Markus Andrews

Boris Johnson cabinet reshuffle: How does his new team look?China’s president Xi Jinping is yet to confirm whether he will attend the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year, Cabinet minister Alok Sharma has admitted. However, Mr Sharma told the BBC on Sunday that he was “very hopeful” that the country would send a negotiating team to the talks, which are seen as being crucial for agreeing substantial action to tackle the climate crisis.It came as Boris Johnson’s government was warned that the UK faces a “national security issue” over a sudden shortage of carbon dioxide (CO2) used by the food and drink industry, with the issue set to cause problems in the food supply chain.Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group, warned on Saturday that there was potential for “massive food waste” across the country due to the shortage, which is linked to a spike in wholesale gas prices.Meanwhile, an NHS leader has warned that operations could be put at risk due to the CO2 shortage if ministers fail to prioritise the health service in emergency talks.Show latest update

1632063363Starmer must unify Labour conference by welcoming Corbyn back, McDonnell saysLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer should unify his party by restoring the whip to his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn and by setting out a radical platform for government, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said.The prominent left-wing MP also warned that Sir Keir was running out of time to put forward a compelling vision for the country before the next general election.Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has the full story below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 15:561632062307ICYMI: Report accuses Boris Johnson of neglecting national securityBoris Johnson has been accused of overseeing an “inadequate” Whitehall system and neglecting national security, according to a new parliamentary report.The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy has branded the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan as “a systemic failure”, while also noting that the National Security Council’s structures were abandoned when the Covid pandemic struck.Our deputy political editor, Rob Merrick, has the full story below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 15:381632061014Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has joined the prime minister in paying tribute to England footballer Jimmy Greaves, who has passed away at the age of 81:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 15:161632060142Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has brought back his prop “blue wall” for his party conference speech this afternoon…For those who don’t remember, Sir Ed used the wall to celebrate his party’s surprise by-election victory in the former Tory seat of Chesham and Amersham in June:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 15:021632059091On Saturday night, it was revealed that former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane had been appointed as the head of the government’s “levelling up” taskforce.Here’s what Mr Haldane had to say about Boris Johnson’s strategy for the agenda at an Institute for Government event earlier this year.“The best laid plans are those that are laid locally and which build a broad base of foundations, including investment, education, skills and culture,” he said.“That requires local institutions, and it requires them to have the holy trinity of powers, money and people.”Mr Haldane added: “Put simply, you don’t level up from the top down, rather you level up from the bottom up.”You can find his comments in full below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 14:441632057902ICYMI: China’s attendance at Cop26 in doubt, Alok Sharma saysChina’s president Xi Jinping has yet to commit to attending the Cop26 international climate change talks in Glasgow in November, the conference’s head has admitted.Alok Sharma acknowledged on Sunday that China would have to play a “key” part in any agreement on action to tackle the climate crisis.Our reporter, Leonie Chao-Fong, has the full story below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 14:251632056282As the journalism app PARLY notes, the Ministry of Housing has gone through a number of different names over the past 20 years or so: Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 13:581632055682Senior economist asked to rescue Johnson’s troubled ‘levelling up’ pledgeA former Bank of England chief economist has been asked to breathe life into Boris Johnson’s troubled “levelling up” agenda as part of a shake-up of the government’s strategy.Andy Haldane will lead a new Cabinet Office taskforce, with No 10 declaring that the policy is now its “central mission”.You can find the full story below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 13:481632054602Operations at risk from CO2 shortages ‘unless ministers prioritise NHS’NHS surgery is at risk from CO2 shortages brought on by rising gas prices unless ministers make the issue a top priority, a health service leader has warned.Lord Adebowale, the chair of the NHS Confederation, urged business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to focus on “making sure there’s enough CO2 for the NHS” as part of emergency talks over the coming days.Our deputy political editor, Rob Merrick, has the full story below:Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 13:301632053544Ministry of Housing renamed as Department for Levelling Up in reshuffle shake-upThe Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will now be known as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of a push to deliver on one of the government’s key issues.Michael Gove was handed the department, which will now have an expanded role for delivering improvements for “undervalued communities”, in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.Mr Gove said that he was “thrilled” to be taking on the Levelling Up agenda, which he described as “the defining mission of this government”.“With a superb team of ministers and officials in a new department, our relentless focus will be on delivering for those overlooked families and undervalued communities across the United Kingdom,” he said.“We have a unique opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives.”Conrad Duncan19 September 2021 13:12 More

Labour plans to open its own talks on a “new agreement” with the EU to end the post-Brexit crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours, piling pressure on the government to finally act.Brussels will be asked to revive its offer of visa-free visits across the EU for creative artists and to remove huge new fees and red tape to transport equipment, The Independent can reveal.Keir Starmer’s party has been criticised for a reluctance to reopen Brexit wounds by committing to plug gaps in the skeleton trade deal reached by Boris Johnson, but will now make its own move to rescue touring.Alison McGovern, Labour’s shadow culture minister, said: “The job for us now – given what the Tories have failed to do – is to go and have those practical conversations.”The move has been hailed as a potential breakthrough by big-name musicians hoping it pushes ministers to reconsider a visa-waiver scheme, which the UK rejected last year.Speaking to The Independent, award-winning singer-songwriter Katie Melua welcomed “steps being made towards a solution”, while Joff Oddie, guitarist with the Mercury Prize-nominated rock band Wolf Alice, urged the government to listen on “an issue that could make or break the UK music industry”.The Society of Musicians has warned how artists are “professionally paralysed” – with many tours “unviable” – telling a parliamentary inquiry: “We fear our industry is in grave jeopardy because of Brexit.”Its survey revealed an alarming picture where just 43 per cent of touring musicians plan to visit the EU in future and 42 per cent would consider quitting the UK in order to pursue their careers.Mr Johnson made a high-profile pledge to “fix” the crisis, but the minister put in charge of that – David Frost, the Brexit minister – appeared to wash his hands of the controversy and refused to say it would be resolved.Ministers were then condemned, including by Elton John, for wrongly claiming 19 of the 27 EU countries are offering visa and work permit-free access when severe restrictions still exist.On Friday, Elton John said he is “on the warpath” over the failure to end the crisis, accusing the prime minister of snubbing his request for a meeting. Now Ms McGovern has revealed Labour’s plans to end the stalemate by opening its own negotiations with the European Commission and other organisations in the EU, including trade unions.She told The Independent: “What we know from creative people – whether they work in theatre production, opera, or are gigging bands – is that what the Tories agreed is not sufficient.“Poisonous red tape is holding back creative people from working across Europe and going on tour. This is one of our finest British exports and that’s why we’ve got to do more.“Everybody is fed up now of waiting for the Tories to figure this out. They haven’t negotiated anything new and that’s why we want to see a new, additional agreement.”

Poisonous red tape is holding back creative people from working across Europe and going on tour. This is one of our finest British exports and that’s why we’ve got to do moreAlison McGovern, Labour shadow culture ministerThe deal would cover all the key problems encountered by touring artists, an EU-wide visa-waiver programme, work permit exemptions, a deal on “cabotage” for vehicles and “carnets” for transporting instruments.Ms McGovern, shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman, and Jo Stevens, the shadow culture secretary, plan to visit the commission this autumn – following the precedent of talks with opposition politicians during the Brexit crisis.Labour stresses that the initiative is not about unpicking the Christmas trade and co-operation agreement (TCA), but securing an addition to it.The EU has always stressed it was the UK that walked away from the talks on a “mobility chapter” and that the proposal has never been withdrawn.Melua hailed Labour’s announcement, stressing the red tape now involved in touring, telling The Independent: “It’s good to see steps being made towards a solution.“We rely on touring so much, I just did two shows in Germany with my band and the paperwork we needed for our guitars seemed like overkill even to the customs guard.”Oddie said: “This is an issue that could make or break the UK music industry’s position and reputation.

We rely on touring so much, I just did two shows in Germany with my band and the paperwork we needed for our guitars seemed like overkill even to the customs guardKatie Melua“As it stands, and without further intervention, EU touring will be unviable for all but the most established artists and we’ll see a reduction on new talent breaking through. The government should consider the calls from Labour very carefully, stop paying lip service to the industry and start to take a proactive approach in engaging with the EU on this topic.”Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, said: “We welcome Labour’s support for a visa-waiver agreement, which would be a big step forward in enabling artists to tour in Europe with ease once more.”And Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said: “Very little has happened to cure the problems caused by the TCA. With Labour’s help, we are much more optimistic that a breakthrough might be possible.”The crisis delivered by what one senior Tory MP called “a no-deal Brexit” for touring artists has triggered huge protests demanding a government rethink.The #LetTheMusicMove campaign is backed by Radiohead, New Order, Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, Annie Lennox, Biffy Clyro, Anna Calvi, Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and members of Blur and Portishead, among many others.The Carry on Touring petition secured almost 300,000 signatures – triggering a Commons debate – and the campaign sent an open letter to ministers, demanding a retraction of the claim that performers can tour easily in 19 countries.It points out that far from offering 90 days of permit-free touring as suggested, many offer very few days – and that the UK has secured no improvements through its talks with national capitals.But in the Commons last week, the government again ruled out a rethink, insisting it is up to the EU to agree to an original UK proposal that Brussels said was far more unlimited and unworkable.“We will continue our intensive negotiations [with nation states], but we have to accept that this is not in our control,” claimed Julia Lopez, a junior culture minister. More

NHS surgery is at risk from the gas shortages unless ministers make it their top priority, a health service leader is warning.Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in some operations, as well as to freeze meat and in the brewing and nuclear power industries – potentially putting the NHS in the firing line if shortages worsen.Lord Adebowale, the chair of the NHS Confederation, revealed his fears, urging the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to focus on “making sure there’s enough CO2 for the NHS”.“CO2 is used in a number of interventions in the NHS: invasive surgery and endoscopy for instance, stabilising body cavities so that surgeons can see what’s going on inside,” he told Times Radio.“So we have to prioritise the NHS in all this because otherwise people will suffer.“But what it does really show is how interconnected it all is and we have to look at things systematically. It’s not just one thing, it’s a number of things.”Lord Adebowale spoke out as the government sought to calm fears of shortages, while raising questions over the future of the energy price cap.Surging natural gas prices have pushed 7 energy suppliers out of business this year – and it is feared that another that 4 more may go bust very soon.The UK relies on gas-fired power plants to generate almost half its electricity – and low wind speeds have also hit renewable energy generation,Fertiliser plants in Teesside and Cheshire have shut and Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group, said the supply of turkeys at Christmas could not be guaranteed.“The CO2 issue is a massive body blow and puts us at breaking point, it really does – that’s poultry, beef, pork, as well as the wider food industry,” he said on Saturday.Mr Kwarteng will hold talks today with the regulator Ofgem on Sunday and meet industry leaders on Monday, to thrash out ways to keep the industry afloat and prevent fuel poverty.Alok Sharma, his fellow Cabinet minister, sought to reassure people, saying: “We are not seeing risk to supply at this time and prices are being protected.”Ian Wright, the chief executive of the UK Food and Drink Federation, warned on Saturday of the impact being felt within two weeks.“We’re beginning to get into the pre-Christmas supply period when warehouses begin to pick up, build up their stocks, ready for the push to Christmas a few weeks later,” he said.Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association also warned the pig sector is two weeks away from an animal welfare crisis because of disruption to the supply of animals for slaughter, saying: “Doing nothing is not an option.”The CO2 shortage will also affect packaged products such as cheese and salads and long-life bakery items at supermarkets. “We need to sort it, quickly,” said Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods. More

Ministers are considering lifting the energy price cap to stop soaring prices sending gas firms to the wall, a Cabinet minister has revealed.Alok Sharma acknowledged the move – which would push up household bills – is “under discussion” in response to the supply crisis that is also threatening frozen food shortages.Asked if the cap would be removed “if gas prices carry on rising”, Mr Sharma replied: ‘Let’s see where we are. I know that the business secretary is going to have these very detailed discussions.”Surging natural gas prices have pushed seven energy suppliers out of business this year – and it is feared that another four more may go bust very soon.Prices surged by more than 70 per cent in August alone and households could already see bills jump by as much as £400 in a year, according to some estimates.A lack of carbon dioxide is expected to worsen existing food shortages, because meat producers use it to slaughter animals and in packaging.Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, will hold talks today with the regulator Ofgem and meet industry leaders tomorrow, to thrash out ways to keep the industry afloat and prevent fuel poverty.However, it was unclear whether Mr Sharma meant the government is considering removing the energy price cap – or the ‘green’ surcharge on household bills.Confusingly, the minister also sought to reassure people, telling the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “We have the energy price cap, we have the warm homes discount to protect people at this particular time.”And he sought to calm fears of an energy crisis, by saying: “We are not seeing risk to supply at this time and prices are being protected.”Pat McFadden, a Labour shadow Treasury minister, accused ministers of failing to anticipate the crisis and of leaving the UK exposed to “an international price spike”.“In the short term, what the business secretary must do is ensure continuity of supply, that’s a basic duty of government for both domestic consumers and for businesses,” he told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme.He added: “In the long-term, what this has shown is the need to get on with the transition to net-zero and the vulnerability of the reliance on fossil fuel markets, especially international ones.”Ofgem has already increased the price cap from an average of £1,138 per year to £1,277 from next month, for someone on a standard variable tariff.The next official review is in April, when it may rise above £1,500, according to The Energy Shop price comparison website.The UK relies on gas-fired power plants to generate almost half its electricity – and low wind speeds have also hit renewable energy generation,Fertiliser plants in Teesside and Cheshire have shut and Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group, said the supply of turkeys at Christmas could not be guaranteed.“The CO2 issue is a massive body blow and puts us at breaking point, it really does – that’s poultry, beef, pork, as well as the wider food industry,” he said on Saturday. More

