Markus Andrews

Tory MPs have defied Boris Johnson by re-electing one of the fiercest internal critics of his lockdown restrictions to chair an influential backbench committee.Sir Graham Brady faced a challenge to his position at the head of the 1922 Committee from former minister Heather Wheeler, who was seen as Downing Street’s favoured candidate for one of the most powerful Westminster roles for a Tory outside government.Mr Johnson has been increasingly irritated by Sir Graham’s outspoken demands for relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, which have seen the veteran MP repeatedly join rebellions against the government line.Sir Graham, who has held the post since 2010, said he regarded his victory in a vote open only to Tory MPs who are not on the government payroll as a “vote of confidence”.The Altrincham and Sale West MP said: “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.”Often referred to as the “shop steward” of Tory MPs, it is up to the ‘22 chairman to tell the Conservative prime minister if they have lost the support of the backbenches.Brady presided over the vote of confidence which allowed Theresa May to hang onto her position for a few more months amid Tory revolt over her stewardship of Brexit in 2019.The former Europe minister has broken with the practice of earlier chairs, who have largely operated in the background and refrained from public comment on political controversies.He successfully tabled an amendment in 2019 to replace Ms May’s Northern Ireland backstop with “alternative arrangements” to prevent a hard border after Brexit. And he has been a leading light of the Covid Recovery Group of anti-lockdown Tory MPs.Sir Graham quit as chair of the ’22 in May 2019 to sound out colleagues on his prospects for a bid for the Tory leadership following Ms May’s resignation, but ultimately opted not to stand after apparently failing to garner sufficient support. He returned as acting chair in September that year and was re-elected to the position in January 2020.While he has been seen as effective in communicating backbench opinion to the PM, Ms Wheeler is understood to have argued that he was using the position to pursue his own agenda on lockdown. More

Prime minister Boris Johnson has failed to deny that as many as 3.5m people a week will be forced into self-isolation by his decision to scrap all coronavirus restrictions on 19 July.Mr Johnson was pressed repeatedly in the House of Commons to spell out forecasts of deaths, hospitalisations and self-isolation orders, after health secretary Sajid Javid said that Covid-19 infections were set to soar to 100,000 a day following the end of mandatory face-masks and social distancing.Accusing the PM of a “reckless” approach which would deliver a “summer of chaos and confusion”, Sir Keir Starmer told MPs: “It won’t feel like Freedom Day for those who are having to isolate.”And he warned that Mr Johnson’s approach would undermine the Track and Trace system, as people delete the NHS app in order to avoid being “pinged” after coming into contact with infected people.In fiery exchanges, Mr Johnson was twice rebuked by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle as he dodged the question and tried to turn the debate onto what he claimed was Labour failure to spell out its own plans.Speaking during his weekly grilling at prime minister’s questions in the Commons, Mr Johnson claimed that it was “prudent” to go ahead with a big-bang removal of coronavirus restrictions in 12 days’ time because scientific evidence showed that vaccines had “severed the link” between infection and serious illness or death.But Starmer retorted that the link had in fact been “weakened, but it hasn’t been broken”, meaning that the surge in infections following 19 July is likely to push up hospitalisations, deaths and cases of long Covid as well as increasing the risk of dangerous new mutations.The Labour leader said that the relaxations were being introduced at a time when cases in the UK were soaring “because the prime minister let the Delta variant – and we can call it the Johnson variant – into the country”.Citing estimates that between 2-3.5m people a week could be forced into self-isolation over the summer, Sir Keir asked: “Is the prime minister really comfortable with a plan that means 100,000 people catching this virus, every day, and everything that that entails?”He accused the PM of trying to “wish away” the practical problems caused to families and businesses by the expected surge in infections as the summer holidays begin.“He’s ignoring the next big problem that’s heading down the tracks which is going to affect millions of people who have to self isolate,” said the Labour leader.“It won’t feel like Freedom Day to those who have to isolate, when they’re having to cancel their holidays, when they can’t go to the pub or even to their kids’ sports day.“And it won’t feel like Freedom Day to the businesses who are already warning of carnage because of the loss of staff and customers.”Starmer said it was “obvious” that Johnson’s plan risks undermining the multi-billion pound Track and Trace system, with reports suggesting that many people are already deleting the NHS app.“They’re doing it because they can see what is coming down the track,” said the Labour leader. “Of course, we don’t support that, but under his plan it’s entirely predictable.Keir Starmer warns of a ‘summer of chaos and confusion’“What is the prime minister going to do to stop people deleting the NHS app because they can see precisely what he can’t see, which is that millions of people are going to be pinged this summer to self-isolate?”Mr Johnson made no attempt to deny forecasts of millions of people going into self-isolation over the summer.Instead, he demanded to know which of the new freedoms scheduled for 19 July – including reopening all businesses including nightclubs, lifting attendance limits at mass events, removing work-from-home instructions and abolishing legal requirements to wear masks and maintain social distancing – Labour would reverse.He told MPs that his approach, unveiled on Monday, was “cautiously prudent, moving from a legal diktat to allowing people to take personal responsibility for their actions”.Sir Keir responded that Labour wanted to “open in a controlled way and keep baseline protections that could keep down infections, like mandatory face masks on public transport”.The Labour leader said the PM’s decision was driven not by public health and safety but by Matt Hancock’s forced resignation as health secretary and by pressure from anti-lockdown MPs on the Tory benches.“He’s doing what he always does,” Starmer told MPs. “Crashing over to the other side of the aisle, chasing headlines and coming up with a plan that hasn’t been thought through.“We all want restrictions lifted. We want our economy open. We want to get back to normal. But we’ve been here too many times before.“Isn’t it the case that once again, instead of a careful controlled approach, we’re heading for a summer of chaos and confusion?”Mr Johnson rejected the allegation, and insisted that the decision to reopen had been taken in a “balanced and cautious” way.Pointing at Starmer, he told MPs: “If we listened to him, we would not now be proceeding – cautiously, pragmatically, sensibly – to reopen our society and our economy and give people back the chance to enjoy the freedoms they love.”In an attempt to revive his earlier “we vaccinate, they vacillate” slogan, the PM concluded the clash with the jibe at Labour: “We inoculate, they are invertebrate.” More

