Closing summary
- Theresa May has told Vladimir Putin “the use of a deadly nerve agent” in Salisbury was “part of a wider pattern of unacceptable behaviour” during a bilateral at the G20. The UK prime minister and Russian president shared a frosty handshake at the start of their meeting. May’s spokeswoman said the PM had told Russia the UK had “irrefutable evidence” Moscow was behind the attack.
- Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt faced questions from Tory members at the latest leadership hustings in Exeter. Johnson reiterated his promise that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October and refused to rule out proroguing parliament to circumvent MPs blocking a no-deal exit. Hunt on the other hand said he did not see 31 October as a hard deadline. He said if there is a deal in sight, he would not rip it up and leave without one. Hunt ruled out bringing May’s withdrawal agreement to another Commons vote.
- One of the questions was about Iran, with Johnson praising Donald Trump for “talking sense” on the country and accusing Tehran of being “bent on all sorts of mischief”. He added: “We need to very vigilant about Iran and that government.”
- Hunt spoke about his regret over the handling of the junior doctors’ dispute, which began in 2016. It ended this week when junior doctors agreed a new contract, which comes with an 8.2% pay rise over four years. “What I realised is I wasn’t getting [the] message across to junior doctors themselves,” Hunt said. “I was getting the message across to Conservative members, but not these 51,000 junior doctors, who work amazingly hard and are the future of the NHS.”
- The Irish PM, Leo Varadkar, said the EU would not reopen the withdrawal agreement, no matter who became the next prime minister. He told a summit in Manchester the EU “mean what we say”.
- Ian Paisley challenged the BBC over a programme that made claims about him taking luxury foreign holidays. He said the broadcaster should provide evidence to the parliamentary standards commissioner. Paisley told the BBC: “If the BBC think I have done anything wrong, all the BBC has to do is to submit evidence to the parliamentary commissioner. The independent authority can examine on all of those matters and make their own ruling. That’s the only comment I can make.”
That’s it from us for today. Thanks very much for following and your comments BTL.
Irish PM says EU 'mean what we say' about not re-opening the withdrawal agreement
Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, said whoever became the UK’s next prime minister would get a “fair hearing” from the EU but warned “we mean what we say” about not re-opening negotiations on the withdrawal agreement.
Varadkar spoke alongside the UK’s minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington, and Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the end of a British-Irish Council summit meeting in Manchester.
He said “it needs to be understood that we mean what we say”.
“That is: the withdrawal agreement won’t be re-opened, without a backstop there will be no transition period or implementation phase, but that we are willing to examine the joint political declaration and make amendments to that if that enables us to proceed to an orderly Brexit with a guarantee there will be no hard border between north and south, which is our shared objective.”
Lidington said Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt had both said they did not want a no-deal Brexit, and it was important to “take their word on that”.
He also said it was clear tariffs and checks would be applied to UK trade on day one of a “no-deal crash-out”.
But he said there would be a window when EU leaders would want to hear what Theresa May’s successor had to say, and the government’s position was still to leave with a deal.
Sturgeon said there was a “real danger” of no-deal becoming inevitable – and it was futile to waste time trying to re-negotiate.
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Theresa May has called the Salisbury poisoning a “truly despicable act”.
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Ian Paisley has challenged the BBC to present any evidence of alleged wrongdoing to a parliamentary watchdog following the latest claims about him taking luxury foreign holidays.
Paisley said the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Kathryn Stone, could examine the issues raised.
The DUP North Antrim MP declined to be drawn on the specifics of Tuesday’s night’s BBC Spotlight programme, which included a claim that an undeclared family holiday to the Maldives was partly paid for by a former government minister in the Indian Ocean country.
Paisley told the BBC: “If the BBC think I have done anything wrong, all the BBC has to do is to submit evidence to the parliamentary commissioner.
“The independent authority can examine on all of those matters and make their own ruling. That’s the only comment I can make.”
Asked if his constituents deserved a fuller explanation, he added: “Don’t worry about my constituents; my constituents and me have a very good and sound relationship.”
Paisley was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days for “serious misconduct” for failing to declare two family holidays to Sri Lanka in 2013.
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Local independents have prised away a seat in Mansfield previously held by a Labour councillor who narrowly defeated them to win a mayoral poll in May.
The Labour loss came at the hands of the Mansfield Independent Forum in the Sandhurst ward of Mansfield district council.
The seat had been vacated by Labour’s Andy Abrahams after he won the directly elected Mansfield mayoral poll on 2 May.
