Markus Andrews

Some of the UK’s most prominent media organisations have issued a plea to Boris Johnson to help Afghan journalists, translators and support staff who have worked with them over the 20 years of British military presence in the country.In a joint letter to the prime minister and foreign secretary Dominic Raab, 23 newspapers, broadcasters and media organisations – including The Independent – have called on Mr Johnson to follow the example of US president Joe Biden, who has given Afghan journalists and media staff with US links access to a refugee programme.They appealed for the creation of a special visa programme for Afghan media workers with UK links who are at risk as the Taliban attempts to retake the country following the withdrawal of western troops.The workers and their families – amounting to a total of a few dozen people – face an “acute and worsening” threat to their lives from the militant group, which has a track record of persecution and targeted killings of journalists who attempt to inform the world about conditions in the country, the letter warned.The letter came as home secretary Priti Patel and defence secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged that the UK owes “a huge debt of gratitude” to local interpreters and other staff who worked alongside UK troops in Afghanistan.Writing to former Army chief Lord Dannatt, who has led calls for the translators to be offered sanctuary in Britain, the ministers said the UK had been “at the forefront” of international efforts to relocate people, taking in 1,400 Afghan staff and their families since 2014 and a further 1,400 in recent weeks.The government is committed to relocating another 500 families – around 2,500 people – as soon as possible, and Ms Patel and Mr Wallace said the scheme would remain open indefinitely, with no limit on total numbers.They announced that the scheme was being amended to ensure that Afghans who had worked with the British military were automatically eligible for relocation to the UK, even if they had already fled the country and were living elsewhere.But the scheme is open only to Afghans who have worked with the military during deployments in Afghanistan since 2001, and media workers are not currently able to apply.Today’s media letter said that British newspapers and broadcasters covering the country had been “heavily reliant” on Afghan colleagues who were “committed to the vision, shared by the British government and its Nato allies, of a free media as a vital part of a stable, peaceful democracy”.But it warned of “very real fears” that these people would now face reprisals from Taliban militants, who have already murdered Helmand-based reporter Elyas Day and photographer Danish Siddiqui as the Taliban launched a military offensive to regain control of the country after being ousted from power in 2001.Journalists are among the civilians regarded by human rights organisations to be most at risk of persecution, the letter warned. And it stated: “Britain has recognised the vital role of Afghans who served as translators for our armed forces, and the unique dangers they face because of their service, through the creation of a visa programme for them.“The Afghans who worked for UK media outlets have also been critical to our national understanding of what British men and women fought for in Afghanistan and the conduct of our allies in the Afghan government.“The numbers concerned are small, perhaps a few dozen people including family members, yet their work in illuminating the realities of Afghanistan to the British public has carried an exponential impact.“There is an urgent need to act quickly, as the threat to their lives is already acute and worsening.“If left behind, those Afghan journalists and media employees who have played such a vital role informing the British public by working for British media will be left at the risk of persecution, of physical harm, incarceration, torture, or death.“The Biden administration this week recognised the threat to journalists and media staff with US links, giving them access to its refugee programme for Afghans.“We hope that a British government committed to democracy, which recognises the important role of a free press, will recall their help in their time of need and vulnerability and offer similar sanctuary.” More