A crackdown on ‘dark money’ in British politics is being proposed by a sleaze watchdog, but it is admitting only voters can punish leaders who break the rules.Secrecy surrounding who is funding online campaigns and “shadowy” unincorporated associations – often the super-rich donating to the Conservatives – must be lifted, the committee on standards in public life says.Its report will also urge the government to close a loophole allowing firms to make political donations from profits made abroad, using shell companies.Lord Evans, the head of the committee, has previously warned of a growing belief that top politicians are “choosing to disregard the norms of ethics and propriety” the UK has grown used to.“Stronger enforcement” of campaign finance is needed, he said – while pointing out the watchdog can only make recommendations and does not carry out investigations.Political leaders are “chosen by the voters”, Lord Evans said, adding: “That’s the fundamental aspect of accountability in our system“You can’t get around the fact that we are a democracy and it is for the voters to decide who they want to take these political decisions.”In April, the committee called for Boris Johnson to lose the power to decide whether his ministers are investigated for sleaze – but the prime minister ignored the recommendation.It means there has been no inquiry into whether Matt Hancock broke the ministerial code by appointing his close friend and then lover to “scrutinise” his department – before he was forced to quit.Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is losing the power to prosecute law-breaking, just weeks after it launched an investigation into Mr Johnson’s controversial flat refurbishment.“We can’t tell the government what to do, we can’t instruct parliament on what to do,” Lord Evans admitted, on BBC Radio 4.The Conservatives have registered at least nine unincorporated associations with the Electoral Commission – including the famous Carlton Club, founded in 1832.They can legally funnel large amounts of cash to parties, appointing officeholders and trustees with little disclosure of where the money is coming from.Lord Evans warned the associations “can sometimes look slightly shadowy because you don’t know who has given money to them”.“They can then contribute funds to campaigns and we believe there needs to be greater transparency about who is giving money to those unincorporated associations,” he argued.On the lack of transparency for digital campaigning, Lord Evans said: “You can’t necessarily tell who is saying what to which groups of voters.”And he added: “At the moment, there are no rules that say British-registered companies have to pay for their campaign donations out of UK derived funds.“Companies in the UK should be paying for their donations to elections through profits derived from their activities here. That makes it much harder to use shell companies.” More

The extension of current self-isolation rules for another six weeks is “not a perfect solution,” a cabinet minister has admitted.Health secretary Sajid Javid announced on Tuesday that children and the fully vaccinated would no longer have to shut themselves away for the 10-day isolation period from 16 August.It sparked anger from business leaders who fear millions of Britons will be forced to self-isolate this summer as Covid cases continue to rise – disrupting plans to kick-start the economy.Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng conceded on Wednesday that the plan to keep strict requirements in place beyond the lifting of other restrictions on 19 July was not ideal.“It’s a balance, it’s not a perfect solution,” Mr Kwarteng told Sky News. “On the one hand we’re saying that we can reopen and on the other we’re saying that we want to give a little bit more protection in terms of the self-isolation rules.”Asked about the business owners’ concerns, the minister added: “You can’t have it both ways. On the one hand we’re saying we want to reopen but we’re giving a measure of precaution in terms of delaying the lifting of self-isolation restrictions.”Mr Kwarteng suggested the government will not backtrack on plans to maintain the isolation requirement until mid-August. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we have to assume that this is it.”Those fully vaccinated and under-18s who have come into contact with a Covid case will not need to shut themselves away for 10 days from 16 August, Mr Javid announced on Wednesday. They will be advised to take a coronavirus test, but that will not be compulsory.Experts have told The Independent that as many as 10,000 people a day could be struck down by the condition over the coming weeks. Analysis suggests up to 10 million people could be told to isolate over a period of just six weeks this summer. More

There is a risk of a big outbreak in coronavirus cases from England’s Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark at Wembley, a cabinet minister has conceded.Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the government could not “guarantee” that Wednesday’s night’s big match would not lead to a spike in transmission.Asked on LBC if he was worried about the possibility of a “super spreader” event, Mr Kwarteng said: “Yes, there’s always concern.”The cabinet minister added: “I think we can manage this risk, but to say there is no risk, if you have thousands of people in one place … there’s always risk in life.“I think we’re managing the risk. I’m confident there won’t be a big outbreak – but I can’t guarantee that now. We’ve got to just see what happens.”Some members of cabinet are said to fear that the Wembley crowds during Euro 2020 have already driven up transmission of Covid cases.One senior cabinet minister raised objections about increasing the capacity to 60,000 for the final three matches, according to The Times.Almost 1,300 people in Scotland tested positive for Covid after travelling to London to watch the Euros match against England last month. Roughly 400 of these fans were inside Wembley for the game.As excitement builds for Wednesday night’s Euros semi-final at Wembley, Boris Johnson wished England luck against Denmark.“Gareth Southgate and the England squad have done the nation proud in the Euros, and tonight we will all be wishing them the best of luck in getting to the final. Bring it home,” said the prime minister.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also wished them success. “Gareth Southgate and the squad will have the whole nation behind them tonight. Both on and off the pitch, they have shown the best of England.” More

Boris Johnson has is said to have stepped up Britain’s bid to host the World Cup in 2030 by lobbying top UEFA officials during the Euros.The prime minister met Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin at No 10 on Tuesday to make the case for a joint British and Irish bid to host the competition, according to reports in The Sun and The Times.Mr Ceferin has said he wants only one candidate from Europe put forward to prevent the splitting of the vote, with the UK and the Republic of Ireland facing opposition from a joint bid by Spain and Portugal.Mr Johnson previously pledged government support for a joint World Cup 2030 bid with the Republic of Ireland, saying it was the right time to “bring football home”.Concerns have been raised about the government’s decision to grant 2,500 of Uefa officials and tournament sponsors special exemptions from the UK’s standard Covid travel rules for the final matches of Euros.The concession is believed to have been useful in keeping Uefa on side when it comes to the British and Irish World Cup bid.As excitement builds for Wednesday night’s Euros semi-final at Wembley, Mr Johnson wished England luck against Denmark.“Gareth Southgate and the England squad have done the nation proud in the Euros, and tonight we will all be wishing them the best of luck in getting to the final. Bring it home.”Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also wished them success. “Gareth Southgate and the squad will have the whole nation behind them tonight. Both on and off the pitch, they have shown the best of England.”He added: “There’s been only one song featured in our house since Saturday – it’s coming home.”It comes as Labour urged the government to announce a political boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, unless China allows UN investigators to examine alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang province.Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy and shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens have written to their counterparts arguing a political response is needed to deny China a “PR coup” next year. More

