Markus Andrews

Oil and gas producers including ExxonMobil, BP and Shell lobbied a government minister to keep burning natural gas for years – even though the UK is committed to reaching net zero damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.The companies described continued use of the fossil fuel as “a necessary compromise”.Representatives from the three gas giants, plus Chevron and Equinor, used a dinner with then-trade minister Conor Burns in February last year to argue the fossil fuel industry should be seen as a “vital” part of the solution to climate change.They also encouraged a “greater recognition for the role of gas in transition” to a lower carbon future, because it was “cleaner than coal and is fundamental to the Texas economy”.The International Energy Agency has warned there can be no new gas development if the world is to reach net zero by 2050 and stay within safe limits of global heating.The methane emitted by gas is 84-86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.And a UN report earlier this year said that slashing methane emissions would be the strongest action possible in the world to slow global warming.In the memo, Mr Hyde says the firms argued that “moving the US and the developing world from coal to gas is a necessary compromise, while they make inroads in affordability of genuinely clean energy”.The government has banned the installation of oil and gas boilers in new homes from 2025 to try to meet the 2050 target.BP, Equinor and Chevron all defended their lobbying, telling Channel 4 News they were committed to a cleaner energy future and reducing carbon emissions.Shell, Chevron, Equinor and ExxonMobil all said they support the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C.Shell said: “We make no apology for talking to policymakers and regulators around the world about climate change and how to tackle it – business must be part of the solution.”BP said gas was “an important part of our business and has a critical role to play in the transition to net zero” – but that its strategy includes a fall in global oil and gas production and a tenfold rise in renewables by 2030.Equinor too said it was “accelerating our own transition away from fossil energy sources to renewable ones”.ExxonMobil said oil and gas would “continue to play a critical role in meeting the world’s demand for energy”, noting that “many national and state governments have included a shift to natural gas in their carbon-reduction programmes, recognising the contribution that natural gas can make”.The Foreign Office told Channel 4 News the meeting was “a routine engagement with the energy industry”.“We discussed their investments in renewable energies and their decarbonisation plans, and we were not lobbied.”Last week, Channel 4 News aired covert recordings of a senior ExxonMobil lobbyist claiming that the company had secretly fought against climate change legislation.Further footage appeared to show the firm also lobbied against action on plastic waste.Speaking to undercover Greenpeace reporters, he also appeared to admit that Exxon produced products containing highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as “for ever” chemicals, which remain in the environment.The Chairman of the Congressional Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, Rep Ro Khanna, told Channel 4 News he was prepared to take steps to ensure ExxonMobil executives appeared before his committee to discuss the issues raised. More

Labour has accused Boris Johnson of a populist assault on human rights drawn “straight from Donald Trump’s playbook” with the aim of stirring up division in British society.In a searing broadside against the prime minister’s “grubby culture war”, shadow justice secretary David Lammy accused Mr Johnson of lining up with nationalist autocrats like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and India’s Narendra Modi.The Johnson administration is the first in recent British history to “swim against the current of human progress” by diluting the protections against an over-mighty state provided by the Human Rights Act and judicial review, said Mr Lammy in a keynote speech setting out new Labour commitments to strengthen rights in the UK.He said Mr Johnson’s approach contrasted starkly with his Conservative predecessor Sir Winston Churchill, who was one of the first world leaders to set out a vision for “a charter of human rights, guarded by freedom and sustained by law” and with the Tory author of the European Convention on Human Rights David Maxwell Fyfe.“Until the arrival of the current prime minister, mainstream politicians in both parties have supported human rights,” said Mr Lammy. “And both parties have recognised the importance of judicial review for the public to be able to challenge the government when it breaks the law.“Sadly, Boris Johnson wants to divide us by putting our shared rights and freedoms under threat.”Mr Lammy pointed to the PM’s review of the Human Rights Act, ministers’ efforts to make it more difficult to bring judicial review proceedings against the government and proposals in the Policing Bill, as well as Downing Street briefings suggesting that Mr Johnson is considering “opt-outs” that would threaten the UK’s place in the European Convention on Human Rights.“This is the first British government in my lifetime which appears determined to swim against the current of human progress, as well as to roll back our rights and the rule of law,” said Mr Lammy.“Rather than uniting Britons around the common values we share, he is intent on waging a grubby culture war designed to stir up division.”Mr Lammy said that the rights set out in the Convention after the horrors of the Second World War provide “the hidden foundations that help us live together freely and fairly to this day”, preserving individuals’ liberties to express their opinion, enjoy protection from abuses and access education, fair pay and a decent place to live.“Make no mistake. Boris Johnson is cribbing notes straight from Donald Trump’s playbook,” said Mr Lammy.“In doing so he is allying himself to the world’s populist nationalists: from Viktor Orban in Hungary to Narendra Modi in India.“We would be naïve to take our rights for granted at this moment. They are under threat.“Labour’s response to Boris Johnson’s culture wars must be to refuse to take part.“Instead we will focus on strengthening the common values, interests and rights we all share.”Mr Lammy committed Labour to legislating to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law.The party will consult on extending the Human Rights Act to ensure that private sector providers of public services are bound by the same responsibilities as those with public authority status.And he said Labour would “explore” the possibility of doing the same with international treaties on health, social security, adequate housing and other socio-economic rights.Mr Lammy said that the Johnson administration’s attack on rights comes at a time when the justice system has “never been more vulnerable”, with massive backlogs of cases after 11 years of cuts and court closures.Human rights empower everyone in society, and not just those “who happen to vote for the winning party” in elections, he said.And he added: “Let us not forget how difficult it was to win these rights in the first place.“It took the tyranny and the bloodshed of two world wars in half a century for until European leaders to come together to learn the lessons of a fascist dictatorship that was popularly elected.Mr Lammy said: “Human rights are an integral part of Labour’s mission to make the UK the fairest country in the world.“Any politician who attacks them attacks all of us.“Labour will strengthen your rights. Because Labour will stand up for you.” More

