UK will 'prosper mightily' even without Brexit trade deal, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson is at an HS2 site in Solihull
Boris Johnson is at an HS2 site in Solihull Credit:  WPA Pool

The UK will "prosper mightily" even if it does not strike a trade deal with the EU, Boris Johnson has said ahead of another round of Brexit talks. 

This morning haulage bosses called for an "urgent" meeting with Cabinet ministers over concerns there are "significant gaps" in the UK's Brexit border preparations.

Eight groups, including the Road Haulage Association (RHA), have called for an urgent meeting with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove to highlight fears the UK-EU supply chain "will be severely disrupted" next year if issues are not resolved before Brexit. They also want to meet with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Asked about these concerns during a visit to Solihull, the Prime Minister said: "We're ready for any eventuality, of course. But we must make sure that people understand that at the end of the year, whatever happens, we are using the EU.

"We will get through this. It's vital that our partners understand that the UK is going to do what we need to do.

"If we need to have an Australia-style deal, an Australia-style solution, then that is what we will achieve and we will prosper mightily one way or the other.

"They could be sensible and give us a Canada-style solution, which after all they've given Canada, and I very much hope they will, but we're ready for either eventuality."

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has repeatedly said end of October was a "strict deadline" to finalise an agreement for next year, but both he and the UK's David Frost have increasingly said a deal is looking unlikely unless the other side compromises. 

Follow the latest updates below.

                                                                                                    

And that's it for another day...

Boris Johnson has certainly softened his tone on getting people back to work - it was notable that during his interview earlier today he said working from home had "enhanced people's quality of life". But he did so from Solihull, making the case for HS2, the high speed rail link between London and Birmingham which campaigners claim has been rendered a white elephant by the pandemic. 

So while the short-term battle with office workers might have been pushed back, it seems likely that it hasn't completely disappeared. 

The question for next week seems to be how many fronts the Prime Minister can fight at any one time, with growing numbers of backbenchers uneasy at the direction being taken by the Government on a number of issues as wide ranging as the appointment of Tony Abbott to the Chancellor's tax policy, with many more to come. 

Downing Street is also facing a growing rebellion from Scotland, where calls for a second referendum grow louder by the day. While Tories know they have the majority in Westminster to ride it out in theory, in practice it's clear that is not a long-term solution. 

The result of today's poll shows just how delicate a balancing act that is, with 45 per cent of you saying the referendum from 2014 was a once-in-a-generation moment that cannot be revisited. However a further 33 per cent say if the SNP win a majority in next year's elections they have a democratic mandate that should be listened to. A fifth of you have urged the Government to win Scottish voters over rather than take the risk. 

We will be back on Monday morning for more from Westminster and beyond. 

Tom Harris: Quarantine 'confusion'? Actually, this is devolution at work

Confusion reigns. Different quarantine rules in different parts of the United Kingdom mean that holidaymakers returning from parts of Europe are facing entirely different legal obligations, depending on where they live.

That the UK government has decided (for now) to exempt Portugal from the list of countries requiring the quarantine of those returning here is, apparently, justification for hostile questioning. Why has Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, not got in line with the policies of the Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations and insisted on two-week self-quarantine for citizens returning from there?

In fact this argument, and claims of “confusion”, are woefully misplaced and reveal parts of our media as a tad behind the times. It’s almost as if broadcasters woke this morning and suddenly thought, “Wait a minute! There are different laws in Scotland? When did this happen?

Downing Street insists Boris Johnson follows the rules amid reports of 'cheek by jowl' MP meeting

Downing Street has insisted that Boris Johnson does follow his own social distancing rules, amid reports the Prime Minister addressed a room of Conservative MPs packed "cheek by jowl".  

The Prime Minister addressed at least 50 Conservatives in a Parliament room marked with a 29-person limit, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

While some observed social-distancing rules, stating that individuals should be more than a metre apart by taking seats that were spaced out, later arrivals “crammed” together at the back of the room to hear Mr Johnson, who is reported to have said he wanted people to be packed together in the same way by Christmas.

Repeatedly pressed on whether the rules had been broken, or why Mr Johnson had not left the room if it was too full, a Downing Street spokesman said: "I'm not privy to the detail, it's a political event."

Asked if Mr Johnson obeys his own social distancing rules, the spokesman replied: "Yes."

Children who attended school during lockdown at no greater risk from Covid, study finds

Younger children who went to school during lockdown were at no greater risk of contracting Covid-19 than those staying at home, a study suggests.

Scientists detected only three positive cases out of more than 12,000 pupils and staff tested in primary and pre-schools across England in June and July, according to the Public Health England (PHE) report.

All three cases - two staff and one pupil - were mild or asymptomatic, and there was no evidence of onward transmission to household contacts or the wider education setting, the research suggests.

The preliminary findings of the PHE study have been published as thousands of pupils in England and Wales have begun returning to school full-time, with the remainder due to open their doors next week.

But the findings cannot be extrapolated to secondary schools because the risk of Covid-19 "exposure, asymptomatic infection and symptomatic disease in teenagers is likely to be different," the report adds.

Boris Johnson hints at virtual trial for Harry Dunn

Boris Johnson has indicated he could support a virtual trial of Harry Dunn's alleged killer in her absence.

Asked during a visit to Solihull, the Prime Minister said: "There is the legal possibility that you mention.

"I think the best thing that I can say is I will support anything that helps to bring justice for Harry Dunn and bring some sort of closure for his family because they have suffered for a long time."

Labour MP urges constituents to 'pull together' to avoid lockdown

An MP has warned a second lockdown could be devastating for her town, which has the fifth highest rate of coronavirus cases in the country.

Labour's Emma Lewell-Buck represents South Shields, South Tyneside, the borough where figures for the last seven days showed there were an estimated 41 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people.

She said she was "deeply worried" about the situation and urged local people to do everything they can to avoid spreading the virus.

In a message on social media, she said: "Please lovely Shields people stick to the guidance. If you can do so, please wear a mask, sanitise regularly and adhere to physical distancing.

"Let's avoid the heartache of anyone else being taken from us too soon, let's avoid the devastation of our local economy. We can do this by pulling together."

Earlier today Rachel Reeves, the Labour MP for Leeds West, also urged constituents to renew their efforts after the city was put in the at-risk category. 

Further 11 Covid-related deaths recorded, NHS England confirms

A further 11 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,596, NHS England said on Friday.

The patients were aged between 48 and 95 and all had known underlying health conditions.

The dates of the deaths ranged from August 2 to September 2, with the majority on September 2.

Another four deaths have been reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

There were no deaths recorded in Wales. 

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith joins Strictly line up

Former home secretary Jacqui Smith has confirmed she has signed up for Strictly Come Dancing, following in the tradition of former ministers such as Ed Balls and Vince Cable.

Smith, 57, who quit her job in 2009 after a porn expenses scandal, completes the line-up for the new BBC series, which will feature a smaller cast of nine stars rather than the usual 12.

She said: "I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly - and that's very rare for me.

"Fifty years ago, I got a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing and it feels about time to return to dancing.

"I couldn't be in better hands with the Strictly team and I'm going to throw myself into the challenge."

The UK will 'prosper mightily' even without Brexit trade deal, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK will "prosper mightily" even if it does not strike a trade deal with the EU.

Asked about hauliers' concerns during a visit to Solihull, the Prime Minister said: "We will get through this. It's vital that our partners understand that the UK is going to do what we need to do.

"If we need to have an Australia-style deal, an Australia-style solution, then that is what we will achieve and we will prosper mightily one way or the other.

"They could be sensible and give us a Canada-style solution, which after all they've given Canada, and I very much hope they will, but we're ready for either eventuality."

Boris Johnson at the Solihull Interchange construction site for the HS2 high-speed railway project, near Birmingham Credit: Pool

 

UK 'proceeding as one' through coronavirus, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has insisted "overwhelmingly the UK is proceeding as one" after his Transport Secretary admitted there is "confusion" over differing quarantine rules across the union.

Asked why England's quarantine is different to other nations during his visit to Solihull, the Prime Minister said: "The reality is that different devolved administrations in the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, they have different rates of infectivity, different approaches to the problem.

"But overwhelmingly the UK is proceeding as one.

"I think you will find if you dig below the surface, of some of the surface differentiations, you will find overwhelmingly the UK takes the same approach."

Is the pandemic response making indyref2 more likely? Have your say in the poll below. 

