Boris Johnson is struggling to convince the public Brexit is over, as a new poll shows only 15 per cent of people believe he has fully fulfilled his promise to “get Brexit done”.
It comes as the Mr Johnson faces a cronyism row by preparing to give a peerage to billionaire Brexit backer and Tory party donor Peter Cruddas. One of the City’s richest people, he is reportedly on No 10’s list of nominees for the controversial dissolution honours.
Meanwhile Donald Trump blasted Mr Johnson with “apoplectic” rage during a heated phone call – turning “livid” over the decision to allow Huawei into Britain’s 5G network, according to a report.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
Trump turned ‘apoplectic’ in call with Johnson over Huawei
Donald Trump was reportedly “apoplectic” with Boris Johnson during a phone call to discuss the PM’s decision to allow Chinese firm Huawei a role in the UK’s 5G mobile phone network.
Citing unnamed officials in London and Washington, the Financial Times said the president was livid during the exchange last week
The paper said one individual who was briefed on the contents of the call said Trump was “apoplectic” and “livid”. It cited another who said the call was “very difficult” and the president’s tone had taken British officials aback.
When asked about the FT report, Johnson’s office said they had nothing to add to a statement released soon after the leaders’ call to discuss the Huawei decision.
Trump ‘apoplectic’ with Johnson over Huawei decision, report claims
PM’s office refuses to comment further on conversation between two leaders last monthOverhaul ‘deeply flawed’ universal credit, Keir Starmer demands
The Labour leadership hopeful has urged ministers to use the upcoming domestic abuse legislation to overhaul universal credit to protect survivors from controlling partners.
Starmer warned that joint payments of the benefit risk trapping women in abusive relationships, as the current system allows abusers to take control of a household’s finances.
He has appealed to ministers to split universal credit payments between couples by default, rather than automatically requiring couples who live together to make a single claim.
All the details here:
Keir Starmer demands overhaul of 'deeply flawed' universal credit to protect domestic abuse survivors
Exclusive: Current system gives controlling partners ‘easy mechanism’ to commit financial abuse, warns Labour leadership contenderJeremy Hunt calls for national inquiry into NHS maternity safety
The new chair of the health and social care select committee has made clear he is not going to take a back seat in the role.
In an interview with The Independent, the Tory MP called for an independent inquiry into maternity safety across the NHS in the wake of a string of hospital scandals and backed our campaign to reinstate the maternity safety fund.
“The case is becoming unanswerable,” Hunt said of a potential investigation.
In November we revealed Britain’s largest maternity scandal at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust – where dozens of babies and mothers died due to poor care.
Our health correspondent Shaun Lintern has the story:
Jeremy Hunt calls for national inquiry into NHS maternity safety after repeated scandals
Exclusive: In his first interview as new chair of select committee, former health secretary backs The Independent’s campaign to keep mothers and babies safePM set to hand peerage to billionaire Tory Brexiteer donor
Boris Johnson is poised to trigger a cronyism row by handing a peerage to a billionaire Conservative party donor and Brexit backer.
Peter Cruddas, one of the City’s richest men, is on a list of No 10 nominees for the controversial dissolution honours to be handed out this month, Sky News revealed.
Cruddas – one of the founders of the Vote Leave campaign who has also donated more than £3.5m to the Conservative Party – quit as Tory treasurer after cash-for-access allegations in.
More details here:
Boris Johnson to trigger cronyism row by awarding peerage to billionaire Tory Brexiteer donor
Ex-party treasurer Peter Cruddas, one of the City’s richest men, is revealed to be on a list of nomineesNew details in Mackay texting scandal emerge
The SNP’s Derek Mackay was a party favourite and tipped as possible successor to Nicola Sturgeon. But his career is now in jeopardy after details of hundreds of texts sent to a 16-year-old boy – he called the teenager “cute” and invited him to dinner – were revealed by The Scottish Sun.
He quit as Scotland’s finance secretary, was suspended by his party, and faced calls to resign as MSP for Renfrewshire North and West.
It has emerged this morning that Mackay had enthusiastically backed a campaign to protect teenagers from harassment, and reportedly wrote to head teachers to say how keen he was to meet school pupils.