He won by just two votes against the Mansfield Independent Forum candidate, Kate Allsop, in the second round of counting under the single transferable vote system.
Mansfield Independent Forum now has 14 of the 36 seats on the council, while Labour also has 14 plus the mayoralty.
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Lunchtime summary
- Theresa May has told Vladimir Putin “the use of a deadly nerve agent” in Salisbury was “part of a wider pattern of unacceptable behaviour” during a bilateral at the G20. The UK prime minister and Russian president shared a frosty handshake at the start of their meeting. May’s spokeswoman said the PM had told Russia the UK had “irrefutable evidence” Moscow was behind the attack.
- Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt faced questions from Tory members at the latest leadership hustings in Exeter. Johnson reiterated his promise that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October and refused to rule out proroguing parliament to circumvent MPs blocking a no-deal exit. Hunt on the other hand said he did not see 31 October as a hard deadline. He said if there is a deal in sight, he would not rip it up and leave without one. Hunt ruled out bringing May’s withdrawal agreement to another Commons vote.
- One of the questions was about Iran, with Johnson praising Donald Trump for “talking sense” on the country and accusing Tehran of being “bent on all sorts of mischief”. He added: “We need to very vigilant about Iran and that government.”
- Hunt spoke about his regret over the handling of the junior doctors’ dispute, which began in 2016. It ended this week when junior doctors agreed a new contract, which comes with an 8.2% pay rise over four years. “What I realised is I wasn’t getting [the] message across to junior doctors themselves,” Hunt said. “I was getting the message across to Conservative members, but not these 51,000 junior doctors, who work amazingly hard and are the future of the NHS.”
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Hunt believes “it is wrong for parliament to take no deal off the table … if they do that, we’re less likely to get a deal.”
He has now left the stage to bring the hustings to an end.
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Hunt says he would “love” to have Boris Johnson in his cabinet if he becomes prime minister, saying “he has changed the course of our history through his leadership of the leave campaign”.
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Boris the bus builder? Johnson just couldn't help himself | John Crace https://t.co/A4HRtTGLbL
— Guardian politics (@GdnPolitics) June 28, 2019
Hunt says he cannot understand why there are “far too many drugs in our prisons”.
He believes too many young people leave school without sufficient reading and writing skills.
Hunt also cites a study in Iceland about how parents spending time with their children led to young people being less likely to develop problems including obesity.
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Jeremy Hunt: 'the root cause of what's going on in the Middle East is the fact Iran is sponsoring terrorism all over the Middle East.'
— Olly Barratt (@ollybarratt) June 28, 2019
The foreign secretary has spoken of his regrets over the handling of the junior doctors dispute, which began in 2016 and he described as “bitter and difficult”.
“What I realised is I wasn’t getting [the] message across to junior doctors themselves,” Hunt says.
“I was getting the message across to Conservative members, but not these 51,000 junior doctors, who work amazingly hard and are the future of the NHS.
“What I learned is as Conservatives, we have to be better on social media. They are getting information from Facebook and Twitter.
“As prime minister, I want to approach social media in a different way, your thinking, dilemmas. I am not saying go Trump on social media, but we have to engage.”
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Hunt has ruled out bringing Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement back before the House of Commons.
On why he will not commit to leaving the EU by 31 October, he said: “If you make it a hard deadline and parliament stops you then you have to have a general election … and we would be crucified.”
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Hunt said character mattered in choosing the next Tory leader but politicians’ private lives should not be part of the process.
“We all have things in our private life, things that we did 20 years ago that we would not want our mum and dad to find out about … I’ve got lots and I’m not going to tell you, Ian, sorry – and my wife is sitting in the front row, so that’s another reason,” he said.
“I think when we are in a constitutional crisis, frankly the biggest constitutional crisis of my lifetime, it demeans that competition if we start having huge discussions about people’s private lives, and I think we should stick to the issues facing the country.”
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On university tuition fees, Hunt said: “I do worry some of the courses do not offer students value for money, if you have £50,000-£60,000 debt and do not have the prospect of earning enough to pay that debt back.”
He added: “I cannot justify why the interest rate on student loans is 6%, I just don’t think it’s fair. It risks discrediting the system.”
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Jeremy Hunt has said he is committed to HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, but delays to its opening are frustrating, comparing it to the railway network in Osaka being built within two years.
He added that “the train service to Devon and Cornwall is totally inadequate”.