Quarantine measures are a 'vital part' of fight against coronavirus, says Boris Johnson

Quarantine measures for arrivals from countries deemed high-risk must remain "a vital part" of the fight against coronavirus, Boris Johnson has said.

Asked during a visit to Solihull, the Prime Minister said he understands "the difficulties" the airline industry is going through but said testing at points of entry only identifies seven per cent of the cases.

"I know how tough it is, particularly for those who face the potential loss of jobs in the aviation sector," he added, pledging to "put our arms" around those in that sector. 

"So 93 per cent of the time you could have a real false sense of security, a false sense of confidence when you arrive and take a test," he said.

"That's why the quarantine system that we have has got to be an important part of our repertoire, of our toolbox, in fighting Covid.

"What we don't want to see is reinfection coming in from abroad and quarantine is a vital part of that."

Working from home has 'enhanced people's quality of life', Boris Johnson admits

Boris Johnson has conceded that allowing people to work from home has "enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways" but said the major HS2 project will be essential for the years ahead. 

On a visit to Solihull in the West Midlands to mark the formal start of construction on the fast-speed train, the Prime Minister said: "I think loads of people have had the benefit of working from home.

"It's been magnificent and it's definitely enhanced people's quality of life in many, many ways and I congratulate people on the hard work they've put in from home.

"But I've got absolutely no doubt that mass transit transport infrastructure is going to be crucial for our country, not just now, but in the decades ahead."

Boris Johnson elbow bumps a worker during his visit to the Solihull Interchange construction site for HS2

Boris Johnson defends Tony Abbott as having been elected by 'freedom-loving' Australians

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended controversial trade role prospect Tony Abbott as being a "guy who was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia".

Asked during a visit to Solihull about allegations the Australian former prime minister is a sexist, homophobic, misogynist, climate change denier, Mr Johnson said: "There's going to be an announcement I think in due course about the composition of the Board of Trade.

"I don't, obviously don't agree with those sentiments at all, but then I don't agree with everyone who serves the Government in an unpaid capacity on hundreds of boards across the country.

"And I can't be expected to do so.

"What I would say about Tony Abbott is this is a guy who was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of Australia.

"It's an amazing country, it's a freedom-loving country, it's a liberal country. There you go, I think that speaks for itself."

Tony Abbott Credit: Reuters

Commuters' version of Eat Out to Help Out being mulled by TfL bosses

Transport bosses are considering offering Londoners a free trip into the capital in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

The First Ride Free scheme, deemed the public travel equivalent to the Eat Out to Help Out initiative rolled out nationwide during August, is being considered by Transport for London (TfL).

The Evening Standard said the scheme could offer free tickets for trains, buses and the Tube to members of the public who have not gone into central London since the coronavirus pandemic.

The transport network saw a huge drop in passenger numbers as members of the public were ordered to stay at home during the early stages of lockdown, although the relaxation of rules has since seen some return to the office and travel into the city on public transport.

A TfL spokesperson said: "This is one of a number of options that are being considered to help encourage people back into central London in the coming months.

"No final decisions have been made and any option would need to be delivered with Government support, and agreed with them as part of ongoing discussions about our finances.

We seek him here: Businessman offers £500 to first person who spots Boris Johnson in West End

A London businessmen is offering £500 to the first person who sees Boris Johnson or Sadiq Khan in the capital's West End. 

An extra £500 will go to either of the two men's favourite charities. 

Simon Thomas, chief executive of the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, said: “I’m convinced neither Johnson nor Khan can actually remember where the West End of London is.  

“I think my money’s safe, but anyone who grabs a quick photograph of them hereabouts gets my £500. It’ll be welcome proof they know we’re still here. 

“The West End is one of the country’s greatest historic and cultural assets and an economic powerhouse. So why haven’t either of them come here to show their support and tell the world we’re open?” 

Stonewall 'profoundly concerned' at Tony Abbott appointment

LGBT charity Stonewall has said it is "profoundly concerned" about the potential appointment of Tony Abbott as a UK trade envoy.

Mr Abbott has been tipped to join the Board of Trade to help the UK with its post-Brexit agreements. 

Eloise Stonborough, head of policy and research at the charity, said: "We are profoundly concerned by the potential impact of Abbott's appointment.

"The UK has long been a world leader in LGBT rights but the 2020 ILGA-Europe rankings show the UK slipping to ninth place among European countries, from first place in 2015.