According to The Times, Mackay last year wrote on Facebook: “One of the things I enjoy most about being an MSP is visiting schools in the constituency to speak to youngsters of all ages. I hope to be able to visit as many local schools as possible.
“I have written to all head teachers in the constituency to let them know I am happy to visit and am available and ready to face some enjoyable grillings from our leaders of tomorrow.”
‘I missed all the drama and just found the poo’: Panic in parliament as fox runs free
A fox was found running loose in parliament last night – leading staff on a merry chase through the halls at the heart of British democracy.
The animal managed to infiltrate the highest level of Portcullis House and left excrement outside the office of a Labour MP.
“So apparently there was a fox running around in Portcullis House atrium about half an hour ago, and now I’ve just found this outside my office (two floors up!),” wrote Kerry McCarthy, Labour’s former shadow environment minister, on Twitter.
“I can’t believe I missed all the drama and just found the poo.”
Police eventually captured the fox, escorting it out of the building under a box.
Fox runs loose in parliament before being escorted out in box by police
MPs and civil servants watch on as animal infiltrates Westminster buildingRebecca Long-Bailey wants workers to be able switch off phones out of hours
The Labour leadership candidate has pledged to give workers the legal right to switch off their phones outside of the office in a bid to end 24/7 work culture.
“We can work hard, be paid for the work we do and keep that precious time with our friends and family, uninterrupted by emails or demands,” said Long-Bailey.
It comes after France passed laws to give workers the “right to disconnect”, forcing companies with more than 50 workers the right to ignore their mobile.
Rebecca Long-Bailey pledges workers can turn phones off out of hours
'We can work hard ... and keep that precious time with our friends and family, uninterrupted by emails or demands,' says leadership hopefulTracy Brabin auctions off ‘shouldergate’ dress for Girl Guides
The Labour MP is selling the off-the-shoulder dress that has caused such a stir after she wore it in the Commons.
Her eBay listing claims that the ASOS dress has been selling fast online as a result of the coverage and that any money raised will be donated to Girlguiding UK.
“Black dress worn by Tracy Brabin MP in ‘shouldergate’ as widely covered across the media,” the listing reads.
“This is an ASOS dress which has been flying off the shelves as a result of the coverage – and is now sold out!”
Commentator storms off GMB during debate about austerity
Radio presenter and broadcaster Iain stormed off ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier after accusing the show’s hosts and fellow guests of speaking over him.
Dale appeared with Nihal Arthanayake and Grace Blakeley to discuss Jonty Bravery, the teenager who threw a young child from the balcony of the Tate Modern last year.
Clearly getting frustrated as the debate veered into discussion of Tory cuts to care services and austerity measures, Dale said: “I won’t speak” – before taking off his mic and walking out live on air.
“No, no – Iain don’t go,” said host Ben Shephard.
Iain Dale storms off GMB during debate on Tate gallery attack and social cuts
Broadcaster said the interview was not the ‘civilised discussion’ he was used to
Former SNP activist claims Mackay sent dozens of unwanted messages – and asked for ‘naughty pics’
More allegations about the MSP Derek Mackay. An ex-SNP activist has alleged that former Scottish finance secretary sent him dozens of unwanted messages over a period of four years.
Shaun Cameron, 25, has told the Daily Record that Mackay contacted him on Facebook after meeting him at an SNP event when he was 21, and said some of the messages he received from the politician were “quite suggestive”.
Cameron, who is straight, alleges that in January 2017 Mackay asked “Are these conversations just between us?” and, when the younger man said yes, invited him to stay over in Edinburgh.
In September that year Mackay allegedly asked “Got any naughty pics?”
Meanwhile, the deputy first minister John Swinney defended the Scottish government’s response to the allegations that appeared in The Scottish Sun on Thursday.
Appearing on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland show, Swinney was asked about the government putting up “hurdles to try and stop the story” and asking to be told the boy’s name.
He said: “The government became aware of these allegations at about 6pm on Wednesday night and because of the significance of what was being put to us, we simply asked for information to give us the veracity and the substance of the points that were being put to us.
“We saw nothing in writing until we saw the first edition of The Sun later on Wednesday evening, so we were simply asking for the detail we would ask for in any situation where allegations are being put to us.”
Women get more scrutiny over appearance than men, says Rebecca Long-Bailey
The Labour leadership candidate was on BBC Breakfast earlier and was asked about the online flak received by Tracy Brabin for her over-the-shoulder dress.