Boris Johnson has three times refused to say whether he sacked Matt Hancock after CCTV footage emerged of the former health secretary flouting Covid rules in his Whitehall office.Under repeated questioning at the Commons Liaison Committee, the prime minister was pressed on the issue — after No 10 originally declared the matter “closed” 24 hours before Mr Hancock offered his resignation.Quizzed three times by Labour MP Chris Bryant, Mr Johnson repeated his comments made last month after it emerged through leaked footage that Mr Hancock had embraced his aide Gina Coladangelo in his office.“On your question about Mr Hancock, the former health secretary, let me just go back to what I said many, many times, and I think I said on the floor of the House of Commons,” the prime minister said.“Which was that we all read about the story concerning Mr Hancock and the CCTV and so forth on I think the Friday, and we had a new health secretary on the Saturday.He added: “Considering that we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and it’s quite a thing to move your health secretary, Mr Bryant, I think that was quite fast-going if I may say so and that’s all I have to say on that matter.”Opposition MPs had seized on the apparent decision by the prime minister to stand by his beleaguered health secretary when the story first emerged, as evidence of his poor judgement amid growing anger.The prime minister’s spokesperson had told reporters that No 10 “considers the matter closed” and accepted the apology issued by Mr Hancock.However, the following day, as Tory MPs began to publicly call for the health secretary to quit, Mr Hancock announced his decision to quit, reiterating his apology for breaching the guidance, adding he he owed it to the public “to be honest when we have let them down as I have done”. Labour previously branded Mr Johnson’s comments on the circumstances regarding Mr Hancock’s resignation as an attempt “to rewrite history because he didn’t have the guts” to sack him. More

People could be charged for lateral flow tests from next month, under plans being considered by the government.The tests are only guaranteed to be free until the end of July, the department of health and social care has revealed.“A statement will be forthcoming about whether or not it will be extended beyond that,” a spokesperson told The Independent. More

Security minister James Brokenshire has announced he is standing down from the government to concentrate on his fight against cancer.The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP resigned as Northern Ireland secretary in 2018 for surgery to remove a lesion on his right lung, but returned to Theresa May’s cabinet later that year as housing secretary and joined the Home Office under Boris Johnson in 2020.He announced in January he was taking a leave of absence from ministerial duties for surgery on a tumour.But in a letter to Mr Johnson, he today said that his recovery from treatment and return to full duties was “taking longer than anticipated”.“I have therefore concluded that it is best that I stand down from my ministerial role and focus on restoring my health,” he said.Mr Brokenshire said he hoped “to be able to serve again in some way in the future”.The 53-year-old father-of-three has previously said that his lung cancer diagnosis came as a “jolt” as he had never smoked.In a letter accepting his resignation from the government, Mr Johnson said: “I look forward to welcoming you back as soon as possible.” More

