no opportunity to introduce new schemes” now.
Rishi Sunak at Treasury committee hearing with Treasury strategy director Dan York-Smith (Parliament TV)
Test and trace: ‘As good or better’ than any system in the world?
Downing Street was unable to provide any evidence to back up Boris Johnson’s claim that the test and trace service is “as good as or better than” any other system in the world.
When pressed, the PM’s official spokesman instead said: “We’ve talked in recent weeks about the number of people who test and trace have been identifying.
“As of last Thursday, it had reached more than 144,000 close contacts of people who tested positive for coronavirus who might have otherwise unknowingly have spread the virus.”
Downing Street was unable to give any further details about the nature of the independent inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus crisis committed to by Boris Johnson in the Commons during PMQs.
Pressed on whether it will be judge-led, when it will begin or whether it will be under the 2005 Inquiries Act, a No 10 spokesman said: “It’s an independent inquiry. I haven’t got any more detail for you on how it would work. We will set that out in due course.”
PM accused of lacking compassion after making ‘Calvin Klein briefs’ joke
Boris Johnson has come in for a bit of flak over his remark about “Calvin Klein briefs” when questioned in the Commons.
The joke came in response to a question about bereaved relatives during the coronavirus crisis. “I think it tells you everything you need to know about the prime minister’s flippant approach to this crisis and his style of leadership,” the Labour leader’s spokesman said later.
“That’s hardly the response of the party of compassionate Conservatism.”
Two-third of public unaffected by economic crisis in past month
64 per cent of people told YouGov the coronavirus crisis has had no impact on their household finances in the last month. But only 40 per cent don’t expect any damage to their finances in the year ahead.
Raising taxes would be “dangerous” and make it harder for the economy to recover from the pandemic, Labour’s shadow chancellor has said.
Anneliese Dodds on Wednesday warned that Labour’s support would not be guaranteed if the government went ahead with a rise in capital gains tax, warning against “last-minute decisions around tax … without proper planning”.
Laying out Labour’s preferred economic strategy for the pandemic she told a seminar that the government should prioritise a return to growth, and that tax rises would be counterproductive reducing demand.
The Treasury announced this week that it would be reviewing capital gains tax, with some suggestions that the wealthy could be asked to pay more.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more details:
‘EU should be clear in standing by Britain’, says leading German politician
A leading German politician has back the UK’s decision to ban Huawei from its 5G network. Norbert Röttgen, a former minister under Angela Merkel and the current chair of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee – said the EU “should be clear in standing by” Britain.