"The appointment of an individual with known homophobic and misogynist views risks undermining the Government's commitment to 'defend and promote the rights of LGBT people globally'."

Tory MPs accuse Government of 'incompetence' over lack of airport testing

Tory backbenchers are "irritated and mystified" by the Government's refusal to introduce airport testing, despite this week touting a next generation range of tests. 

Conservative MPs are urging Downing Street to adopt a new approach to testing in a bid to cut the blanket quarantine, amid fears it is destroying the aviation industry and causing chaos for holidaymakers. Last night it was confirmed that travellers returning from Portugal would have to quarantine if they return to Scotland or Wales - but not England or Northern Ireland. 

One MP said it was "typical of our incompetence and lack of direction", saying there had been "no explanation" for why it could not be deployed. "Colleagues are irritated and mystified," he added. 

Another said: "There is some nervousness around false negatives and a requirement to test again seven days later, but that would halve the quarantine, which has to be good for the economy." A third claimed there was a "lack of imagination on airport testing".

However another pointed to the cost, which would be borne by passengers, to save four days.

But Grant Shapps this morning gave no sign of any imminent change, telling Sky News that while he was "not ignoring the great work [airports] are trialling" airport testing was "not actually the silver bullet solution" that is hoped. 

Grant Shapps has said airport testing is not a silver bullet

Lobby latest: Downing Street does not deny Boris Johnson breached coronavirus rules during 1922 meeting

Downing Street has not denied that Boris Johnson addressed a packed room of Tory MPs, raising concerns that coronavirus social distancing rules were breached.

The Prime Minister addressed at least 50 Conservatives in a Parliament room marked with a 29-person limit, remarking that his colleagues were packed in "cheek by jowl", Bloomberg reported yesterday.

Repeatedly pressed on whether the rules had been broken, or why Mr Johnson had not left the room if it was too full, a Downing Street spokesman said: "I'm not privy to the detail, it's a political event."

Asked if Mr Johnson obeys his own social distancing rules, the spokesman replied: "Yes."

Leeds 'an area of concern' facing local lockdown, MP warns

Leeds is now an area of concern, meaning it could be put under local lockdown if cases don't start to fall, local MP and Labour frontbencher Rachel Reeves has said. 

"It’s vital we social distance, wear face masks where required, regularly wash our hands & if you have symptoms get tested & self-isolate if needed," she tweeted.

Lobby latest: Downing Street does not deny Welsh interpretation of JBC data

Downing Street has not denied that the advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) was that travel from Portugal and the six Greek islands restricted by Wales presents a risk of spreading coronavirus.

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said Wales was acting "in line with" the risk assessments from the JBC in imposing a 14-day quarantine on arrivals from those areas.

However Grant Shapps suggested that the Welsh Government "had not perhaps noticed or seen" data that he was using, which has led to England taking a different position. 

A No 10 spokesman repeatedly declined to comment on what the JBC advice was but when pressed whether he disputes Mr Gething's assessment, the spokesman said: "No.

"Ministers assess the data which is provided by JBC and the JBC risk assessments are assessed by ministers."

Tony Abbott is many things, but a trade expert? Don't come the raw prawn, mate!

Tony Abbott and controversy go together like raw prawns and food poisoning, so it’s no surprise that UK ministers have found themselves floundering when asked if a ‘misogynist and homophobe’ is an appropriate person to represent Britain in trade negotiations or, indeed, any other sphere.

But according to former trade negotiator Tim Ward, the UK Government's defence of him yesterday as a "trade expert" was a bit odd because, while London-born Abbott did serve as Australia’s PM for a couple of years, his CV is not, in fact, the CV of a trade expert.

In fact, far from a boon for Britain, he risks being a destablising influence

Rate of new infections in England 'unchanged' , ONS says

Evidence suggests the rate of new infections in private households in England "remains unchanged", the ONS has said.

An average of 2,000 people per day were estimated to be newly infected with Covid-19 between August 19 and 25.

An estimated 27,100 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in that time, the equivalent of around 0.05 per cent of the population.

The estimate is broadly unchanged from the previous figures for August 14 to 20, when one in 1,900 individuals had the virus.

The figures do not include people staying in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.