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Jeremy Hunt repeats that "I think that everyone should be able to earn £1000 a month without paying any tax or National Insurance" but doesn't commit to how or when he would do it.
— Chris Mason (@ChrisMasonBBC) June 28, 2019
When asked whether he would abolish inheritance and capital gains tax, Hunt said: “I would like to reduce lots of taxes.
“Inheritance tax is one of the most unfair taxes. I said I would have a radical cut to corporation tax to fire up the economy.”
Hunt added that business rates are “absolutely crippling”.
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On the proposal for milkshakes to be covered by the sugar tax, Hunt said he spent six years trying not to go into McDonald’s during his time as health secretary, but eventually succumbed to temptation.
“I like my milkshakes. We do need to tackle our obesity crisis. It disproportionately affects people from poorer families,” he said.
“The quickest way is for people who manufacture milkshakes to reduce the sugar in them. You threaten them, you don’t need to follow through with the dreaded sugar tax.”
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Jeremy Hunt says he doesn't see 31 October as a 'hard deadline' for Brexit
Jeremy Hunt has said 31 October is not a “hard deadline” for Britain to exit the EU.
“We both [he and Boris Johnson] want to get out by 31 October,” he said. If there is a deal in sight in the week leading up to it, I am not going to rip the whole thing out and leave. I would be prepared to leave without a deal if there isn’t one in sight.”
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On Theresa May’s talks with Vladimir Putin today at the G20 summit, Jeremy Hunt said: “It is possible to rebuild relations if Russia changes its behaviour. Last year, Russia used chemical weapons on British soil [in Salisbury]. My worry about Russia is they are up to their old tricks.
“My dad was in the navy – thanks to that generation, we won the cold war. I will increase spending on defence by 2.5% [of] GDP over five years.”
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Jeremy Hunt promises to get more young people to vote Conservative and pledges he will not cause an election before delivering on Brexit.
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The foreign secretary said that if elected he would be the “first prime minister you have had who was an entrepreneur”.
He told the audience: “What do entrepreneurs do? We negotiate. You have to be prepared to walk away if you don’t get the deal you want. Secondly, you have to figure out what the other guys want to do.”
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Jeremy Hunt is on stage.
He begins by asking the audience, if you live in Devon for two years as he did, are you a local or a “grockle”? The audience seems to go with the latter.
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Tory hustings - bigger standing ovation at end of Boris Johnson’s turn in Exeter compared with Bournemouth last night. Perhaps 30/40 rose.
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
Guardian readers have been discussing Brexit, Vladimir Putin and the hostile environment below the line, in comments compiled by my colleague Gerry Hart. You can share your own thoughts by commenting here:
‘Everyone now assumes it’s going to be a no-deal Brexit’
I had an interesting chat yesterday with a big cheese from my chamber of commerce. Three things are worth reporting here. One, everyone now assumes it’s going to be a no deal, except for things like air travel, security, and they’ve planned for it. There’s also much Brexit fatigue. Expect no rescue from these quarters. Two, folks here expect the pound to collapse badly, leading to loan defaults, personal bankruptcies and all kinds of woes among the local British expat community; some of that has already started, also confirmed by the head of my BNP Paribas branch yesterday. Three, Brexit politicians have been so awful that for many watchers, it has made [Emmanuel] Macron look so much better by contrast. All who have viewed a little or much of the UK political goings on have come out liking Macron and the EU more. Lupin813
‘No deal or no Brexit’
The way the UK handled the negotiation process has been farcical. It has been a circus, and now either clown Boris or juggler Hunt will complete the chaotic catastrophe. The current and only choices are no deal or no Brexit. No deal is reckless insanity which will cripple the UK for decades and no Brexit is the only sane, rational choice. Gizzit
‘Putin gave his seal of approval to Trump’s actions’
The article on Putin today made interesting reading. He gave his seal of approval to Trump’s actions, the rise of the populist right in the west and claimed liberalism is dead. The way Britain is now slowly moving with Boris and Farage towards their model must make folk proud to be British. I wonder what our brave war dead would think of this after they gave their lives in defence of freedom. At least Donald Tusk again could be relied on to counter Putin’s usual guff. newwavearmy
‘The removal of illegal immigrants should be a result of processes followed where that is the consequence, rather than the objective’
What happened in the Home Office is quite simple to understand. For the Home Office to function, the removal of illegal immigrants should be a result of processes followed where that is the consequence, rather than the objective. When you turn that around and say processes must lead to removal, the functionality of the department collapses. The person with the primary responsibility for that is Theresa May. kristinezkochanski
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On Donald Trump’s ban on Huawei, Boris Johnson said: “We should not be doing anything to deter our most valuable intelligence partners. I really saw this as foreign secretary, it is a relationship we cannot afford to put at risk.”
He also said he was “not that attracted” to lowering the voting age as we do not get enough 18- to 24-year-olds voting.
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The Labour MP David Lammy has tweeted about reports that Boris Johnson described the French as “turds” in a BBC documentary while he was foreign secretary. Johnson said he could not recall the remarks.
Andrea Leadsom on #r4today saying that Boris Johnson “uses language to illustrate his determination.” I agree Andrea. He uses racist, sexist and homophobic tropes to illustrate his determination to insult and denigrate others.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 28, 2019
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Boris Johnson also distanced himself from offering a cabinet position to his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt if he becomes prime minister.
“I have a very high regard for Jeremy,” he said, before being reminded by the host, Iain Dale, that it traditionally happens. Johnson added: “I am not making commitments to anybody.”
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Boris Johnson would not pledge to have a quota of 50% women in cabinet, but said he would “be advancing the interests of women in government and parliament like I did in City Hall”.
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Boris Johnson is livelier and louder than last night. His dad is in the audience today. Johnson says he grew up on an Exmoor farm.
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
Boris Johnson also spoke about his proposal for a points-based immigration system.
“If you look at the rural sector, there are farming communities that need seasonal labour. It has gone on for decades, if not centuries,” he told the audience.
“That’s entirely right. But you should [do] it according to the needs of the economy and sector. What has gone on is no control at all.
“No one knows on what basis they come in, the jobs to go to or what skill was required. A points-based approach is democratic consent to what is going on. A system that reflects the needs of the UK economy.”
Johnson added: “I do think freedom of movement does not work. That was not working for us any more.”
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Boris Johnson was asked why he ducked the Channel 4 and Sky News leadership debates. In response, he said: “No one could have done as many hustings as I have done.
“As Conservatives, it’s important not to tear great lumps out of each other. My policies have received a great deal of scrutiny. Thou shall not speak ill of another Conservative. I am doing at least two head-to-head debates – that is more than enough to glut the appetite.”
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Tory hustings - asked to reveal something we don’t know about him, Boris Johnson says he weighs about 15 and a half stone.
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
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Boris Johnson says Donald Trump 'talks sense' on Iran and says country is 'bent on all sorts of mischief'
On Iran, Johnson said: “We need to very vigilant about Iran and that government.
“They are bent on all sorts of mischief in the region. One of the areas that Donald Trump talks sense, and there are many areas, it is right to work with the Americans and European friends to constrain Iran in the region.
“This is a young, dynamic population, high rates of female literacy, education, they are very tech-savvy.
“They want to engage with us. We have to find ways of getting over the mullah’s grip on society.”
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Boris Johnson says stamp duty land tax in London is causing “huge problems” following reports he is considering abolishing the levy on homes worth less than £500,000 and reversing stamp duty increases on more expensive homes.
On reports that he called the French “turds” in a BBC documentary aired last year that was cut, he responded: “I have no recollection of this comment.”
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In response to a question on whether milkshakes will be covered by the sugar tax, Johnson joked as to whether it was connected to them being thrown at politicians in recent months.
“There is an obesity problem in this country. Something we all deal with and wrestle with,” he said. “Not eating is a very good solution, by the way. I am reluctant to impose new taxes that impose disproportionately those on low income.
“If you want kids to lose weight, make the streets safe, like we did in London. Encourage kids to walk and cycle to school. It’s calories in, calories out.”
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Boris Johnson is livelier and louder than last night. His dad is in the audience today. Johnson says he grew up on an Exmoor farm.
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
Boris Johnson reiterates promise to leave the EU by 31 October
Among the highlights of Boris Johnson’s speech to Tory members was his pledge to exit the EU by 31 October.
He also said “isn’t it time the A303 is modernised?” and “education funding needs to be levelled up” across the country.
Johnson added that it was an “utter disgrace” that parts of rural England do not have full-fibre broadband and are faced with the “revolving pizza wheel of doom”.
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Boris Johnson on stage
Boris Johnson, referred to as “contestant number one” by the host, Iain Dale, is on stage at the hustings in Exeter.
He told the audience: “I don’t know of a time we got 9% in national election. The hour is darkest before the dawn. We can turn this thing around.”
