The prime minister today offered only the “skeleton” of plans to level up the nation – in a speech billed as a major bid to define his vision for the UK. During a press conference in Coventry, Boris Johnson was asked where, “after two years into the job”, his clear strategy for levelling up was. “I do think that in all fairness there was at least the skeleton of what to do,” he responded.
Mr Johnson added a levelling-up policy paper was expected to be published later this year, but the speech has already being panned as inconclusive.
A significant moment did, however, come when the PM answered a question about the National Food Strategy, published this morning, suggesting his government will not enforce the proposed snack tax set out by Henry Dimbleby. “I’m not, I must say, attracted to extra taxes on hardworking people,” the PM said.
Meanwhile, two homes have been searched and personal computer equipment seized after CCTV images of Matt Hancock embracing an aide in his Whitehall office were leaked last month.
‘Sausage war’ is taster of trade disputes to come, warns retail rep
A retail representative has warned MPs that the post-Brexit “sausage war” is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to trade disputes set to unfold.
Aodhan Connolly, from the NI Retail Consortium, told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee the chilled meats dispute was “peripheral” and that much bigger problems for traders lie ahead.
Business, retail and manufacturing bosses today addressed MPs during a hearing on the impact of the much-contested Northern Ireland Protocol.
“On chilled meats, if people think that is what a trade war is they are really going to be surprised when there is an actual war. That was not a trade war, that wasn’t even a trade handbags at dawn,” Mr Connolly said. “It is an emotive issue, but in trade terms it is a peripheral issue.”
He added: “There are some real concerns and the last couple of weeks we have been having lots of meetings with our grocery members on what is coming down the tracks. We are heading towards a perfect storm in October when we will need export health certificates.”
It comes after David Frost, the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator, earlier admitted to a Commons committee he had not foreseen the “chilling effect” of the Protocol, which he acknowledged has left smaller businesses unable to continue trading with Northern Ireland.
PM’s devolution announcement praised by industry leaders
It seems not everyone was disappointed by the PM’s speech earlier. The only new proposal Boris Johnson appeared to make was a suggestion to “rewrite the rule book” to take a “more flexible approach to devolution” in England.
Well, Local Government Association (LGA) chairman James Jamieson said now is the “right time to bring forward an ambitious new devolution settlement”.
“We support the prime minister’s refreshed commitment to turbo-charge this agenda and we look forward to working with councils and government to make this ambition a reality,” he added after the Coventry event.
Meanwhile, Tony Danker, the Confederation of British Industry director-general said he welcomed the commitment to greater regional devolution.
“The PM is right to recognise the importance of creating confidence among businesses to invest, and empowering local leaders to deliver,” he said. “For too long, we have been so much more regionally unequal than our economic competitors.”
More widely, the speech has been criticised for lacking detail, with members of the Labour Party and TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady saying it was a string of “empty soundbites”.
PM refuses to disown past comments on race – but apologises again
Boris Johnson today declined to disown his former comments about black “piccaninnies” and Muslim women looking like letterboxes, instead repeating a previous apology for the offence they caused.
Speaking shortly after launching new measures to ban people from football matches for posting racist comments online, the PM was challenged by The Independent over whether his controversial remarks would continue to be taken as a green light for racism until he makes clear that he regrets having made them – as he was asked to in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
“The best thing I can say about that is I’ve obviously apologised in the past for the things that I have said that have caused offence and continue to apologise for them,” he said.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has all the details:
Labour criticises PM’s levelling up speech as lacking ‘substance’
Labour’s leader has dismissed Boris Johnson’s “levelling up” speech, saying the government lacked a proper regional strategy.
During a visit to Blackpool, Sir Keir Starmer said there was “no substance” to the PM’s lengthy speech which, he claimed, “is absolutely typical of this prime minister”.
“He has given a speech on levelling up which has got nothing in it. He promises jam tomorrow – that is what this prime minister does – but there is no delivery. The government has been in power for 11 years. They need to be judged on that record.”
Sir Keir continued: “The words ‘levelling up’ are no substitute for a regional strategy that brings money, resource, infrastructure, skills all together around a regional plan. That is what Labour would do. The Prime Minister has got two words and nothing behind them.”