Johnson fails to deny millions to go into isolation after Covid reopeningBoris Johnson is being grilled by senior MPs this afternoon as he appears before the Liaison Committee, with the prime minister facing challenges on multiple topics, including the lifting of Covid restrictions and Brexit.Mr Johnson’s appearance comes as the UK’s sleaze watchdog calls for a crackdown on “dark money” in British politics, with stronger enforcement needed for campaign finance rules, particularly concerning online campaigns.The Committee on Standards in Public Life will urge the government to close a loophole allowing firms to make political donations from profits made abroad, but the watchdog has admitted that it does not have the power to change the rules.Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s government is under pressure following the launch of two official investigations, including one into the use of private emails for government work.Health minister Lord Bethell, alongside former health secretary Matt Hancock, reportedly routinely used private email accounts to conduct official business, raising concerns about transparency and security.Show latest update

1625669649Johnson refuses to say whether he sacked Hancock over scandalBoris Johnson has refused to say whether he sacked Matt Hancock as health secretary after being asked repeatedly by Labour’s Chris Bryant about the matter.In response to a direct question, the PM merely said that Mr Hancock left his position soon after the story of his affair came to light.“Let me just go back to what I’ve said, many, many times… which is that we read about the story concerning Mr Hancock and the CCTV and so forth on the Friday, and we had a new health secretary on the Saturday,” Mr Johnson said.Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 15:541625669068According to Sky News’ Sam Coates, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner is expected to respond to Boris Johnson’s statement on the Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan tomorrow:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 15:441625668832Boris Johnson has begun his session with the Liaison Committee of senior MPs, where he was asked first about the current situation in Afghanistan.The US and its Nato allies, including the UK, agreed recently to withdraw all troops from the country in return for a commitment by the Taliban not to allow extremist groups to operate in areas they control.The prime minister told Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, that he would be making a statement on the situation tomorrow so he believed it would be “better not to anticipate further” on his thoughts on the matter.Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 15:401625667594Opinion: ‘Johnson and Starmer could learn lessons from England’s football team’England’s national football team has presented a clearer vision of “progressive patriotism” than many politicians with their support for racial equality and LGBT+ rights during Euro 2020, according to our commentator Andrew Grice.Andrew writes that both Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer could learn a few lessons from how Gareth Southgate and his players have navigated complex social issues in recent weeks.He writes:“Both leaders could learn from Southgate and his team. They are a powerful symbol of a modern, diverse Britain and, with their support for racial equality and LGBT+ rights, have given us a better vision of progressive patriotism than Starmer has managed. The joke in Labour land is that his strategy is to get a bigger and bigger union flag. In fact, Labour made progress this week by announcing a “buy British” policy on public sector contracts – clever, as it merged patriotism with economic gain.”You can find his full piece below:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 15:191625666136Our reporter, Adam Forrest, has more details below on Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi’s scathing criticism of ministers who defend Covid rule breaches by members of the government:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:551625665426Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick-Thomas Symonds has sent his best wishes to James Brokenshire after the security minister announced that he has stood down from government due to his treatment for lung cancer:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:431625664887Government minister stands down to concentrate on fight against cancerSecurity minister James Brokenshire has announced that he is standing down from the government to concentrate on his fight against cancer.Mr Brokenshire thanked Boris Johnson on Wednesday for his support as he undergoes treatment following the “frustrating recurrence” of his lung cancer.“My recovery from treatment and return to full duties is, however, taking longer than anticipated,” he said.Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more on this breaking story below:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:341625664351Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more details below on Sir Graham Brady’s re-election today as chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs:Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:251625663769Johnson says he will consider calls for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter OlympicsEarlier today, Boris Johnson told MPs that he would consider calls for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, despite noting that he was “instinctively against” such action.Conservative former minister Tim Loughton asked the prime minister what his response would be to concerns over the alleged genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and wider human rights issues in China.Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Loughton said: “Will the prime minister support our motion, to be debated in this House next Thursday, calling for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics – incredibly awarded to Beijing – until and unless this dangerous regime abides by basic international standards of decency?”The PM replied: “This country has led the world in condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang and in putting sanctions on those responsible, in holding companies to account that import goods made with forced labour in Xinjiang.“I will certainly consider the proposal debated but I must say I’m instinctively, and always have been, against sporting boycotts.”Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:161625662864Sir Graham Brady survives as leader of influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchersTory grandee Sir Graham Brady has survived an attempt to replace him as the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs.Sir Graham, who has held the post since 2010, confirmed his victory on Wednesday afternoon after the challenge from former government minister Heather Wheeler – who was thought to be No 10’s preferred candidate.Downing Street has reportedly been unhappy with Sir Graham, an outspoken critic of lockdown restrictions who has voted against the government a number of times.“It is a privilege to have been re-elected as chairman of the 1922 Committee after 11 years serving the parliamentary Conservative Party, I am grateful to my colleagues for this vote of confidence,” Sir Graham said.According to the Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy, one MP described Sir Graham as “a bit of a pompous tit at times” but someone who gives a voice to backbenchers.Conrad Duncan7 July 2021 14:01 More