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Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Alexander Litvinenko, has told the Guardian she was disappointed that Theresa May had agreed to meet Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka.
She said the prime minster had failed to mention Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun – the two Russians accused of poisoning her husband in November 2006 with a radioactive cup of tea. Putin has refused to extradite the pair.
A public inquiry in 2016 found them responsible for Litvinenko’s murder. It concluded Russia’s president had “probably” approved the hit.
Marina Litvinenko said: “Mrs May has said nothing about what happened to my husband. He was a British citizen when he died. The two suspects for his murder should be brought to justice.”
She added she was incensed by Putin’s comments in his interview with the FT. “Putin said we should forget what happened in Salisbury to the Skripals, that they weren’t worth five kopecks. He didn’t mention my husband,” she said.
“Lugovoi is now a deputy in Russia’s duma. How the new prime minister handles relations with Moscow will be crucial. He may be tempted to start a new relationship without questions. I hope not.”
Marina Litvinenko was speaking at a Russian opposition conference organised by Free Russia in The Hague.
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Tory hustings in Exeter - room filling up.... pic.twitter.com/49ZwLwFhGx
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
Theresa May's warning to Vladimir Putin
Theresa May has told Vladimir Putin “there cannot be a normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia stops the irresponsible and destabilising activity”, Downing Street has said, following her meeting with the Russian president at the G20 summit.
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Supporters of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are flanking the entrance to Sandy Park conference centre in Exeter ahead of the latest hustings.
Exeter Tory hustings - the queue pic.twitter.com/y8uQDpFLVG
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) June 28, 2019
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Jeremy Hunt has his say on Vladimir Putin’s remarks that liberalism is “obsolete”.
It comes as Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said he ”strongly [disagreed]” with the Russian president’s sentiments.
“Whoever claims that liberal democracy is obsolete also claims that freedoms are obsolete, that the rule of law is obsolete and that human rights are obsolete,” Tusk said.
“What I find really obsolete are authoritarianism, personality cults and the rule of oligarchs, even if sometimes they may seem effective.”
This just shows what we’re up against. Corbyn at home, and people trying to subvert our values from abroad. Our democratic system based on rules, respect for individual rights & human dignity has created more happiness & wealth than any other way of life anywhere in the world. https://t.co/91z1yGbP63
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 28, 2019
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Theresa May looking the very definition of stony-faced as she met scourge of liberalism Vladimir Putin earlier - pic from the fab @StefanRousseau pic.twitter.com/0W9Ng6zfEg
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) June 28, 2019
The Home Office has been accused of being “reckless” for failing to monitor the impact of its “hostile environment” immigration policy, according to a leaked draft review into the Windrush scandal.
Channel 4 News and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants obtained extracts from the review, which reportedly said the department “failed to monitor, or effectively evaluate, the effectiveness and impact of compliant environment measures”.
It added: “This appears particularly reckless considering the significant warnings that the department was given about their potential consequences.”
Wendy Williams, HM inspector of constabulary, who led the review, said there was a “defensive culture that results in an unwillingness to learn from past mistakes”.
She wrote: “While everyone I spoke to was rightly appalled by what happened, this was often juxtaposed with a self-justification, either in the form of it was unforeseen, unforeseeable and therefore unavoidable … or a failure on the part of individuals to prove their status.”
The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, called for an end to the hostile environment policy.
“This damning review details the terrible experiences of many of the Windrush generation under the Tories’ cruel and degrading hostile environment,” she said.
“The government is still failing to address the injustices they have caused: British citizens have lost their jobs, lost their homes and been deported.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We do not comment on leaked documents.”
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Boris Johnson is considering an emergency budget for a no-deal Brexit including tax cuts, an overhaul of stamp duty and an assault on regulation if he becomes prime minister, according to reports.
Under the plan, the budget, which normally takes place in October or November, is likely to be brought forward to September, the Times reported.
The proposals include an £11bn-a-year proposal by Dominic Raab to increase the national insurance contribution threshold from £8,632 to £12,500.
Johnson is also considering an overhaul of stamp duty. As well as abolishing the levy on homes worth less than £500,000, his team is considering reversing stamp duty increases on more expensive homes.
At present, only the first £125,000 of a property is exempt from stamp duty.
Other policies being considered include a “Trump-style” temporary prohibition on new regulations and raising the threshold for the annual investment allowance above the present level of £1m to promote business.
Johnson’s team will discuss the plans next week at a meeting chaired by Sir Edward Lister.
Three senior sources from the campaign told the newspaper that the ideas were under discussion.
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Ahead of the Tory leadership hustings today, Simon Jenkins believes Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will have to ditch a no-deal Brexit or face an election.
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Helpful/baffling chart from Japan News about the disagreements between the various leaders at #OsakaG20 pic.twitter.com/q8XDN2Zgxx
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) June 28, 2019
Theresa May has begun her meeting with Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit.
The pair shook hands but did not smile before sitting down to begin their talks in Osaka.
Prior to the talks, May said Donald Trump’s ban on Huawei could influence UK businesses’ decisions about using the Chinese telecoms company’s technology.
A UK review of 5G supply chains will be published “in due course”, the prime minister said.
The US has put Huawei on a so-called entity list, effectively banning US companies from selling components and technology to it.
May said: “The decision by the United States for Huawei to be put on the entity list has obviously brought another factor into this issue and individual companies will be wanting to consider what the impact of that has.”
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Labour MP Jess Phillips believes Jeremy Corbyn must withdraw the whip from Chris Williamson - the MP at the centre of an anti-Semitism row - as a “matter of principle”.
Ms Phillips is one of more than 120 MPs and peers calling for the removal of Mr Williamson from the parliamentary party following his readmission on Wednesday.
The Derby North MP was originally suspended after saying the party was “too apologetic” in the face of criticism of the way it dealt with cases of anti-Semitism.
Ms Phillips said Mr Williamson had been guilty of “a litany of offensive behaviour towards the Jewish community and those fighting anti-Semitism”.
She told the BBC’s Today programme: “This is a matter of principle about racism, about the Labour Party being the party of equality, the party that is anti-racist. That reputation is slipping away from us every day.”
Our political editor Heather Stewart is in Japan for the G20 summit.
Theresa May spoke to journalists at Yamamoto Noh Theatre and, in keeping with Japanese cultural traditions, the prime minister removed her shoes before entering the venue.
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Ahead of her meeting today with Vladmir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka, Theresa May has called for the suspects in the Salisbury novichok attack to be “brought to justice”.
The UK believes two officers from Russia’s military intelligence service were behind the poisoning of the former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in March 2018.
Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service say there is sufficient evidence to charge two Russians – who go by the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov – for attempted murder.
Skripal and his daughter survived the poisoning, but Dawn Sturgess died last July after coming into contact with the poison by handling a contaminated perfume bottle.
May told the BBC that Russia needs to stop its “destabilising activities”.
In a separate interview with ITV, she said: “It’s not business as usual and it can’t be business as usual with Russia until they stop the sort of acts we have seen them doing around the world.
“I want to see the individuals, against whom charges have been brought, brought to justice.”
The Kremlin denies any involvement. Putin has insisted the suspects are civilians, not criminals.
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A crude remark by Boris Johnson about the French was cut from a BBC documentary following concerns at the Foreign Office over how it could affect diplomatic relations.
The former foreign secretary accused the French of being “turds” over Brexit, with the comment due to appear in the Inside the Foreign Office programme in November, the Daily Mail reported.
But the Foreign Office asked for it to be cut, with a Whitehall memo suggesting the comment would make Anglo-French relations “awkward”, according to the newspaper.
A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “The programme set out to reflect the realities of life inside the Foreign Office, the production team made judgments about what was in the programme and they are satisfied that the programme achieves its ambitions and has the content they wanted.”
The Foreign Office declined to comment.
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Leadsom, who resigned from her post in May over Brexit, told the Today programme: “Boris is the man who is going to take us out of the European Union. Only by being prepared to walk away will we get a good deal.”
She is also hopeful of a deal being struck before Halloween because of the incoming EU commissioners, “who would not want their legacy to be the United Kingdom being an unsolved mystery”.
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Andrea Leadsom, the former leader of the House of Commons, was pressed on the Today programme about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
Boris Johnson had said the chances of no deal are “million-to-one against”, despite promising to leave on 31 October.
During a lively interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, Leadsom said: “I’m not a bookie, I can’t give you odds.
“Its impossible to predict the future. What Boris is indicating is it’s not his intention to leave without a deal.”
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Prime minister to meet Russian president at G20
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live politics blog. We have a busy day ahead with Theresa May to meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Osaka – their first meeting since the poisonings in Salisbury last year – as well as updates on the Tory leadership hustings.
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