“After this morning there will be comments about what I’ve wore,” said Long-Bailey. “Some people tend to talk about my eyebrows – because I’ve got quite expressive eyebrows. And women tend to get that scrutiny far more than men.
“It’s routine for women in politics and in public life unfortunately … I don’t read it, I’m not bothered about it – but it’s not acceptable.”
Asked about how her ideas differed those put forward under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, Long-Bailey said she would “add to our portfolio of policies”.
PM appoints UK’s first ever female ambassador to Washington
Boris Johnson has announced Sir Kim Darroch successor as the UK’s ambassador in Washington.
Dame Karen Pierce – currently ambassador to the United Nations – will become the country’s first ever female ambassador to the US.
Downing Street described Pierce as “one of the UK’s most experienced senior diplomats”.
A spokesperson said: “The prime minister is clear that she is an outstanding and accomplished diplomat and he is delighted that she will be representing us in Washington.”
Dame Karen will take up her post once her appointment has been formally agreed by Washington.
UK sending ‘outstanding diplomat’ to US, says Dominic Raab
Reacting to appointment of Dame Karen Pierce as Britain’s new Washington envoy, the foreign secretary said: “We’re proud to be sending to Washington such an outstanding diplomat, and I warmly congratulate her on her appointment.”
‘British politics is more corrupt than many like to think’
More reaction to the possible peerage for billionaire Tory donor and Brexit-backer Peter Cruddas.
Boris Johnson is understood to have nominated the former Tory party treasurer – despite the fact he quit the role in 2012 after cash-for-access allegations (it was alleged by The Sunday Times he had offered access to the-PM David Cameron).
Labour peer Andrew Adonis said: “Johnson is packing the Lords with Tories”, while columnist Ian Birrell commented: “British politics is more corrupt than many like to think.”
PM chats with Rebekah Brooks – and surprises his dad by turning up at awards
Boris Johnson was joined by celebrities and members of the armed forces at The Sun’s awards ceremony recognising the contributions of the British military last night.
His father Stanley Johnson said he was “delighted” that his son would be joining him at the event, after initially having “no idea” that the PM would be attending.
Johnson was also spotted speaking to News UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks.
New ambassador to US will ‘drive forward’ special relationship, says PM
Boris Johnson said Dame Karen Pierce was “an outstanding and accomplished diplomat” and said she would “drive forward our hugely important relationship with the United States at this time”.
Her appointment comes amid reports that the president was “apoplectic” at Johnson’s decision last week to give Huawei a role in building the UK's 5G network.
The Financial Times reported that British officials were taken aback by the force of Trump’s language when the Prime Minister telephoned to explain the move.
No 10 declines to comment on claims on angry phone call between PM and Trump
Asked whether the new US ambassador’s first job would be to smooth relations with the White House following Donald Trump’s reportedly “apoplectic” response to Mr Johnson’s decision to allow Huawei a role in the UK’s 5G network, a No 10 spokesman said: “The UK has an excellent relationship with the US and I think Dame Karen’s ability as a diplomat is proven by her career.”
The spokesman declined to comment on reports that Trump slammed down the phone on his conversation with Johnson, instead referring reporters to Downing Street’s official account of the call, which made no mention of any disagreement.
Everything you need to know about the election in Ireland
Ireland heads to the polls at the weekend for what looks like a fascinating election. The Independent's Ben Kelly has all the details on what to look out for - and is running our liveblog here.
Tory MP gives thumbs-up to French conspiracy theorists
A Conservative MP has endorsed a conspiracist group on the fringes of French politics.
Andrea Jenkyns approvingly shared an article in TheDaily Express celebrating the Union Populaire Républicaine’s campaign for France to leave the EU, and asked “Is Frexit next?” before posting a thumbs-up emoji.
The Union Populaire Républicaine is a hard-right outfit founded in 2007 by conspiracy theorist politician François Asselineau. He has claimed that the hand of the CIA can be seen in the founding of the common market and that its founding fathers like Robert Schuman were likely CIA agents.
It follows criticism of another Tory MP, Daniel Kawczynski, for speaking at a conference of far-right parties in Rome earlier this week.
Our Europe correspondent Jon Stone has the details:
