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.
The row 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 respected Institute for Fiscal Studies said chancellor Rishi Sunak will have to hike taxes – or entrench austerity – to pay for a “giveaway” budget, while Sajid Javid warned his successor not to go on a spending splurge.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Good morning and welcome The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
Chancellor will have to raise taxes or entrench austerity, says IFS
Rishi Sunak will have to hike taxes or entrench austerity to pay for a spending splurge in the upcoming budget, according to a respected think tank.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said Sunak will have to abandon fiscal commitments in the Tory manifesto – or increase taxes next month – if he wants to avoid cuts to day-to-day spending.
Some £54bn would be needed to reverse cuts to public spending outside of health since 2010, the think tank said, which is still 26 per cent lower than a decade ago.
The IFS also warned that cuts to some benefits that would leave poorer families worse off were working their way through the system.
Chancellor will have to raise taxes or entrench austerity to pay for Budget spending splurge, IFS warns
Sunak must 'recognise that more spending must require more tax', says respected think tankTory minister defends MP who exposed himself – dismissing incident as youthful indiscretion
The police minister Kit Malthouse has defended a Tory MP facing calls to resign after a video emerged which shows him exposing himself to a woman in a pub.
James Grundy, the new MP for Leigh since December, has apologised for the 2007 incident at the Rams Head Inn in Wigan. Footage obtained by LBC captures Grundy lowering his trousers and lifting his shirt to expose his genitals, as requested by a woman heard off camera.
“I’m sure there are lots of things people have done when they teenagers that they may not have contemplated would surface,” Malthouse told Sky News.
“He’s a young man, and he was even younger then.”
DWP reviews into benefit claimants’ deaths kept ‘hush-hush’, says Labour
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of dealing in a “secretive and unsatisfactory way” with reviews into cases of benefit claimants who have gone on to take their own lives.
Labour MP Stephen Timms, chairman of the Commons work and pensions committee, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the department had been looking to keep the reviews “hush, hush”.
It comes after the DWP had been found to have destroyed reviews into suicides that took place more than five years ago, citing data protection laws.
Timms said he was “sympathetic” to families of loved ones who feared a cover-up. “I think families should be entitled to see these reports. The law does not specify five years or six years, and I think this kind of information should be held for longer.”
The MP also told the BBC that his committee plans to write to the DWP about the issue of reviews into cases where benefit claimants have taken their own lives to call for “clarification and improvements”.
Timms said: “I think all of this raises very troubling questions for the department. For a long time they refused to address them at all. Now they’re starting to address them but in a very secretive and unsatisfactory way.
“I think for a long time they were very reluctant to accept that what they were doing had contributed to these deaths at all.
“I think they are now being forced to own up to the fact. That is happening, but they're doing it very reluctantly and very slowly and trying to keep the thing as hush-hush as possible, and it’s not good enough.”
What are the red lines that could block a Brexit trade deal?
It looks like someone’s red lines will have to turn pink, or we’re headed for a no-deal disaster at the end of 2020.
EU ministers have signed off on a 46-page mandate for trade talks beginning next week – and chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK must agree to a “level playing field” on rules and regulations or there won’t be any deal. “We will not conclude an agreement at any price,” he said.
No 10 – due to publish the UK’s mandate on Thursday – decided to issue a response in five tweets. Downing Street demanded “autonomy” to set its own rules and claimed the EU had forged a deal with the US “without the kind of level playing field commitments ... they have put in today’s mandate.”
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has taken a closer look at both sides’ demands.
What are the red lines that could block a Brexit trade deal?
The negotiations between the UK and EU begin on Monday and could founder over fish, finance, data or regulationsRussia report release taking ‘quite a lot of time’, admits minister
Police minister Kit Malthouse said he had “no idea” when the government’s report into Russian interference in the UK would be released.
“It does seem to have been quite a lot of time ... when I get back to office I’ll check,” he told Kay Burley on Sky News.
Asked if he would come back on and tell the public, Malthouse replied: “Certainly will once I know, yes.”
The minister also claimed “glutinous harmony” has broken out in the Home Office following the tit-for-tat anonymous briefings and allegations of bullying against home secretary Priti Patel.
Patel and permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam released a joint statement on Monday to deny reports of a deep rift at the top of the department.
Asked if his boss Patel was a bully, Malthouse replied: “I haven’t witnessed any of that. To be honest with you, I’m totally focused on crime. Everybody in the Home Office is focused on that, rather than on the sort of soap opera, I’m afraid.”