Matt Hancock to be grilled by MPs next week

Matt Hancock will give evidence to the Health Committee next week, as part of its  inquiry into social care. 

MPs including Jeremy Hunt will quiz the Health Secretary on the government’s plans for a long-term solution on social care reform, which the Prime Minister promised to get to grips with in the manifesto and repeatedly since.

The inquiry has taken a broad range of evidence in previous sessions including the experiences of those who depend on social care and heard from economist Sir Andrew Dilnot, the architect of planned reforms on its funding. 

The Committee will also put questions to Mr Hancock on other health and social care inquiries.   

Fraser Nelson: Rishi Sunak is trying to bring the spendthrift Tories to their senses

A few weeks ago, officials in the Treasury carried out a standard “stress test” to see how things would look under slightly different economic circumstances: interest rates closer to 1 per cent, slightly higher inflation, etc. Nothing unusual by historical standards. But even this, it was calculated, would mean huge trouble for the Government, costing tens of billions of pounds. For the Treasury top brass, it was a worrying sign that the UK Government is already right on the financial edge. It would not take much for the country to topple over.

In just six months as Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has borrowed as much as Gordon Brown did in 10 years. The national debt is now £2 trillion and rising: words like “trillion” were not really used before the Tories took charge of the public finances. But still, the pressure from the Conservative benches is to spend more: on defence, the NHS, Covid bailouts and in many other areas. When Mr Sunak met MPs earlier this week, he reminded them that all this spending had to be paid for.

It’s surprising, says Fraser Nelson, just how controversial this basic notion seems to be.

Have your say on: Coronavirus and Indyref2

There are fears growing that the pandemic is strengthening the SNP's case for a second independence referendum, with support for indyref2 growing north of the border. 

Some Tories argue that, all the while they have a majority in Parliament, they can stand firm - but pollster Sir John Curtice argued last night that if the SNP secure a majority in the Holyrood elections in May, they would have a mandate to press the case for a second plebiscite within the next two or three years. 

The pandemic certainly appears to have shown the extent of devolved powers, with MPs saying they fear decisions like this week's split on quarantine for Portugal and Greece only serve to underline that further. 

But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below

Actors, writers and activists urge Government rethink on Tony Abbott

Actor Sir Ian McKellen and Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies have called on the Government to reconsider appointing Australia's former prime minister Tony Abbott.

The letter, which is also signed by climate change activists, said: "This is a man who described abortion as 'the easy way out' and suggested that men may be 'by physiology or temperament more adapted to exercise authority or to issue command'."

It added that Mr Abbott "vigorously campaigned" against Australia's successful marriage equality referendum in 2017 and said climate change is "probably doing good".

"For all these reasons and more besides, this man is not fit to be representing the UK as our trade envoy," the letter, seen by ITV, added.

It follows widespread political criticism of the decision to appoint him to the Board of Trade. This morning, Grant Shapps stressed a decision had not been taken. 

More than half of Britons travelled to work last week: ONS

There has been an increase in people travelling to work in the last two months, with fewer working exclusively from home, a survey suggests.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 57 per cent of working adults reported that they had travelled to work - either exclusively or in combination with working from home - in the past seven days, while 20 per cent had worked solely from home.

The findings show an increase from the results of an ONS survey in the last week of June when 49 per cent of working adults said they had travelled in to work, and 29 per cent said they had worked exclusively at home.

The latest statistics are based on survey responses from 1,644 adults in Britain between August 26 and 30.

The findings come after Downing Street denied the existence of a Government "back to work" campaign but said employers are to be reminded of how to make workplaces Covid-safe in a bid to increase office numbers.

Britain will stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with Germany in response to Navalny poisoning, says Raab

Britain will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Germany in making sure Russia is "held accountable" over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, Dominic Raab told his counterpart yesterday. 

The Foreign Secretary spoke with Heiko Maas to discuss the response to the poisoning of the opposition figure, after the substance was confirmed as Novichok - the same poison used against Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. 

“The Foreign Secretary and Maas agreed that any use of Novichok was a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and therefore a matter of international concern," the FCO said in a statement.

"They agreed to work together closely, including in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to ensure Russia was held accountable for its international obligations. The Foreign Secretary made clear that Britain would stand shoulder to shoulder with Germany on the issue.

