Boris Johnson news – live: Sunak urged to put ex-PM’s resignation honours list ‘through shredder’

Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list should be “put through the shredder”, the Lib Dems have said.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused the prime minister of rewarding “failure” by allegedly giving the list the green light.

“The fact that one of the most scandal-ridden prime ministers is now allowed to stuff his cronies in the Lords after a failed premiership tells the British public everything they need to know about this Conservative Party,” she said.

“Boris Johnson caused crisis after crisis in this country – if Rishi Sunak rewards his failure it’s just proof it is one rule for the Conservatives and another for everyone else.

“The buck stops with Sunak – he must ensure that Johnson’s honours list is put through the shredder.”

As we reported earlier, Rishi Sunak is in Washington for talks with president Joe Biden on the war in Ukraine, the global economy, AI and other topics.

The prime minister has been speaking to broadcasters there, insisting that the UK is “well placed” to lead on the regulation of AI.

He also pushed back against suggestions that he his failure to secure a trade deal with the US was a “broken promise”. The 2019 Conservative Party manifesto said the UK would get a deal with Washington within three years.

“I think that UK is well-placed to take a leadership role in shaping the conversation about how we regulate AI so that we can enjoy its benefits, which clearly there are many, but do so in a way that protects our countries and citizens, and make sure it is used safely and securely,” he said.

“The UK is research-based, (has the) companies – everything points to us.

“Our ability to move quickly, to put regulation in place, is really important in an industry and technology that itself is changing very rapidly.

“I’ll be discussing that with president Biden today. I’m delighted the US is supporting our summit. I’ve also spoken to the companies involved about this when I convened them in Downing Street a few weeks ago.

“I think they’re also keen to support the UK in helping to develop what needs to be a global architecture for regulation ultimately.”

On the trade deal, Mr Sunak said: “Since then we’ve had a pandemic, we’ve had a war in Ukraine, and that has changed the macroeconomic situation. The right response to that is ensure that we’re focusing our engagement economically on the things that will make the most difference.”

He added: “Actually, what I’ll be talking to president Biden about today is how can the UK and the US work together to ensure security for our citizens? I think that’s the thing that we should be focusing on right now.”

The UK is banning imports of gold from Belarus in a new wave of sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on the Kremlin-backed regime.

Internet providers will also be forced to restrict access in Britain to websites spreading propaganda from the country, the government said.

Bans will be placed on the import of gold, cement, wood and rubber – all sources of revenue for authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s regime – to the UK.

The Tory donor, a leading figure in London’s financial world, faces shocking allegations that he groped female members of staff and masturbated on a female entrepreneur.

A law firm representing Mr Odey said he “strenuously denies” the allegations.

Adam Forrest reports:

Permission to berth a barge accommodating asylum seekers at an east London dock has been rejected, according to a letter from Sadiq Khan to the home secretary.

The Labour mayor of London told Suella Braverman: “I am writing to you following the recent decision by the Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA) to reject the use of King George V Dock as a berth to accommodate people seeking asylum.

“I wish first to put on record my support for this decision and secondly to outline my absolute opposition to the government’s policy of housing asylum seekers on vessels.

“The capital has a proud history of providing sanctuary for those seeking refuge, including during World War II and our most recent efforts to support those fleeing conflict in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Our city’s welcoming attitude and our diverse communities are what make London so great.

“I am deeply concerned by the government’s plans to place asylum seekers and refugees in vessels.

“It is unclear how ministers will seek to ensure those housed in such vessels, some of whom are fleeing the most appalling of circumstances, will have access to the necessary support, both on arrival and in rebuilding their lives.”

Four Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested after refusing to leave the road while demonstrating in central London.

Slow-walking protesters were instructed to leave the road in Trafalgar Square shortly after 12.30pm on Thursday. Most complied but three men and a woman remained in the road.

Police removed them from the road and arrested them.

The protest was attended by Dale Vince, the clean energy entreprenuer who has donated more than £1m to the Labour Party.

He said: “I’m here to support the incredibly brave people of Just Stop Oil. They put themselves and their liberty on the line.

“I support them in other ways, in the media and with donations, but I thought I would do more.”

Labour would seize the opportunities for British steel, Sir Keir Starmer said, as he vowed to protect the embattled industry.

The Labour leader visited the British Steel site in Scunthorpe on Thursday, as he accused the Conservatives of leaving the industry and its workers in a “cycle of crisis and bailout”.

Dominic McGrath reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Rishi Sunak is only focused on “managing” the Conservative Party after reports the PM has accepted Boris Johnson’’ recommendations for peerages, Adam Forrest reports.

The Labour leader said: “The Conservative Party is, as ever, talking about the Conservative Party and how they appease different bits of their own party. Whether it’s Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages, Boris Johnson’s peerages, all the prime minister is doing is managing his own party instead of running the country.”

He said that anyone concerned about the cost of living is “going to see a government that is putting a party first, not country first”.

Rishi Sunak will snub Donald Trump while on his visit to the US, saying he is too busy to meet with the former president.

The prime minister is holding talks with president Joe Biden later but has no plans to see Mr Trump.

“I’ve got a pretty busy schedule,” he told reporters yesterday when asked if he would hold talks with Mr Trump, who has announced another tilt at the White House next year.

“I’m meeting key Congressional leaders from both sides and obviously the president,” he went on. “Those are the key engagements that I have.”

The UK should invest in artificial intelligence-driven weapons systems to stop it falling behind other countries, a former national security advisor has said.

Speaking at a parliamentary committee Mark Sedwill said AI was “the future of defence capability” and that the UK needed to invest in order to “punch its weight”.

Lord Sedwill’s comments come after Rishi Sunak‘s technology advisor said that AI could become powerful enough to “kill many humans” in only two years’ time.

Jon Stone reports: