PM Boris Johnson is expected this week to launch a decade-long plan to tackle illegal drug-related crime which will include removing passports and driving licences from offenders, it has been reported.
The crackdown will also include travel bans, harsher sentences for drug dealers, and measures to break up county lines drug gangs.
It comes as Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he will call in police over “deeply concerning” allegations of cocaine use in the Palace of Westminster.
His move comes after The Sunday Times reported that an investigation found evidence of cocaine in 11 out of 12 locations tested in the building.
Meanwhile, Anthony Allen, a Conservative councillor in North Shropshire, has defected just 10 days before the constituency’s by-election triggered by Owen Paterson’s sleaze scandal.
He has said that “the Conservatives simply aren’t conservative any more” and that the party has “gone soft on illegal immigration, they’ve lost control of taxation and are obsessed with crippling green taxes nobody wants.”
Masks and travel tests could be kept into New Year without vote
Laws requiring mask-wearing and tests for travel will remain in place in early 2022 without a Commons vote if necessary, No 10 has said.
The government’s scientific advisers have warned that it would take longer than a few weeks’ time to assess the threat of the omicron variant.
It came after ministers had vowed to lift the Covid restrictions before Christmas if possible.
But now PM Boris Johnson’s spokesman has said that a decision can be taken to extend or strengthen the restrictions in England after the New Year.
More here from deputy political editor Rob Merrick
Crime show creator mocks Boris Johnson for playing policeman
The creator of the police drama Line of Duty mocked Boris Johnson by saying that he would not give him a part in the hit show after pictures emerged of the PM roleplaying as a policeman.
Jed Mercurio wrote: “Thank you for submitting your audition for the next series of #LineofDuty but we’re looking for a character with at least one redeeming moral principle and a performance that places even just a scintilla of doubt in the audience’s mind that he might not be totally bent”.
This morning, Mr Johnson observed a dawn drugs raid on a house in Liverpool by Merseyside Police.
He donned the police uniform to watch on as a number of officers bust down the door of the property.
The photo opportunity took place at the same time the PM announced his government’s 10-year plan to tackle drugs gangs.
Suppliers with poor history to be blocked from public contracts
The government is planning to block suppliers from winning public contracts if they have a record of poor delivery, fraud or corruption.
The Cabinet Office said the proposals were part of “wide ranging changes” taking advantage of “new powers” facilitated by Brexit.
It said that under current rules, suppliers can only be excluded if there has been a “significant breach of contract”.
But it said a set of “simpler, clearer and more flexible” rules, to be introduced now the country has left the EU, would give the government “more discretion” to block those that have under-performed.
It would also be possible to ban suppliers which have undertaken unethical practices, such as a lax approach to safety, or where there are national security or environmental concerns, the Cabinet Office said.
Meanwhile, the Government is planning to introduce competition into emergency buying, meaning it “doesn’t need to wholly rely on direct awards in times of crisis”.
New measures on transparency would also be implemented, with procurement data published in a “standard, open format” which would be “accessible to anyone”, the Cabinet Office said.
It added that a “simplified bidding process” would make it easier for small and medium-size businesses to win government contracts.
And it said “more weight” would be given to bids with “social value”, to help level up the country.
Christmas party time at Downing Street
Downing Street has said it intends to hold a Christmas party for staff this year.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We haven’t confirmed any dates at the moment.
“I think there is an intention to have a Christmas party this year.”
Boris Johnson turns ‘policeman’ to join force on dawn drugs raid
The Prime Minister has been snapped dressed as a policeman as he joined Merseyside Police on an early-morning drugs raid.
Boris Johnson donned a police uniform to observe officers in the force busting through the door of a house in Liverpool.
It coincides with his announcement of his government’s 10-year drug strategy that he says will infiltrate county lines drug dealings.
Mr Johnson also got the chance to meet the Merseyside Police’s canine colleague Ozzy at Lime Street station.
PM responds to claim that travel restrictions could be ineffective
Boris Johnson has defended his government’s reintroduction of travel restrictions in the face of the omicron variant as “decisive” action after a scientist said it was like “shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted”.
The Prime Minister insisted the UK was the first country to take “decisive measures” in relation to the new strain.
From tomorrow, all travellers arriving in England will be required to take a Covid pre-departure test in an attempt to limit the spread of the omicron variant.
Nigeria was added to the red list at 4am on Monday, and arrivals from the African country must now spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel. There are 11 destinations on the list.
A requirement for people entering the UK to self-isolate until they receive a negative result from a post-arrival PCR test – even if they are fully vaccinated – was introduced last week.
Professor Mark Woolhouse, who is a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M) which advises the government, had said the omicron variant is already “spreading pretty rapidly” and the new travel measures “may be a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted”.
Union loses legal case over Johnson backing Patel in bullying claims
A union representing senior civil servants has lost a High Court challenge over Boris Johnson’s decision to back Priti Patel following accusations of bullying.
The FDA union brought a judicial review over the Prime Minister’s decision last year to go against the findings of his then adviser on ministerial standards in order to back the home secretary.
In a ruling released this morning, Lord Justice Lewis, sitting with Mrs Justice Steyn, dismissed the FDA’s claim and concluded that Mr Johnson had not misdirected himself as to the provisions of the Ministerial Code when reaching his decision.
Full story here by political correspondent Ashley Cowburn
Tory councillor in North Shropshire defects to Reclaim Party
A Tory councillor has defected to the new Reclaim party, it has been reported.
Anthony Allen, a Conservative councillor in North Shropshire, has defected just 10 days before the constituency’s by-election triggered by Owen Paterson’s sleaze scandal, The Spectator has reported.
Mr Allen has said that “the Conservatives simply aren’t conservative any more” and that the party has “gone soft on illegal immigration, they’ve lost control of taxation and are obsessed with crippling green taxes nobody wants.”
Reclaim Party says on its website that it is a new “anti-lockdown and pro free-speech” organisation. It is headed by actor Laurence Fox.
Full story here by Adam Forrest
‘Please do it,” Sir Keir Starmer says in urging people to get jabbed
Sir Keir Starmer urged people not to allow “misinformation” to put them off getting their Covid vaccinations, after he received his booster jab.
The Labour leader made the comments when visiting the Macey Chemist vaccination centre in London this morning.
He said: “I would encourage absolutely everyone who is eligible to come forward and have their booster. Don’t be taken in by the misinformation.
“Come forward, have your booster, think of yourself, think of others, think of your communities. Places like this are open. It’s quick, it’s easy. Please do it.”