“The Foreign Secretary and Maas also discussed the situation in Belarus, including the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in investigating the rigged election and human rights abuses, and the importance of sanctions in bringing international pressure to bear on the Lukashenko regime.”

Chopper's Politics: Shaun Bailey on race, stop and search and his mayoral campaign

Leftwing politicians do not want black people to succeed because they are their "chosen victims", the Conservatives mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has claimed. 

Mr Bailey, 49, is aiming to become the first Tory London Mayor since Boris Johnson stood down in 2016 in next May's delayed London mayoral elections.

Mr Bailey, whose family came to the UK from Jamaica, told Chopper's Politics: "The Left don't want you to achieve because you ask different questions. The black community has been the chosen victims for the Left so they can always say they're going to help us and do things. 

"I remember when Jeremy Corbyn said only he can unlock the potential for the black community. My mother said 'what the hell does he think I've been doing for the last 50 years'; she was very offended by that."

HS2 launch 'a media stunt for Boris Johnson', claims Lord Adonis 

Boris Johnson has been accused of trying to make a "media stunt" out of the start of HS2, by former transport secretary Lord Adonis. 

The Labour peer told Sky News the area around Euston was a building site "and has been for over two years now", noting that more than 10,000 people are already working on the project. 

He said: "It is just a media stunt for Boris Johnson say HS2 is starting... The real story is what is happening north of Birmingham... The only decision which Boris Johnson has taken on HS2 since becoming Prime Minister is to delay progress north of Birmingham."

He warned there was a "real danger" that the line could stop before its intended end point, saying "we need to get it to the north in the 2030s... we need to end these reviews - each review results in delay... and a massive escalation in costs."

Challenged over whether HS2 was still needed in light of the pandemic, he said long-term planning was essential and that life would "return to normal".

ICYMI: Rebel Tories will vote against Budget if tax rises go ahead, Sunak is warned

Conservative backbench MPs are plotting to vote against parts of this autumn's Budget if Rishi Sunak goes ahead with threatened tax rises, it has emerged.

The news came as senior Tories Sir Graham Brady, Sir John Redwood and Ian Liddell-Grainger warned the Chancellor that increasing taxes will threaten the recovery after the coronavirus pandemic has passed.

Mr Sunak and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, met with new Tory MPs who were elected at last December's general election for the first time this week to soothe nerves about the prospect of tax rises in the Budget, expected in November.

Read the full story here

Gas pipeline between Russia and Europe must be abandoned following Navalny poisoning, says Tom Tugendhat 

A senior Conservative has called for work on a new gas pipeline between Russia and Germany to be stopped in the wake of the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. 

Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the multi-billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is financed by firms from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Austria "must end". 

"The time to simply accept Putin's actions is over," he tweeted. "The pattern of behaviour is clear. Murder is a tool of statecraft and violence is the means of enslaving the Russian people. We cannot keep supporting this rotten regime."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also been urged to halt construction by members of her  own party.

Norbert Röttgen, the chairman of the Bundestag’s committee on foreign affairs and a candidate for the CDU leadership, said: "In poisoning Navalny, Putin's message is clear: Resistance to his regime is life-threatening.

"Europe needs to deliver a strong answer in a language Putin understands."

Full class: 97 per cent of parents planning to send children back to school, ONS survey finds

The pressure appears to be off Gavin Williamson - for now, with the latest coronavirus social impacts study suggesting the vast majority of families with school age children are planning for them to return to school. 

The ONS study, published this morning, found that 97 per cent of families in England and Wales were "very likely or fairly likely" to send the oldest school age child back to the classroom. 

Nearly half (46 per cent) of parents in England and Wales said the oldest child in their household had mixed feelings about returning to school or college.

However 36 per cent said they were looking forward to returning to school or college.

Last week, Westminster sources described the back to school moment as "existential" for Mr Williamson with backbenchers critical of Boris Johnson's decision to stand by his Education Secretary.

Gavin Williamson: Back to school a critical moment

Airport testing 'not totally pointless', says Grant Shapps

Airport testing is "not totally pointless" but is not "the way out of" quarantine, Grant Shapps has said.

The Transport Secretary also insisted he was not trying to "weasel out" of explaining why Scotland and Wales had reimposed quarantine on travellers returning from Portugal while England and Northern Ireland have not. 

"Part of the difficulty is in different parts of the United Kingdom, their law is set in a slightly different way," he told Times Radio, claiming that while he cannot ignore the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Centre, other countries can.