The popularity of Boris Johnson and his government have suffered a sharp decline in a new poll which suggested Conservative voters in particular are becoming more pessimistic about the direction of the country.The prime minister’s personal ratings in the Ipsos Mori survey were at their lowest since October, when the UK was entering a second coronavirus lockdown and before the Covid-19 vaccination campaign began.And optimism about the country’s prospects was lower than at any point since January, as the “vaccine bounce” continued to ebb away from its peak in May.Just 27 per cent of those questioned said they had a favourable opinion of Mr Johnson – down six points since June – while numbers viewing him unfavourably were unchanged at 47 per cent, giving him an overall rating of minus 20.The PM’s favourability among Conservative supporters dropped 10 points, though a majority (58 per cent) are still positive towards him.It came just days after a straw poll of Tory supporters by the Conservative Home website recorded a 36-point nosedive in Mr Johnson’s approval rating to just 3 per cent, with planning reform identified as the issue driving dissatisfaction among activists.The Ipsos Mori survey was carried out between 23 and 26 July, in the days after Mr Johnson’s botched attempt to dodge self-isolation after coming into contact with Covid-positive health secretary Sajid Javid and following a run of negative headlines over Matt Hancock’s lockdown-breaching affair and the award of PPE contracts.Just 30 per cent of those questioned said they believed Britain was heading in the right direction – down five points since the previous month – while numbers saying it was heading in the wrong direction increased by four points to 44 per cent.The net rating of minus 14 on this measure was the lowest since January.And gloom was growing fastest among Conservative voters, with the proportion expressing optimism falling from 63 per cent to 49 per cent in the space of a month.Overall, favourable opinions of the Tories fell by four points to 27 per cent, with 45 per cent viewing the party unfavourably.And just 28 per cent said Mr Johnson’s government was doing a good job of running the country – down four points – while the proportion saying it was doing badly rose two points to 44 per cent.However, there was little sign of Keir Starmer’s Labour Party benefiting from voter unhappiness with the government.Labour’s rating was little changed over the month at minus-16, while Sir Keir’s personal rating edged up only slightly to minus 15, with 23 per cent feeling favourable towards him and 38 per cent unfavourable.Top rated cabinet minister was chancellor Rishi Sunak, who enjoyed a plus 10 favourability rating, followed by Mr Javid (minus 6).Home secretary Priti Patel, whose popularity was measured for the first time in the regular monthly poll, plumbed depths not seen since Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party, at minus 39, with just 15 per cent having a positive view of her and 54 per cent negative.The poll suggested widespread disillusionment with the government’s performance on a range of issues, compared to expectations after Mr Johnson was re-elected with a landslide majority in December 2019.When asked in the wake of the general election how they expected Mr Johnson’s government to perform, 43 per cent said it would get a good deal for a future EU relationship, 42 per cent that it would make Britons feel proud of their country, 49 per cent improve the economy, 44 per cent improve the NHS, 34 per cent reduce crime, 32 per cent improve living standards for those on low incomes and 29 per cent reduce social inequality.But when asked 18 months later how the Johnson administration had performed, its scores were lower on every single measure, with 25 per cent saying it had done well on the EU relationship, 26 per cent on fostering national pride, 24 per cent on the economy, 18 per cent on the NHS, 14 per cent on crime, 15 per cent on helping those on low incomes and 16 per cent on reducing inequality.Ipsos Mori head of politics Gideon Skinner said: “The optimistic national mood we saw in the spring is slipping away, and with it favourability towards Boris Johnson and his party. “Having said that, there is still little sign so far of Keir Starmer and Labour pulling strongly ahead in the public’s affectations, although they have at least arrested their own fall.“When it comes to delivery, Britons were expecting the prime minister to take the country out of Europe, and on this his ratings are highest. “Expectations were much lower that his government would reduce inequalities or divisions, but he may be more concerned about the gap in outcomes the public thought were more achievable – such as demonstrating improvements in the economy across the country as a whole, and spending on public services – particularly to improve the NHS.”• Ipsos Mori interviewed 1,009 British adults online between 23 and 26 July. More

Johnson’s refusal to meet a missed opportunity, says SturgeonBoris Johnson’s popularity has fallen in recent weeks as Tory voters have become more pessimistic about the direction of the UK, according to a new poll.Research by Ipsos Mori found that the prime minister’s personal ratings were at their lowest level since October, with just 27 per cent of those questioned saying they had a favourable opinion of him – down six points since June.It came as leading figures warned that Brexit red tape was putting UK manufacturing at risk of serious disruption as vital parts for British goods such as cars and fridges could fall into legal limbo.The government has failed to devise an acceptable replacement for the EU’s safety standards system, meaning components needed for use in the UK will not have a suitable “kitemark” to guarantee a product is safe, according to industry experts.Meanwhile, it has been revealed that British holidaymakers heading to Europe will have to pay about £6.20 for visa-style fees and security forms following the UK’s exit from the EU.Show latest update

1628088165Dominic Raab calls for ‘accountability’ on anniversary of Beirut explosionForeign secretary Dominic Raab has spoken today to mark the first anniversary of the Beirut explosion, offering the people of Lebanon support and urging leaders in the country to “deliver accountability and reform”.“We need to see a capable government in place immediately, and essential reforms being properly implemented,” Mr Raab said.“The international community stands ready to assist if the Lebanese politicians follow this path.“But if they fail, Lebanon’s friends must look at how we can tackle the corruption that has seen narrow vested interests placed above the needs of the people.”You can find his speech in full below:Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 15:421628087154While Boris Johnson’s approval ratings have slumped in recent weeks, Ipsos Mori’s latest poll makes for better reading for other key political figures.The research shows that, of those polled, chancellor Rishi Sunak is currently the most popular major politician in the UK followed by health secretary Sajid Javid.Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 15:251628086216Opinion: ‘Nicola Sturgeon now finds herself in Keir Starmer’s top pocket’Is Sir Keir Starmer in a stronger position than some think against the SNP? That’s what our political commentator John Rentoul believes…Although former Labour leader Ed Miliband was mocked for allegedly being “in the pocket” of the SNP’s Alex Salmond back in 2015, John writes: “Because the SNP (and Plaid and the Greens) have absolutely ruled out ever propping up a Conservative government in Westminster, they would have to allow a minority Labour government to take office. “There need be no deals or coalitions, but if a Starmer government presented legislation roughly in line with SNP policy, it would be hard for the SNP to vote it down.”You can find his full piece for Independent Premium below:Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 15:101628085254Nicola Sturgeon’s comments on Boris Johnson’s trip to Scotland this week can be found in full below:Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 14:541628083875Our reporter, Adam Forrest, has more details below on Nicola Sturgeon’s response to being snubbed by Boris Johnson this week: Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 14:311628083501Boris Johnson has arrived at the first of his public engagements for his two-day visit to Scotland, the PA news agency has reported.The prime minister is currently in a meeting with senior officers from Police Scotland to discuss policing at the Cop26 international environmental summit which is being held in Glasgow later this year.Conrad Duncan4 August 2021 14:251628082853Should we worry about lobbying in parliamentary groups?In case you missed it earlier: The Commons standards committee is to investigate the system of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) to see whether members have conflicts of interest. By Sean O’Grady:Jane Dalton4 August 2021 14:141628081432Boris Johnson’s popularity falls as Tory voters more pessimistic, poll finds The popularity of Boris Johnson and his government have tumbled in a new poll that suggests Conservative voters in particular are becoming more pessimistic about the direction of the country.The prime minister’s personal ratings in the Ipsos Mori survey were at their lowest since October, reports Andrew Woodcock:Jane Dalton4 August 2021 13:501628080606I don’t feel snubbed but PM’s refusal to meet is strange, says SturgeonNicola Sturgeon says Boris Johnson’s refusal to meet her during his visit to Scotland is a “missed opportunity” but not a snub.She said: “I don’t feel snubbed. I think most people will think it’s a bit odd, and a bit strange, that we’ve got a prime minister visiting Scotland who talks a lot, rightly, about the need – despite our political differences – for us to work together where we can on getting through Covid and into Covid recovery but doesn’t take the opportunity when in Scotland to come and talk to me directly about how we might co-operate and work together.“I think people will just find that strange and it’s for Boris Johnson to explain, I suppose, why.“This would be the first opportunity, given Covid, for us to sit down, appropriately socially distanced, and have a face-to-face chat. I think it would have been a good opportunity.“There’s lots that Boris Johnson and I fundamentally disagree on but we both lead governments that are trying to get our countries through Covid and so there’s a lot for us to co-operate on.”It was a missed opportunity, she added.In a letter to Ms Sturgeon, the Prime Minister said: “As I noted when we last met, I am keen to arrange an in-person meeting with you and the other first ministers and deputy first minister to build on the constructive discussions we had earlier this summer.”He said he was “particularly keen that we work closely together on the vaccination booster campaign this autumn”, adding: “I look forward to meeting with you soon and working together in the interests of people in all parts of our country.”Jane Dalton4 August 2021 13:361628080122Diplomat who lost secret MoD documents removed from ‘sensitive’ workA senior diplomat has been identified as the official responsible for losing secret Ministry of Defence papers.An investigation into how the documents ended up at a Kent bus stop found no evidence of espionage but blamed an individual’s blunder.The official has been widely reported as Angus Lapsley, who was on secondment to the MoD from the Foreign Office.The papers included documents relating to the likely reaction of the Russians to the passage of Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender through waters off the coast of Crimea and to the UK military presence in Afghanistan.The Guardian reported that Mr Lapsley was being lined up to be appointed the UK’s ambassador to Nato at the time of the incident in June.He was working as director-general of strategy and international, responsible for defence policy on Nato and the Euro-Atlantic area.But following the loss of the papers he was removed from “sensitive work” and had his security clearance suspended pending a full review.Jane Dalton4 August 2021 13:28 More

Boris Johnson has snubbed an invitation from Nicola Sturgeon to meet in Edinburgh during his two-day visit to Scotland this week.Scotland’s first minister and SNP leader had invited Mr Johnson to meet at her official residence Bute House to discuss the ongoing recovery from the Covid crisis.However, the prime minister has rejected the chance to meet in a reply letter to Ms Sturgeon – telling her he wanted to focus on wider discussions with devolved leaders at a later date.Ms Sturgeon responded to the letter by saying she did not “feel snubbed” – but claimed most people would find it “a bit odd” that the prime minister passed up the chance to meet during his trip.“I think people will just find that strange, and it’s for Boris Johnson to explain why,” the first minister told broadcasters, adding that she had been “ready” to welcome him at Bute House.“This would be the first opportunity, given Covid, for us to sit down, appropriately socially distanced, and have a face-to-face chat. I think it would have been a good opportunity. So, you know, missed opportunity – but that’s on him.”Saying he was “keen” to meet soon, Mr Johnson said in his letter that it had been agreed at a previous meeting between them to set up a “structured forum for ongoing engagement” between the four nations of the UK.The prime minister wrote: “There is much for us to discuss as all parts of the UK work together on our shared priority of recovering from the pandemic. I understand our officials have made good progress on the details of this since we last spoke.”Ms Sturgeon acknowledged in her own letter that she and Mr Johnson “differ politically” – but stressed the Scottish and UK governments must “work together” wherever possible.The prime minister is expected to begin his two-day visit to Scotland on Wednesday – his first visit north of the border since January.Mr Johnson is believed to have dropped his plan to head to Scotland during the recent Holyrood election campaign, amid fears it could damage the Scottish Conservative Party’s fortunes.“The prime minister will be up here regularly – as will other members of his cabinet,” said Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross.Asked by Times Radio about surveys showing Mr Johnson’s unpopularity in Scotland, Mr Ross said: “The prime minister is aware of that polling. Every politician has support in some areas and not in others.”The prime minister made a point of highlighting the success of the UK’s vaccine roll-out in his reply letter to Ms Sturgeon – and said he hoped to work with the Scottish government on a booster jab programme.“I know that you have been meeting regularly with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, but I look forward to meeting with you soon and working together in the interests of people in all parts of our country.”It comes after Ms Sturgeon confirmed most of Scotland’s remaining coronavirus restrictions are to be scrapped from Monday – which she hailed as “perhaps the most significant date so far” in the pandemic.Meanwhile, the Scottish government has called for more clarity on UK ministers’ plans to renegotiate the Northern Ireland Protocol.Scotland’s external affairs secretary Angus Robertson – due to meet with Brexit minister Lord Frost on Wednesday – said tensions between the UK government and the EU were of “great concern”.Ahead of the meeting, Mr Robertson said: “The entire issue could worsen the already damaging trade impact on Scotland of the UK government’s hard Brexit, and have wider ramifications for EU-UK relations, including further eroding trust.” More