The Information Commissioner has launched an investigation into “concerning” suggestions that private email accounts were used by ministers at the Department of Health and Social Care.Elizabeth Denham said she has “served notices on the department and others to preserve evidence relevant to my inquiry,” and warned that her powers of enforcement include “the option of criminal prosecution.”The move comes following reports that former health secretary Matt Hancock and current minister Lord Bethell, often used their private email accounts when discussing government business.In a blog posted on the Information Commissioner’s Office’s website, Ms Denham said: “The role of transparency as fundamental to democracy has never been clearer than in the past eighteen months.”She underlined how the effects of decisions made by the government about public health and civil liberties, due to the Covid pandemic would be with us for many years. Ms Denham highlighted how the suggestion that ministers have used private email accounts to “conduct sensitive official business” was concerning.The information comissioner added however that although the use of private communications channels was not in itself a breach of the rules, she was worried that it could be used to make the freedom of information process more difficult.“My worry is that information in private email accounts or messaging services is forgotten, overlooked, autodeleted or otherwise not available when a freedom of information request is later made,” she said.“That is why my office has launched a formal investigation into the use of private correspondence channels at the Department for Health and Social Care, and has served information notices on the department and others to preserve evidence relevant to my inquiry.”In her blog post, Ms Denham explained how the Information Comissioner’s Office has looked at similar issues previosuly, issuing “clear guidance,” available on its website, on use of private information channels. Furthermore, the Information watchdog said that the government’s own Code of Practice sets clear standards, and emphasises the importance of managing records well to help ensure public trust and confidence.According to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, anyone making a request for information to a public authority is entitled to be told in writing whether the public authority holds the information requested, and should this be the case, to have it given to them.Due to concerns that the use of private communication channels could hinder freedom of information requests, the Information Commissioner has launched an investigation into the Department for Health and Social Care’s use of private correspondence channels.It is hoped that this investigation will establish whether or not private correspondence channels have been used, and if their use has led to breaches of freedom of information or data protection law. “We will publish the results of that investigation in due course,” wrote Ms Denham. The news comes as the Lords Commissioners for Standards announced that are in the process of investigating Lord Bethell, following a complaint that he sponsored a parliamentary pass for the aide who Mr Hancock was caught kissing on leaked CCTV footage. The footage of Mr Hancock locked in a romantic embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo resulted in the former health secretary’s resignation. More

Boris Johnson risks forfeiting swathes of Tory votes across the so-called Blue Wall seats of southern England with planning reforms which amount to a developers’ charter threatening cherished green spaces, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is warning.In his first major speech since his party’s stunning by-election victory in Chesham and Amersham last month, Sir Ed will say that the  “wrong-headed” reforms have created a “strong tide of dissatisfaction” with the government in traditional Tory heartlands already uneasy with Mr Johnson’s approach on business and the environment.And he will make clear that Lib Dem strategists believe the Buckinghamshire constituency – which fell out of Tory hands for the first time with a remarkable 25 per cent swing to Davey’s party – was not a one-off, and that the prime minister risks seeing other bricks in the Blue Wall topple.Speaking to the Local Government Association conference on Wednesday, Davey will say:  “From planning to potholes, from businesses to the environment, there is a strong tide of dissatisfaction with this government on a whole range of issues across the Blue Wall.“Conservative MPs might kid themselves that this unhappiness is confined to Chesham and Amersham, but we know better.“Liberal Democrats won that by-election by listening carefully to people’s concerns: about their families, their communities and our precious natural environment.“Now Boris Johnson must do the same – and he should start by ditching his ill-thought-through and undemocratic planning reforms.”Sir Ed will insist he is not a nimby, declaring that “we absolutely do need to get more homes built”.But he will warn that the government’s reforms do “nothing” for young families and first-time buyers desperate for a home of their own, while stopping communities from protecting green spaces.“The reforms would take power away from communities and individuals and hand it to wealthy property developers – including, incidentally, the ones who donated £11m to the Conservative Party last year,” he will say.“From removing the requirement on developers to include affordable homes in their plans, to taking away people’s current right to object to specific development proposals, his planning reforms would allow developers to build big, expensive houses for the wealthy and maximise their profits, rather than build the homes people and communities actually need.”Sir Ed will call for an extension of the neighbourhood plans pioneered by Liberal Democrat ministers during the coalition government of 2010-15, which he said were allowing local people to help shape their communities by setting targets on priorities like affordable homes to rent, sustainable homes and the protection of green spaces.“Developers don’t like neighbourhood plans,” he will say. “Which probably explains why this Conservative government’s planning reforms would massively restrict their potential. So once again, local people’s voices would be ignored.“Don’t let Boris Johnson con you into thinking it’s a choice between his plan and no plan. Between the wrong homes in the wrong places and no homes at all.“There is a better way. A way to genuinely tackle the housing crisis while safeguarding our natural environment and putting power where it belongs: in the hands of individuals and their local communities.” More