He added: "This is how the rules of different places end up being applied differently, not to weasel out of it, I'm only in charge of the English part of it."

Asked about why the UK was not conducting airport testing, Mr Shapps said: "It's not the way out of it, which is the absolute key point. If it were, I would be absolutely doing it today, no doubt about it at all."

He continued: "The scientists are saying to us it will only pick up about seven per cent of day zero cases, it doesn't mean it's pointless to do... but it doesn't tell you what you need to know about it authoritatively."

Second Scottish referendum could be forced in 'two or three years', Sir John Curtice warns

One of the UK's most respected pollsters has warned that a second independence referendum could take place within the next two or three years if the SNP win a majority in next year's Holyrood elections. 

Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and senior research fellow at the National Centre for Social Research, noted that polls showed there was growing support for independence among the Scottish population and "if you're concerned about democracy, what signal do you expect the people to send other than giving the SNP a majority".

The man sometimes called the Gandalf of UK polling also said the Supreme Court, "when faced with a proposed Scottish referendum that is different from the one in 2014, might just say actually it can go ahead.”

"The SNP are well ahead in the opinion polls for next May, they certainly have a better than 50 percent chance of being able to get an overall majority," he told Newsnight yesterday. "If that does happen I think it will be difficult to avoid another referendum within, shall we say, a two or three year time period.”

Labour MPs accuse Matt Hancock of hypocrisy over LGBT tweet

Two Labour MPs who are both gay have accused Matt Hancock of hypocrisy after the Health Secretary tweeted about the "fantastic" new LGBT-inclusive relationships and sex education introduced in schools.

Chris Bryant responded: "So why on earth would you countenance Tony Abbott as a trade envoy?"

The Rhondda MP later followed it up with an accusation of hypocrisy.

Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, tweeted: "Matt, We know you're a social liberal with a decent voting record on LGBT equality. That's why your defence of Tony Abbott was even more nauseating.

"Sharing Stonewall links and bleating on about a vote from years ago doesn't cut it. Kay Burley found you out."

Grant Shapps agrees to meet haulage bosses over Brexit border concerns

Haulage bosses have called for an "urgent" meeting with Cabinet ministers over concerns there are "significant gaps" in the UK's Brexit border preparations.

Eight logistics organisations, including the Road Haulage Association (RHA), have written to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove to highlight fears the UK-EU supply chain "will be severely disrupted" next year if issues are not resolved before Brexit.

The group seeks a roundtable meeting with Mr Gove, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to discuss areas including IT systems and physical border infrastructure. 

Mr Shapps said he would meet haulage bosses.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday that he has "very, very regular contact" with "people like the Road Haulage Association".

HS2 needed until 'we work out a way of teletransporting people', says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps has defended the need for HS2 despite changing commuting habits due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Transport Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think more and more people will have a more balanced and possibly better life as a result. However, we're not building this for what happens over the next couple of years or even the next 10 years.

"We're building this as with the West Coast and East Coast mainlines for 150 years and still going strong.

"So I think the idea that - unless we work out a way of teletransporting people - that we won't want a system to get people around the country... is wrong."

Welsh minister did not 'notice or see' test positivity data for Portugal, Grant Shapps claims

Grant Shapps has suggested his Welsh counterpart "had not perhaps noticed or seen" the fact that Portugal's test positivity was falling. 

This is the proportion of people testing positive, rather than the total number, to avoid "punishing" countries for increasing the amount of testing they carry out. 

The Transport Secretary said a judgement had to be made based on this and the case per 100,000 figure, saying that while this was the "lead" statistic, test positivity was "really, really important".

Mr Shapps claimed it was as a result of this different reading of the same data that England and Northern Ireland have not reimposed a quarantine on Portugal, while Scotland and Wales have done. 

HS2 will help level up the UK, says Grant Shapps

HS2 will help "level up the country", improving commuter times and creating jobs, Grant Shapps has said. 

The Transport Secretary shrugged off criticism about ploughing ahead with this project at a time when fewer people are commuting, saying: "I know that we're obviously stuck thinking about coronavirus a lot of the time at the moment, but it is a sort of indication that we're passionate about the future and improving lives and levelling up communities and all the rest of it so we can get about in the future."