Britain has urged the United Nations to respond to “destabilising actions and lack of respect for international law” by Iran following a series of incidents involving tankers in the Persian gulf.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Wednesday morning wrote to security council president T. S. Tirumurti, amid news of a possible hijacking off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, reportedly on the ship the Asphalt Princess. It comes after a Briton and Romanian were killed in a separate drone attack on the Mercer Street tanker off the coast of Oman, which the UK, US and Israel blame on Tehran.As the latest incident unfolded UK chief of the defence staff General Sir Nick Carter said had Iran made a “big mistake” by allegedly targeting a tanker last week.He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What we need to be doing, fundamentally, is calling out Iran for its very reckless behaviour.”They made a big mistake on the attack they did against the Mercer Street vessel last week because, of course, that has very much internationalised the state of play in the Gulf.”He added: “Ultimately, we have got to restore deterrence because it is behaviour like that which leads to escalation, and that could very easily lead to miscalculation and that would be very disastrous for all the peoples of the Gulf and the international community.”The Royal Navy reported on Wednesday morning that boarders had left the the Panama-flagged asphalt tanker Asphalt Princess, which was believed to have been seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.Three maritime security forces had told Reuters on Tuesday that the Asphalt Princess tanker had been seized by suspected Iranian-backed forces, which Iran denies. Analysts however told The Independent that the latest incident could have been related to “small-time” smuggling rather than a major international incident.The AIS tracking status of the tanker was “underway using engine” early on Wednesday, according to Refinitiv ship tracking data.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a Royal Navy agency, said what it had described on Tuesday as a potential hijack incident was now “complete” and the vessel involved was safe.The agency gave no further details in a warning notice based on a third-party source, and did not name the vessel involved. Shipping authority Lloyd’s List and maritime intelligence firm Dryad Global had both identified the hijacked vessel as Panama-flagged asphalt tanker Asphalt Princess.The incident took place in an area in the Arabian Sea leading to the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for about one-fifth of the world’s sea-borne oil exports.Satellite-tracking data for the Asphalt Princess had shown it slowly heading toward Iranian waters off the port of Jask early on Wednesday, before it stopped and changed course back toward Oman.The Independent has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for more information.Tehran’s relationship with western powers has deteriorated in the years since Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 treaty that sought to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Commercial shipping around the Persian Gulf has increasingly been caught in the crosshairs.Alicia Kearns, a Conservative MP who sits on parliament’s foreign affairs committee told The Independent of the latest incident: “Whether it was Iranian proxies or the Iranian military, the Gulf of Oman remains a treacherous stretch of water for commercial shipping companies. This will only become worse as deteriorating relations between Iran and other nations leave Iran feeling more aggrieved and warranted in escalating incidents like this, as well as limpet mine attacks. “It’s a reasonable assumption that the armed group were Iranian proxies or Revolutionary Guard, because Iran not only has a history of maritime piracy, and then denying outright their actions, but the Asphalt Princess has been detained by Iranian forces on multiple occasions in the past, and the owners previously had another ship targeted as well.”Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent and well-connected Emirati political analyst told The Independent that the UAE had no interest in flared tensions in the strategic waterway and would be looking for ways to de-escalate after the recent incidents. “This should be of concern to the international community which should step up but the UAE doesn’t want an increase in tension or hostilities – it does not want escalation at the moment,” he said. “The thinking here is the UAE does not want to be dragged into any unnecessary confrontation with Iran. We do not want that to happen period. That said, everyone has a direct interest in the safety and security of this very fragile water way.”Yoruk Isik, an Istanbul-based maritime expert and non-resident scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, who has been following the Asphalt Princess said he thought it was more likely related