Boris Johnson has falsely claimed that MPs were offered a vote on his huge overseas aid cuts – yet “mysteriously” chose not to take it up.An “estimates” vote was held last week – but this was on all government spending and could not be used to reverse cuts that will means “thousands of children will die”, Tory rebels are protesting.Voting down the estimates – effectively the Foreign Office’s budget – would have left the key department with no funds at all, it was suggested.Nevertheless, the prime minister told the Commons: “The House was given a chance to vote on this matter on the estimates vote, but it mysteriously chose not to.”In response, former Cabinet minister David Davis warned the government is risking an imminent court challenge – although campaigners have stepped back from that move so far.“Everyone knows that last week’s estimates debate allows only for a vote to reduce the budget, not restore the cuts,” he told The Independent.And, making a direct threat, he said: “If tomorrow’s business statement, confirming the House of Commons business for the final two weeks, does not include a vote on this, the government risks judicial review over the summer.”In fact, the government is still refusing to grant a specific vote – breaking a promise made last year – because, the rebels say, ministers know they would lose it.Aid has been slashed from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of national output – swiping around £4bn a year – and there is no date for restoring the “temporary” reduction, which could be years awayAt the weekend, ex-Scottish leader Ruth Davidson joined the battle, warning Mr Johnson that the Tories will again be seen as the “nasty party”, as the “horrific pictures” of famine in Ethiopia repel voters.In the Commons, Mr Davis said: “This year, thousands of children will die because of the government’s dramatic cuts in international aid.“Top lawyers in the country advise us that this policy is unlawful and it’s never been presented to this House for approval. When are we going to get a binding vote?”The Tory rebels are demanding that the aid cuts are reversed from the start of next year, but ministers have hinted they will last for much longer than that.Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, asked if the cut must be for one year only, to comply with the law – if no fresh legislation is passed – said, in April: “I don’t think it is quite as straightjacketed as that.”Last week, the prime minister dismissed a warning that “hundreds of thousands of people” will die from tropical diseases because of his aid cuts – despite it coming from the World Health Organisation. More

Boris Johnson has apologised to a Labour MP who attacked government “hypocrisy” over Covid rule breaches, as he spoke about his own pain in not being allowed to comfort loved ones during the pandemic.Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi made an impassioned intervention at PMQs – furiously condemning the “sycophantic, spineless, hypocritical” ministers who have defended breaches of regulations.The Labour MP for Slough revealed he could not comfort his grandmother “in her final moments” in hospital and was forced to endure the “agony” of watching his uncle’s funeral online.Part of his frustration was centred on the response of Mr Johnson and his ministers to the actions of Dominic Cummings, the former No 10 adviser who infamously drove to Barnard Castle during lockdown.“Having experience of painful personal sacrifices … imagine our collective disgust when in order to curry favour with the prime minister’s chief adviser, we see sycophantic, spineless, hypocritical government ministers lining up to defend the indefensible – saying ‘it’s time to move on’.”The Labour MP added: “What an absolute disgrace, and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.”Demanding an apology from the prime minister, Mr Dhesi said: “When is the prime minister finally going to apologise to the nation for not mustering up some courage and integrity for doing the honourable thing and sacking his chief adviser, who so shamelessly flouted his own government guidance?”He added: “He could have demonstrated that it’s not one rule for him and his elite chums and another for the rest of us plebs.”Mr Johnson said he was “deeply, deeply sorry” for the lost lives and the time people were unable to spend with loved ones. “I take his criticisms, most sincerely, of the government,” said the prime minister.The PM added: “When he asks for me to apologise, I do, I apologise for the suffering that the people of this country have endured. All I can say is nothing I can say or do can take back the lost lives, the lost time spent with loved ones that he describes. I’m deeply, deeply sorry for that.”Last week Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips recalled his daughter’s recent death and funeral when questioning a cabinet minister over the hypocrisy of Matt Hancock and the rule breach which saw him lose his job as health secretary.He asked why more of his family members could not be graveside at his daughter’s burial less than a week after CCTV footage showed Mr Hancock kissing his aide. More