London mayor backs Starmer in Labour leadership race
Sadiq Khan has thrown his backing behind Sir Keir Starmer to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.
Labour’s Mayor of London tweeted: “I will be voting for Keir-Starmer to be the next Labour leader. I've known Keir for decades. He’s the best person to unite our party, take the fight to the Tories and put Labour in government.”
Sir Keir said he was “honoured” to have Khan’s support. He tweeted: “I’m honoured to have received Sadiq’s backing to be the next Labour leader. Sadiq is demonstrating that Labour in power can change lives. I look forward to campaigning alongside him to keep London Labour.”
DWP destroyed reports into people who killed themselves after benefits were stopped
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more now on claims of a “cover-up” at the department for work and pensions (DWP).
After destroying reports into suicides linked to benefits being stopped, the DWP was accused by Labour of “trying to keep the thing as hush-hush as possible”.
Around 50 reviews into deaths following the loss of social security payments before 2015 have been shredded, officials have admitted – blaming data protection laws.
Yet has said there was no requirement to destroy the reports by any particular date and that a “public interest” exemption could have been used.
More details here:
DWP destroyed reports into people who killed themselves after benefits were stopped
Up to 50 reviews into deaths following harsh social security cuts and sanctions have been shredded, officials admitTime has come for ‘major’ defence review, says top Tory MP
Boris Johnson’s defence review – billed as the most wide-ranging look at Britain’s foreign and security policy since the Cold War – has been welcomed by the Commons foreign affairs committee chairman.
Tom Tugendhat MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is really the first serious defence review in 10 years. Its time really has come.
“The last really major review, I would argue, was in 1997, which was 23 years ago.”
Asked about reports that the PM is considering cutting the Army but upping defence spending overall, Tugendhat said: “I want this to be foreign policy-led, so let’s see what the foreign policy aims that the government sets out are.
“Once they have set out that aim, let’s look at the tools you need to achieve it. And I don’t know whether those tools are going to be more ships, more men, more aircraft. But let’s have a look at it properly and strategically.”
PM visiting flood-hit residents ‘wouldn’t make any difference’, says minister
The environment secretary George Eustice defended Boris Johnson over the PM’s failure to visit any flood-hit communities last week – claiming it would not have made “any difference”.
“He wanted me to lead on it, and it’s entirely right that in a cabinet government secretaries of state lead on issues that are relevant to them,” he said.
Asked why Johnson was able to visit flood affected residents during the election campaign in November, Eustice said: “We were in what’s called purdah period so ministers weren’t in the department and that made it harder, initially, for civil servants to make the decisions they needed to.
“That is why the prime minister felt the need to get involved at that point.”
Asked if it would have helped him, Eustice said: “I don’t think it makes any difference at all … a visit from the prime minister would not have affected the way we’ve approached this crisis.”
Starmer ‘best placed’ to win general election, says Khan
The mayor of London has been speaking on LBC about why he has endorsed Keir Starmer to be the next Labour leader.
“I want Labour to return to power as soon as possible. I think Keir is best placed to do that,” said Khan – insisting the “one more heave” approach of the party at December’s election would not work.
He said: “You have to compromise with the electorate. As someone who believes in democracy and winning elections, the electorate is always right.”
‘History was lost – now it’s found’: Secret passageway discovered in Commons
A secret doorway used during a 17th-century royal coronation has been discovered in the House of Commons.
The hidden walkway – thought to have been used by political luminaries such as diarist Samuel Pepys and Robert Walpole – had originally been established for Charles II’s coronation in 1660 to allow guests to process to the new king's celebratory banquet.
Historians thought it had been filled in during reconstruction work after the palace was bombed during World War II – but it was rediscovered following recent investigative work by parliament's architecture and heritage team.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I am so proud of our staff … history was lost and now it’s found.”
Graffiti written by bricklayers who helped restore the palace following the fire in 1834 was also discovered during the works. One sentence of the graffiti reads: “This room was enclosed by Tom Porter who was very fond of Ould Ale.”
Priti Patel tells police chiefs she’s ‘unafraid’ to challenge them
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.
Boris Johnson faces Jeremy Corbyn for PMQs amid criticism over floods response
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.
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.
PM accused of ‘sulking in grace and favour mansion’ on flood response
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.
PM is giving 'trite answers' on flooding says Corbyn
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.
Labour leader accuses Boris Johnson of being a 'part-time PM'
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.
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.