to small-time Iranian oil smuggling than a major international incident. “The company that owns the Asphalt Princes – is Prime Tankers LLC (of the UAE) – it operates a fleet of middle age to older ships and most of the ships have gaps in their Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking that makes us suspicious that they are hiding small time smuggling, perhaps Iranian.” “We don’t know for sure but they are a prime suspect in Iranian oil smuggling – it is the second time their ships have been involved in something like this. As you can see from the MT Riah incident in 2019” – a refernec to the seizure of Panama-flagged tanker whose 12-man Indian crew were detained by the Iranian coastguard in 2019. “The ownership is for sure Prime Tankers LLC – this is the second time they have been involved in an incident . This company has no linkage to Israel whatsoever.”He said that although the alleged hijacking incident was taking place at the same time as a series of attacks on tankers and soaring tensions between Iran, the US and Israel this was likely “an exception”. Isik said it was likely tied to “rogue elements of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps not necessarily operating on behalf of Iran” that were trying to settle a commercial dispute.  “Maybe someone didn’t get paid and so they boarded the ship,” he said, adding that he was certain the ship was Iranian only because at the beginning of the incident it changed course towards Iran, which he said would not be possible if it was private or pirate operation. Additional reporting by agencies More

MPs have called for urgent action to fix “chaotic” scenes at UK airports, ahead of the relaxation of travel rules expected on Thursday.The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on coronavirus has warned that new Covid-19 variants could enter the UK unless tighter controls are imposed to separate arrivals from high-risk “red list” countries from other travellers.The warning came after a union representing border staff warned that the authorities were losing track of who is entering Britain with the virus, in the wake of a decision to order officers not to check the coronavirus status of incoming passengers.Lucy Moreton, professional officer of the Immigration Services Union, said that while airlines, Eurostar and ferry operators are required to check passengers have tested negative for Covid-19, there is no system in place to confirm they are doing so.Border Force was instructed to stop checking the Covid status of passengers from green or amber-list nations on 19 July, when most lockdown restrictions were lifted in England. This means there is also no official check on whether these travellers have booked Covid tests or filled in passenger locator forms to say where in the UK they will isolate if necessary, she said.And while there is a dedicated terminal at Heathrow Airport for planes arriving direct from red-list states, passengers from green and amber-list countries are still mixing with people who started their journey in a red area but changed planes in a country classified as lower-risk, said Ms Moreton.Long queues are also reported to be developing at airports as a result of the absence of Border Force staff who have caught Covid or been “pinged” as a contact of someone testing positive.Responding to the ISU’s warnings, coronavirus APPG vice-chair and Green MP Caroline Lucas said: “The government’s border policy is leading to chaotic scenes at UK airports and leaving the country dangerously exposed to new variants.“The surge in the Delta variant was a direct result of the failure to secure our borders, yet ministers are still repeating the same mistakes.“Urgent action is needed to prevent an even more dangerous variant taking root in the UK, including sequencing positive tests and separating all red list arrivals.”A recent inquiry by the APPG heard that airports were becoming a “breeding ground” for the virus because of travellers from different countries mingling in queues.This prompted a call in May from the group for the government to impose stricter checks at borders and curbs on international travel to prevent Covid cases and new variants being imported into the UK.The APPG, backed by around 60 MPs, warned last month that as travel reopened, there has been a “staggering” reduction in the proportion of positive tests being sequenced to check for new variants.Figures obtained from the House of Commons Library suggested that just 13 per cent of positive test results from red list countries were sequenced for new variants in the three weeks to 30th June, compared to 65 per cent in March. From amber-list countries, the proportion of positive results sequenced was an estimated 3 per cent compared to 61 per cent in March.Responding to Ms Moreton’s comments, a government spokesperson said: “Our utmost priority is protecting the safety and health of the public. That means, occasionally, passengers may see an increase in the time taken to cross the border.“Every passenger has their passenger locator form checked by carriers, who will also ensure individuals have a negative test and day 2 test booked. Carriers are legally obliged to carry out these checks, and there are tough fines for passengers who do not comply.“We will utilise the passenger locator forms to confirm vaccination status.” More

British holidaymakers heading to Europe are set to pay around £6.20 after the EU published its proposals for visa-style fees and security forms.The EU Commission has confirmed it plans to charge visitors a €7 fee when it introduces its European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before the end of 2022.It will affect all visitors coming from visa-exempt countries – like the UK – who want to travel to EU states and any other countries in the border-free Schengen area.But Boris Johnson’s government made clear that it no plans to bring in a reciprocal fee for arrivals from the EU and Schengen area countries.“I believe we have no plans to do that,” junior education minister Michelle Donelan told LBC on Wednesday. “We have our visa plans already outlined.”The new visa-style fees and forms for travellers from the UK and other countries had been due to come into force by the end of 2021 – but the EU pushed its plans back by a year.Under the new system – based on the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) – passengers will have to complete an online application form before travelling.After being asked to answer security questions and provide personal data, passengers’ names will be cross-checked against police databases and the results sent by email.Outlining its plans, the EU Commission promised that its new ETIAS scheme will be “simple, fast and affordable” for all holidaymakers coming to Europe’s Schengen area.“Visa-exempt non-EU nationals will only need a few minutes to fill in an online application which in a vast majority of cases – expected to be over 95 per cent – will result in automatic approval,” said a spokesperson for the EU Commission.“The process will be simple, fast and affordable: the ETIAS authorisation will cost €7, which will be a one-off fee, and will be valid for 3 years and for multiple entries.”The Commission said that in “limited cases”, where further checks on the traveller are needed, authorisation could take up to 30 days. More

Boris Johnson is “missing in action” ahead of the vital COP26 climate summit in Scotland later this year, Keir Starmer is warning.The Labour leader claims the November talks in Glasgow are at risk of failing because the PM is more interested in “soundbites” than leadership.His comments come ahead of a visit to Glasgow, where he will promote Labour’s own policies aiming to reduce emissions.Mr Johnson also makes a rare trip north of the border on Wednesday, although Downing Street has kept quiet on his itinerary.Prior to his own visit, Mr Starmer vowed to keep a committment to Labour’s target of achieving the “substantial majority” of greenhouse gas emission cuts by 2030, as set out in the party’s last election manifesto.With just under three months to go until the world’s attention is focused on CO26, Mr Starmer accused the government of lacking ambition on the climate crisis.“As host of the summit, the world is looking to Britain to deliver,” he wrote in The Guardian. “We cannot afford to miss this moment, but I fear we will.”He added: “All over the world, unusual weather events show that dystopia is not on the horizon. It is here today, all around us,” he wrote.“At this vital moment, our prime minister is missing in action, while his climate spokesperson is busy advising people to freeze their leftover bread.”When the issues at stake are so large, it really is irresponsible for the response to be so small.”The government has come under criticism for its policy and rhetoric on the climate in recent days.Allegra Stratton, the COP26 spokesperson, came under fire after suggesting people should avoid rinsing their plates before putting them into the dishwasher to help reduce emissions.Earlier this week, Mr Stratton, a former journalist, revealed that she continued to use a diesel car because she had to take long journeys to Scotland, Wales and Gloucestershire for family visits.Her remarks were condemned by climate activists and electric car experts, who said the vehicles are suitable for longer journeys with the right planning.Labour has also warned that ministers’ decision to scrap the Green Homes Grant has cost 90,000 jobs.The grant was a central plank of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 2020 plan for jobs, which promised a green recovery to improve 600,000 homes and support 100,000 green jobs. But by the time it was closed in March 2021, just 63,000 households had benefited and new Labour analysis has found that only 10,000 jobs were delivered.Shadow housing secretary Lucy Powell described the scheme as “a shambles from the start”.“Once again the government are over-promising and under-delivering, with their failures damaging our Covid recovery and costing vital jobs,” she said. More