Nandy to face Gove on ‘levelling up’ after Labour front bench shake-up… “Lisa Nandy has been appointed shadow minister for “levelling up” as Labour leader Keir Starmer seeks to hold the government to account over its signature policy. As part of a wider reshuffle Nandy will move across from her current job as foreign affairs […]
Coronavirus 1) Boosters for every adult in bid to save Christmas “Millions more people will be offered booster jabs to maximise protection against the Omicron variant as ministers insisted that Britain will have a “great Christmas”. Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said that people should continue with Christmas plans as normal and that the government […]
Johnson announces new Covid restrictions to counter Omicron variant “The prime minister said the restrictions, which include strict travel rules, would be reviewed in three weeks, at the start of the school holidays. He told a Downing Street press conference he was confident this year’s celebrations would be “considerably better than last Christmas”, when families […]
Channel crossings 1) France warned of more deaths unless talks open “Britain has warned France that more migrants will die in the Channel unless it reopens talks over Boris Johnson’s plan to reduce the number of small boats attempting to make the crossing. The prime minister said that he had no regrets after his decision […]
France cancels meeting with Britain to discuss Channel migrant crisis “France has cancelled a meeting with Britain to discuss the small boats crisis in the Channel after the deaths of 27 migrants. Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, issued a furious response to a letter from Boris Johnson requesting that President Macron allow British personnel to […]
France is not doing enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel, says Johnson, as 27 drown “Boris Johnson accused France last night of failing to do enough to stop migrants crossing the Channel and called for British police and border officials to be allowed to patrol French beaches. The prime minister said gangs were “literally getting […]
Johnson backs off from vow to guard homes against care costs… “Boris Johnson has watered down his pledge that no one would have to sell their home to pay for social care as he held out against a climbdown on its provision despite a Tory rebellion. Lord Lilley, the former cabinet minister, told Times Radio […]
Tory rebellion over social care changes set to spread to Lords… “The Tory rebellion on social care that erupted in the Commons on Monday night is set to spread to the Lords, where former ministers will try to force a government climbdown. Lord Lansley, a former Conservative health secretary, and Baroness Altmann, an ex-pensions minister, told […]
Dozens of Tories prepare to rebel against Johnson’s social care reforms “Dozens of Tories are poised to rebel today against Boris Johnson’s plan to make elderly care reforms less generous. A former Cabinet minister revealed yesterday he would vote against an amendment that will make poorer pensioners pay more, while a Red Wall MP warned […]
Migrant crossings 1) Tory voters believe the Government is too “soft” “Boris Johnson has been warned the migrant crisis could “destroy” the Conservative Party, as a Telegraph poll showed the overwhelming majority of Tory voters believe the Government’s approach to Channel crossings is “too soft”. On Saturday, a prominent party donor declared ministers must do […]
Johnson demands Channel migrant fix… “Boris Johnson has ordered a cross-Whitehall review into the migrant crisis after being “exasperated” by his government’s failure to stem the numbers. The prime minister is concerned that there are still no viable policies to reduce the number of Channel crossings. Some 24,500 migrants have crossed in small boats this […]
Johnson accused of ‘derailing the trains’ as HS2 eastern leg scrapped “Boris Johnson has faced a backlash over his rail strategy from “deeply disappointed” Tory MPs who accused him of promising “perpetual sunlight” but delivering “moonlight” on train projects for the North. The Prime Minister insisted the Government’s 162-page Integrated Rail Plan, published on Thursday, was […]
Sleaze: Prime Minister ‘blames colleagues’ for committee mishap “Boris Johnson has admitted to Tory MPs that he had “crashed the car into a ditch” by embroiling his party in two weeks of sleaze allegations. In a tacit apology to Conservative backbenchers the prime minister admitted that he had been wrong to try and rip up parliamentary […]
Johnson backs ban on some second jobs for MPs amid Tory sleaze row… “Boris Johnson announced support for a ban on some MPs’ second jobs on Tuesday, after a fortnight of “Tory sleaze” headlines and plummeting opinion polls. In an unexpected change, the Prime Minister called for two alterations to the MPs’ code of conduct that will […]
Tory MPs demand colleague retires after blocking sleaze motion “Conservative MPs have demanded one of their colleagues should retire after he blocked a late-night motion that would have overturned the controversial Owen Paterson vote. Christopher Chope, the MP for Christchurch, blocked a motion rescinding the Leadsom Amendment that would have saved Mr Paterson from a […]