The Covid-19 and Afghanistan emergencies have exposed ways in which Boris Johnson is neglecting national security, a highly critical report warns today.The prime minister is accused of overseeing an “inadequate” Whitehall system that lacks clear lines of responsibility and is unable to cope with more than one major crisis at a time.Furthermore, he is poised to slash the time he spends leading National Security Council (NSC) meetings by around two-thirds under looming changes, says a committee of MPs and peers.The Joint Committee on National Security Strategy brands the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan “a systemic failure”, while noting that the NSC’s structures were abandoned when the Covid pandemic struck.Yet the council’s vital role was underlined by a warning from one expert witness of a one-in-six chance of an “existential catastrophe” over the next 100 years – ranging from climate change to nuclear war.The report calls the NSC shake-up – drafted by national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove – “a retrograde step that suggests a more casual approach to national security”.“It is the prime minister’s personal investment of time and authority that lends credibility to the NSC and its cross-government structures,” it states.“Yet, under the new system, the prime minister will spend roughly 65 per cent less time in NSC meetings than under the previous practice of weekly meetings when parliament is in session.”Margaret Beckett, the committee’s chair, said: “The whole point of the National Security Council is that it is supposed to prepare for, and act upon, a long-term view of our national security risks. It should be above the hurly-burly of daily concerns.“But when two events – the Covid-19 pandemic and Afghanistan – demonstrated yet again what a dangerous world we now live in, weaknesses in the structures of the National Security Council were exposed.”The NSC, established in 2010 by David Cameron, has held weekly meetings between senior ministers and defence and intelligence chiefs, chaired by the prime minister.But Sir Stephen’s changes will see Mr Johnson attend only around half of its meetings, and will risk leaving the NSC unable to “tackle the most pressing issues”, the report warns.It calls for improvements to ensure the NSC has clear lines of responsibility and accountability as well as a role in allocating security funding, and that the council is able to work with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The committee also recommends re-establishing a ministerial committee for managing risks and resilience, and designating chief risk officers for national security in each department.The role of the Cabinet Office’s team of analysts should be strengthened to feed the NSC assessments of the full range of threats and hazards, it says, adding that the government needs to ensure “external and diverse input into NSC discussions to guard against ‘groupthink’.” More

A former Bank of England chief economist has been asked to breathe life into Boris Johnson’s troubled “levelling up” agenda, in a fresh government shake-up.Andy Haldane will lead a new Cabinet Office taskforce, as No 10 declares the policy to be its “central mission”, despite fears that the Covid pandemic will surge back over the winter.The vow to “level up every part of the UK” has been in something close to crisis since the prime minister’s speech flopped in July, when it was universally attacked for lacking any detail.Now the housing ministry is being renamed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, after being handed to Michael Gove in last week’s cabinet reshuffle.A white paper being put together by the highly-rated Neil O’Brien, now a junior minister in the department, will be published ahead of next month’s crucial three-year spending review.And Mr Haldane will head up a “Levelling Up Taskforce”, as a permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office on a six-month break from his chief executive post at the Royal Society of Arts.Mr Haldane, who worked at the Bank of England for 22 years before quitting this year, said: “Levelling up the UK is one of the signature challenges of our time. It has also been a personal passion throughout my professional career.“I look forward to working with colleagues across government, local and national, and with the private and voluntary sectors, to design and deliver an economy that works for every part of the UK.”Two months ago, in Coventry, Mr Johnson admitted he has only “the skeleton” of a plan to level up the country, after being challenged that he had failed to set out how to tackle “entrenched inequalities”.Even Conservative MPs have admitted that the “slogan” lacks substance and is currently designed to “mean all things to all people”, as one put it.Mr Johnson has been accused of undermining it with spending cuts, a failure to devolve meaningful power and by “political bias” in handing out government funds.Downing Street hopes all that will change with the policy in the hands of Mr Gove, who has a record of driving through change in education, justice and the environment in his cabinet career.He said: “I’m thrilled that the PM has asked me to lead the levelling up agenda, the defining mission of this government.“Our relentless focus will be on delivering for those overlooked families and undervalued communities across the United Kingdom.”Mr Gove will also enjoy the title “Minister for Intergovernmental Relations”, having been charged with propping up the union and defeating the threat of Scottish independence.He must also find a way of salvaging the controversial loosening of planning laws, which he has “paused” after a revolt by Tory MPs. More

Only a Liberal Democrat surge in Conservative heartlands can remove Boris Johnson from Downing Street, Ed Davey will tell the party’s conference.In the wake of the stunning by-election win in Chesham and Amersham, the Lib Dem leader will ignore lowly poll ratings to insist his party holds the key to the next general election result.Sir Ed will also call for more help for carers, parents, and small businesses, when he makes his first speech in front of a live audience since winning the leadership 13 months ago.And he will demand tougher UK leadership on the climate emergency, with a ban on new oil, gas and coal companies from the London Stock Exchange.The mainly online conference has also called for a five-point “Health Data Charter”, to set out key tests for whether data sharing is in the interest of the public and the NHS.And it has demanded both sanctions and a Winter Olympics boycott on China over its treatment of the Uyghur minority, widely condemned as genocide.In June, the Lib Dems dealt Boris Johnson a severe blow when they overturned a 16,000 majority in true-blue Chesham and Amersham – raising questions about the foundations of his “blue wall”.“Make no mistake: the electoral arithmetic is clear. These Conservatives can’t be defeated next time unless we Liberal Democrats win Tory seats,” Sir Ed will tell a 100-strong gathering in London.“Boris Johnson will stay in Downing Street unless we throw him out. It’s why our victory in Chesham and Amersham was so important.“We showed – against all the odds – that even in deepest, bluest Buckinghamshire the Tories can be beaten. And we showed Liberal Democrats are the ones to do it.”On climate action, the leader will say: “The UK should be leading the world on climate action, with a radical new approach.“To move trillions of dollars, yen, euros and pounds out of fossil fuels and into renewables. By properly holding to account the powerful fossil fuel firms and the powerful in the City of London.“Banning new oil, gas and coal companies from the London Stock Exchange. Stopping the flow of money from your pension funds into the dirty industries of the past.“As we host the global climate talks in Glasgow, we should stop London hosting the world’s fossil fuel investments.”Sir Ed is using the conference to underline his anti-Tory stance, vowing to never help to put Mr Johnson back into No 10.He has also ruled out a formal alliance with Labour or the Green party, but the traditional policy of equidistance between the big two parties is effectively over.The leader said he was “genuinely staggered by how many people said that they won’t vote Conservative until Johnson goes”, on doorsteps in Chesham and Amersham. More

The Speaker of the House of Commons has expressed support for Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who says she won’t attend her party conference amid a dispute with gay members over her stance on transgender rights.The Canterbury MP has decided to stay away from the annual gathering, which takes place in Brighton next week.She says she has been been branded transphobic for “knowing that only women have a cervix”.“LGBT+ Labour now seem to hate my guts and I feared they’d have a massive go at me at conference,” Duffield told the Sunday Times.“The people who threaten me I don’t think are actually likely to harm me. They just say it often and very loudly.”Sir Lindsay Hoyle spoke out at a meeting of parliamentary heads in Chorley, Lancashire, where the safety of elected politicians was discussed.“Parliamentarians, who have been elected to speak up for their constituents, should be able to attend their own party conference without fear of harm,” he said.“Too many people have been targeted for their opinion or the office they hold. In order to protect democracy, we need to ensure those participating can do so without threats of intimidation.”Duffield, who chairs the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party, said she took the decision not to attend conference “not because I really thought I was going to be attacked, but because I did not want to be the centre of attention.”Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, told the newspaper: “I am supportive of any woman who feels they face a security threat.” More