Addressing claims that thousands of jobs will be displaced due to the project, Mr Shapps told BBC Breakfast: "I can't see how there's an argument that making it easier to get about this country is somehow going to destroy jobs, quite the opposite in fact."

Asked about whether HS2 was needed when the pandemic has shown many people can work from home, Mr Shapps said: "You're building these things for the future, you're not just building for next year... or 10 years' time, you're building for the next generation, our children and their children so I think in the end we'll find we'll be very pleased that we do have additional rail capacity and I think we need it."

UK quarantine will have 'similar outcomes' despite splitting on Portugal and Greece, says Grant Shapps

The four countries of the UK still have "similar outcomes", despite taking a different approach to quarantine, Grant Shapps has insisted. 

Acknowledging for a second time during this morning's broadcast round that the split on Portugal and Greece "is confusing", the Transport Secretary stressed he had taken the right approach in not imposing a quarantine on travellers returning to England, despite putting the country at odds with Scotland and Wales.

He told BBC Breakfast: "In Scotland on Wednesday they took a decision without looking at the Joint Biosecurity Council data… to remove Greece because they had some particular concerns about cases which had returned to Scotland. We waited and it showed a small fall."

Mr Shapps also stressed that the number of cases per 100,000 was "only one of the things that we look at", with Portugal's rate well above the 20-trigger point, noting that the country's "test positivity rate had actually fallen".

"We don't want to penalise a country for doing the right thing....Portugal is on that border line but the opinion in Northern Ireland and England was it didn't justify quarantine this week."

HS2 project 'good news', says Grant Shapps, as construction begins

Grant Shapps has insisted the start of construction for the high speed rail link between the first section of HS2, between London and Birmingham, is "good news", as he fends off criticism from activists. 

Campaigners are up in arms over the "shovels in the ground" moment for HS2, arguing that "things have changed" because of coronavirus and it is no longer needed. 

But speaking on Sky News, the Transport Secretary argued that it was "a good news story" because it will create 22,000 jobs over the entire project period. 

"I know it's been controversial, but there will be 22,000 jobs created over the next few years... at a time when the economy needs that boost."

Tony Abbott has not yet been appointed, insists Grant Shapps

Tony Abbott has not yet been handed a senior trade role, Grant Shapps has stressed, amid growing debate over the suitability of the former Australian prime minister. 

Yesterday several opposition figures, including Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer, raised concerns about his appointment to the Board of Trade. Conservative MPs including Caroline Nokes have also attacked the move. 

But this morning the Transport Secretary told Sky News: "I hate to bring us back to reality but he hasn't been appointed to anything and as far as I know there haven't been any appointments made.

"There are lots of people with whom their comments I vehemently disagree but I'm not into defending people who are not actually carrying out any role for the British Government."

He committed to return to the show to discuss Mr Abbott's record "if" he is appointed.

Yesterday Downing Street took a similar line. 

UK quarantine split on Portugal is 'confusing', Grant Shapps admits

Grant Shapps has acknowledged that the different advice for quarantining when arriving from abroad in the devolved nations "creates confusion".

The UK has split over what to do with Portugal, with England at odds with Scotland and Wales on quarantine after keeping it on the travel corridor list, despite rising above the 20 per 100,000 threshold. 

Speaking in the studio for the first time since lockdown, the Transport Secretary told Sky News: "I do realise it creates confusion for people not to have a single rule but we do have this devolved approach throughout the United Kingdom and I can only be responsible for the English part of that."

Greece was not added to England's quarantine list because figures suggested cases were decreasing, while Portugal's "test positivity" - the overall proportion of positive tests - was falling. 

After the review, he told Sky News: "It's led to no changes partly because the test positivity for example in Portugal actually came down on the last set of figures when we were making this choice and also on Greece the overall numbers came down."

Boris Johnson: HS2 will deliver 20,000 new jobs, and 'fire up' economic growth

HS2 will create 20,000 new jobs, Boris Johnson has announced, as construction formally begins on the controversial rail project.

The Prime Minister said the train line would help the country to "build back better" and become "the spine of our country's transport network". 

The four main contractors for Phase One of the railway between London and the West Midlands will now switch from design and preparatory work to full construction.

Work will begin with the biggest engineering challenges, such as stations and tunnels, before moving onto viaducts and bridges.

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