It comes as the party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner branded the speech “soundbites” and said the PM was failing to “look after our areas” properly. Ms Rayner is from Stockport and is the MP for Ashton under Lyne.
Snack tax can ‘get rid of food industry inequality’ – nutritionist
A dietary specialist has attempted to sooth people’s concerns over a proposed snack tax, by insisting that the tax is not “an individual one” but one that is “applied to the businesses, restaurants and manufacturers making or providing those foods”.
Dr Dr Hilda Mulrooney, of the British Dietetic Association, said Britain’s junk food issue went “far beyond obesity”, and advised the government to consider recommendations put forward in Henry Dimbleby’s National Food Strategy this morning in a bid to “get rid of the inequality” that exists in the food industry.
Asked by the BBC if she believed one day a “GP might prescribe vegetables for weight loss”, Dr Mulrooney said: “No, I wouldn’t say that, many of us are in a position to buy [fresh fruit and vegetables] already.
“I think this report is about trying to get rid of a lot of the inequality in the system, to ensure that the people who are least well off are not disadvantaged further.”
The Kingston University professor added: “There have been many stories today from low-income people who’ve said they can’t afford to buy fresh fruit or vegetables for themselves or their children, and it’s not a question of knowing what the right thing to do is, it’s being to put it into practise.”
Dr Mulrooney ‘doesn’t expect’ GPs to begin prescribing vegetables
” height=”726″ width=”982″ srcset=”https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/07/15/14/newFile-14.jpg?width=640&auto=webp&quality=75 640w” layout=”responsive” class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”> Dr Mulrooney ‘doesn’t expect’ GPs to begin prescribing vegetables
Public should be able to trust CCTV, says Hancock investigator
One of the investigators on the Matt Hancock probe suggested his aim was to ensure, or restore, public confidence in the safety of CCTV.
Steve Eckersley, director of investigations at the ICO, said: “It’s vital that all people, including employees and visitors to public buildings, have trust and confidence in the protection of their personal data captured by CCTV.
“In these circumstances, the ICO aims to react swiftly and effectively to investigate where there is a risk that other people may have unlawfully obtained personal data.”
Mr Eckersley added: “We have an ongoing investigation into criminal matters and will not be commenting further until it is concluded.”
Two houses searched after CCTV images of Matt Hancock embracing aide leaked
Breaking news: Two homes in the south of England have been searched by the Information Commissioner’s Office after CCTV images of the then health secretary Matt Hancock embracing an aide in his Whitehall office were leaked.
The organisation said personal computer equipment and electronic devices were seized, writes Ashley Cowburn in this breaking report.
PM urges caution over Covid as he faces flak over mask guidance
Boris Johnson has urged people to act cautiously when coronavirus restrictions are lifted in England on Monday, as he faces growing criticism over “confused” guidance given to shoppers, businesses and commuters in England over the wearing of masks.
Roger Barker, policy director at the Institute of Directors, said businesses were “understandably confused” over “a series of mixed messages and patchwork requirements” in the latest guidance. Adam Forrest reports:
What shall we call county leaders, PM asks public
Boris Johnson has suggested having directly elected county leaders, appealling to the public for ideas of what to call them instead of mayors.
Local leaders in towns should be “given the tools to make things happen for their communities”, he said during his levelling-up speech.
“To do that we must take a more flexible approach to devolution in England.
“We need to rewrite the rulebook with new deals for the counties, and there is no reason why our great counties cannot benefit from the same powers we’ve devolved to city leaders.”
But he cautioned “we must get the right local leadership” so there cannot be a “one size fits all template”, as he criticised the “looney left”.
“One possibility is a directly elected mayor for individual counties. And if you can think of a better title than mayor for somebody who represents a county then please send me an email,” he added.
Johnson admits he has only ‘skeleton’ of a plan to level-up country
Boris Johnson’s levelling up speech has been criticised for lacking detail, as the PM admits to only having the “skeleton” of a plan.
The prime minister was challenged that he had failed to set out how to tackle “entrenched inequalities” – after acknowledging 11 years of Tory rule had left many areas poorer than East Germany.
But, at an event in Coventry, he was asked: “You are almost two years into the job now. Where is the clear strategy beyond investment in high streets and infrastructure as to how tackle what is often entrenched inequalities around health, education, aspiration?”
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:
