Markus Andrews

Brexit minister David Frost has washed his hands of the crisis forcing musicians to abandon tours of the EU, despite Boris Johnson promising he would “fix” it.In a stormy session with MPs, the chief negotiator insisted it was not his job to try to find a solution – which was the role of the culture and transport departments, he said.Lord Frost refused to say that the crisis would be solved “this year” – as the UK refuses to reopen talks with Brussels – saying only: “We hope to be able to deliver some results.”And he downplayed the anger of top musicians such as Elton John, who has accused ministers of lying, because the star “had his first hits before the UK even became a member the European Union”.Lord Frost was accused of sacrificing touring artists – now faced with huge fees and red tape for visas, work permits and to transport equipment – to “Brexit anti-free movement zealotry”.“I feel sorry for Michel Barnier,” said an exasperated Julian Knight, the Conservative chair of the Commons culture committee, referring to the EU negotiator.In late March, the prime minister told MPs he would “fix” the crisis, saying: “David Frost – Lord Frost – is in overall charge of making this happen.”But, three months later, the minister said: “It is the responsibility of DCMS [the department for digital, culture, music and sport] to take it forward with our embassies.”The stance amounts to a rejection of the plea by industry groups for a cross-EU visa-waiver agreement – which the EU proposed last year but, as The Independent revealed, the UK rejected.Instead, Lord Frost insisted the only route open was bilateral negotiations with 27 national capitals, although that will not allow cross-border touring of the EU to be restored fully.Last year, ministers pledged that free movement would continue for performers, but the minister told the committee: “The country took a decision to leave the European Union.“It took a decision to end free movement and that is what we have sought to deliver on –and it brings big change.”During the session, the committee was told:* The first face-to-face meeting Spain – an “absolutely key market”, Mr Knight pointed out – to try to ease red tape was only taking place today.* Such meetings were delayed while DCMS awaited sign-off from a Lord Frost-led committee.* The key issue of ‘cabotage’ – the rules for transporting equipment – has still not been discussed with the EU, despite it being a Brussels competency.“Do you understand why musicians and artists and top crew who work in this industry feel they’ve been sold down the river by your deal?” Labour’s Kevin Brennan asked.Ministers claim 17 of the 27 EU countries have taken some steps to reduce costs and red tape – but have refused to release any details. More

Boris Johnson’s former education tzar has criticised the government’s catch-up plans as “feeble” as he called for a “massive national effort” to recover lost learning.Sir Kevan Collins, who resigned earlier this month in a major blow to the prime minister, warned that growing educational inequality could become the “legacy of Covid”, with disadvantaged children affected most.He also described his decision to quit the role of education commissioner as “very, very difficult”, but reiterated his concerns that the amount of money the government was prepared to commit fell far short.Giving evidence to the Commons Education Committee, Sir Kevan was withering in his assessment of the current proposals, telling MPs: “Our country has responded in a way which, compared to some others, is frankly a bit feeble.”“The amount of money we’re responding with at the moment — these are significant sums — but this scale of shock, losing on average 115 days of face-to-face learning, requires a massive national effort to recover,” he added.“And I worry that it’s not a bit of tutoring in the corner, it’s actually a fundamental approach the school needs to take.“That is why I was keen to see a whole school effort, around time, around teaching, around tutoring, and not a narrow kind of auxiliary attention to one particular activity that can get put to a teaching assistant.”His remarks came after the government unveiled a £1.4bn funding package aimed at alleviating the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on children’s learning – prompting a backlash from unions and opposition parties.Sir Kevan confirmed to MPs that there were larger spending proposals in the recommendations he put forward to the government, including chancellor Rishi Sunak, but that these were ultimately rejected.Quizzed on whether he had asked ministers for a £15bn recovery package, Sir Kevan told MPs on Tuesday: “There were proposals which got to £15bn, yes.”He added: “I was very disappointed I had to resign. The proposal that came forward … just wasn’t enough to deliver the kind of recovery we need. I was given a very ambitious, but very exciting exam question by the prime minister, which was to recover every child in this parliament.”Explaining the repercussions of the disruption to learning caused by the pandemic, Sir Kevan also made clear that the “biggest impact” of the crisis “will definitely be on our most disadvantaged children”.“The growing education inequality could be the legacy of Covid if we’re not very careful,” he said. “We have to intentionally and directly intervene, support the children with the greatest need.“[It is] every child we have obligations to after Covid, and that’s why I think the longer time would have supported every child, particularly with the non-academic outcomes, with the wellbeing and social stuff.“But when it comes to the academic loss, I think it’s clear that we’re going to see greater loss for our children who have greatest need.”At the time of Sir Kevan’s resignation, the prime minister said there would be “more coming through” to support children in England. No 10 said: “The government will continue to focus on education recovery and making sure no child is left behind with their learning, with over £3bn committed for catch-up so far.” More

Overseas business leaders will be allowed to escape self-isolation when they arrive in England if their work is likely to be of significant economic benefit, the government has announced.But critics have condemned the change in the rules saying it represents “one rule for the rich and another for the rest”.Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner described the move as an “offensive slap in the face” for the lowest paid workers, who she said had got the country though the coronavirus crisis.The new policy comes as the UK faces a surge in cases in the Delta variant of Covid-19 first identified in India.Yesterday the UK reported the highest daily rise in cases since January 30, with another 22,868 confirmed.An update published on the gov.uk website says that “eligible senior executives can again leave self-isolation if they are undertaking business activities which are likely to be of significant economic benefit to the UK”. It adds: “You must tell the government if you wish to use this exemption.” Only those who receive written permission from the government will be allowed to use the exemption.The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the change was the “wrong move at the wrong time. It can’t be one rule for the rich and another for the rest.”Ms Rayner said: “Sorry for the unparliamentary language but this just takes the pi**.It is the lowest paid working people who have got our country through this crisis, risking their lives on the frontline. This is an offensive slap in the face for them and shows this government’s true colours.”Even Conservatives were critical. Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former adviser, said: “It’s time to get back to normal for everyone, not just elites.”Former England player Gary Neville tweeted: “That’s it. Do what you want everyone. It’s over …. We all bring value to the economy!”Downing Street defended the quarantine exemption for business chiefs. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Protecting public health is our number one priority and that’s why those exemptions will only apply in truly exceptional circumstances.“Many other countries have introduced similar exemptions and it’s important the UK public don’t lose out on prospective major investments and new jobs as a result of that.”He added: “This is about making limited exemptions when people can prove they are looking to make significant major investments that would benefit the UK public and provide more jobs.”Executives wishing to travel can be exempt if the purpose of their visit is to establish a new business in the UK or make a financial investment in a UK-based business.They will need to show “significant economic benefit”, considered to be a greater than 50 per cent chance of creating or preserving at least 500 UK-based jobs, or creating a new UK business within two years.They will not qualify if their activities can be carried out remotely or by another person.Airlines are among those who have been pushing hard for restrictions to ease. Expert warns that sales of business-class and first-class seats, which generate the largest profits, have fallen sharply since the pandemic and the move to remote working. More

Boris Johnson has condemned the “despicable harassment” and “intimidation” of professor Chris Whitty as a video circulating on social media showed him being grabbed by two men in a London park.The prime minister said the government would “not tolerate” the actions after the clip – lasting around 20 seconds – prompted messages of support for England’s chief medical officer from MPs and members of the public.The clip shows professor Whitty appearing visibly uncomfortable as he is grabbed by two men in St James’ Park, who then follow him again, grinning, in an attempt to take a photo with him.During the pandemic Mr Whitty has gone from a position of relative obscurity in Whitehall to one of the government’s most recognisable figures, providing updates to millions of people across dozens of No 10 press conferences on Covid-19.“I am shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of chief medical officer Chris Whitty,” Mr Johnson said on Tuesday.“I condemn the behaviour of these thugs. Our hardworking public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.”It was not immediately clear when the incident took place, or who made the video, but a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’ Park.“Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken. We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigate.”Priti Patel also told Times Radio she was “horrified” and said the government was also speaking to Mr Whitty “to look at what we can do to support him”.Pressed on whether he needed police protection, the home secretary added: “I can’t speak about that, but it’s important we make sure Chris is given the right kind of support.“It is terrible to see an important public figure, someone who has day in day out been serving our country in the way in which he has to keep us safe being subject to just appalling abuse.”But asked whether Mr Whitty should be given protection, Labour’s shadow minister Jim McMahon went further, saying: “I think he ought to, yeah, absolutely.“He is a very senior member of the civil service, he’s been very public facing and we know from anti-vaccination people, who don’t believe that Covid is real, people who react against any intervention that’s meant to keep us safe, they do channel a lot of that anger towards Chris Whitty and that’s got to be recognised.”Describing the video that circulated on social media on Monday evening as “outrageous”, he told Sky News: “My hope and expectation is that he and other very public facing scientists and other professionals have had the proper security review that they deserve.“MP’s get it, ministers get it, recognising that if you are in the public eye, particularly at a time when tensions are heightened at the time of a pandemic, then absolutely the review should have been carried out. It’s a question for me why he is walking from building to building alone, recognising the heightened public tension.”It is not the first time that Prof Whitty or other senior officials have faced harassment. In footage shared online in February, Prof Whitty was harassed by Covid conspiracy theorists in Westminster, central London.Last week Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, was verbally abused by an anti-lockdown protester as he walked into a government building by a protester. More

The UK’s post-Brexit immigration system is a “barrier” to hiring overseas workers and should be relaxed in order to tackle wide-scale staff shortages reported across the country, Britain’s biggest business group has said.Lord Bilimoria, president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), warned Brexit and Covid had triggered a “perfect storm” with firms struggling to recruit in many sectors of the economy.The CBI called on the government to “immediately update the shortage occupations lists” for roles including butchers, bricklayers and welders.The list identifies occupations for which there are not enough UK workers with the correct skills. If an occupation is on the list, employers can fill vacancies by recruiting staff from abroad more easily. For occupations that are not on the list, employers must show that they have gone through procedures to prove that UK nationals and resident workers have been given enough opportunity to apply before the job is offered to overseas candidates. Visa fees are also higher.Many businesses – including those in hospitality and retail – have reported a shortage of workers blamed in part on workers leaving the UK during the pandemic.But the end to freedom of movement after Brexit has also severed the flow of new European workers who often took low-paid roles, which businesses are now struggling to fill. NHS leaders have previously warned that the government’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system risks creating an “alarming” shortfall in social care workers in the coming years.In a speech to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) annual conference, Lord Bilimoria – founder of Cobra Beer – said: “We’ve got a perfect storm of factors coalescing. During the pandemic, many workers from overseas left the UK to return home – hitting the UK’s hospitality, logistics, and food processing industries particularly hard.“The UK’s immigration system is also a barrier to hiring people from overseas to replace those who may have left.”He added: “We need government to immediately update the ‘Shortage Occupation List’.“Last year – in September 2020 – the Migration Advisory Committee recommended that we add certain roles to that list. Butchers, bricklayers, and welders for example. “Today, almost a year on, we worry those are exactly the same sectors facing shortages now. “Businesses would also welcome a commitment to review the list annually, to keep it responsive to the ebb and flow of skill demands across the whole of the UK’s economy“Where there are clear, evidenced labour shortages, businesses should be able to hire from overseas. An evolving Shortage Occupations List could help.”A report by jobs site Indeed earlier this month suggested the number of EU citizens searching for work in the UK had slumped by 36 per cent since Brexit, with interest in low-paid roles in hospitality and retail falling the most, by 41 per cent from 2019 levels.In total, 1.3 million non-UK workers have left the country since late 2019. More

Trade unions and campaigners have backed Stella Creasy after the Labour MP’s request for proper maternity cover was rejected.Ms Creasy said she is preparing to sue the government over the issue as she warned she will be forced to take her newborn baby into parliament during maternity leave to ensure her local constituents are not left unrepresented.The Labour MP for Walthamstow, who has campaigned for improved maternity rights for MPs, is currently seven months pregnant and in hospital due to suffering from gestational diabetes.Ms Creasy told The Independent the body in charge of the funding for MP’s maternity cover states there is no “constitutional” foundation for a locum. A locum is a person who temporarily replaces another individual of the equivalent profession.The politician, who is being advised by Doughty Street Chambers, added: “Whilst we do not have a constitution, they do have duties under the equalities act to pregnant women. It’s time they recognised their responsibilities.”For my first maternity leave, I appointed a locum who met with ministers, spoke in the media about issues affecting my constituents and oversaw my office. “Yet this time around the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority [the body in charge of funding MP’s maternity cover] have refused to fund a person to have the status and salary required to perform this role, leaving me little option but to bring my baby to parliament so that my constituents are not left unrepresented. “What they are proposing would not be legal if MPs were employees and is the reason why so few women of childbearing age are in our public life. Our politics cannot only be open to those with the independent means to employ a nanny or short change our constituents.”Ms Creasy said while it could be “too late” for her to now receive the correct type of maternity cover, she urged the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to reassess the current rules “for the sake of every other pregnant woman facing discrimination in the workplace”.Trade unions and campaigners have urged parliament to uphold maternity rights for all in the wake of Ms Creasy’s situation.Over 30 organisations, including general secretaries of leading trade unions, and leading gender equality charities such as Fawcett Society, Pregnant then Screwed, and Mumsnet, urged the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to change its attitude to maternity cover.But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has said requests for backbench MPs to get “like for like” cover which cabinet ministers presently receive are “misconceived”.It comes after Ms Creasy, the first ever MP to be granted locum maternity leave cover, recently threatened to launch legal proceedings against the government if they did not extend current maternity leave plans to all MPs.Ministers have proposed news measures that will allow senior female politicians in the UK to take maternity leave without having to resign from their jobs. However, the proposal for six months paid time off only applies to cabinet ministers.Newly proposed reforms were sparked by Suella Braverman, the attorney general, who would have been forced to step down from her cabinet role if she needed to take time off work after giving birth under the present system. The new laws ensure Ms Braverman, whose baby is due to be born in a few weeks, is able to take six months maternity leave on full pay and return to her cabinet position after her maternity leave ends.Ms Creasy has previously said she was told by lawyers the current legislation is discriminatory due to only helping top ministers. More

Matt Hancock and his deputy did use private emails for official work, No 10 has admitted – while refusing to say if they complied with government rules.On Monday, Downing Street insisted the pair had not used personal accounts – despite leaked minutes suggesting otherwise – but it has backtracked 24 hours later.Boris Johnson’s spokesman was then asked if the former health secretary, and his deputy Lord Bethell, copied in all important information onto work accounts, as required.But he repeatedly ducked the question, saying only that all ministers are “aware of that guidance”.That official guidance states that all “substantive” government information must be “accessible” by, for example, “copying it to a government email address”.The controversy has blown up because leaked minutes showed a top health department civil servant warned Mr Hancock “only” deals with his private office “via Gmail account” – and, extraordinarily, that he “does not have” an official email inbox.Meanwhile, Lord Bethell, “routinely uses his personal inbox and the majority of [approvals for Covid contracts] would have been initiated from this inbox”, the documents obtained by The Sunday Times said.The Information Commissioner has revealed she is weighing up an investigation, arguing there is genuine public concern that vital information is being concealed.“It is an important principle of government transparency and accountability that official records are kept of key actions and decisions,” Elizabeth Denham said.On Monday, Downing Street insisted that both ministers “only ever conducted government business through their departmental email addresses”.Mr Hancock quit on Saturday for breaking Covid rules by embracing his lover in his office, but Lord Bethell remains in his post – despite Labour calls for him to be dismissed,In the Lords, the peer also ducked questions when challenged, saying: “I have read the ministerial code, I signed the ministerial code and I seek to uphold it in everything I do.”Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, said: “Lord Bethell used his private email account to sign off contracts and the government tried to cover it up.“Sack him, publish the private emails and hand them over to the public inquiry.”Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former chief aide, had ridiculed No 10’s denial of any personal email use as “nonsense”, tweeting: “I can prove it with screenshots from my phone”.They included examples of Mr Hancock using WhatsApp to “discuss procurement issues” with Tory donors and with Downing Street officials, he claimed.Asked, again, if personal emails had been used for government work, the spokesman said: “Yes. Ministers are able to communicate in a variety of different ways as long as they adhere to the guidance as set out.”But, asked if Mr Hancock and Lord Bethell had copied information to official accounts, he replied: “What I am saying is that ministers are aware of the guidance and government business is conducted in line with that guidance.” More

Matt Hancock should have declared his intimate relationship with Gina Coladangelo who had “scrutiny” powers at his department, Jacob Rees-Mogg says.Boris Johnson is refusing to hold an inquiry into the former health secretary – which might establish whether, or when, he revealed that his student friend had become his lover.But Mr Rees-Mogg said MPs faced strict “rules” on appointing family members as aides and suggested they extended to non-executive directors at government departments.“There are limitations on family members and restrictions on family members that you may employ,” the Commons leader said.And he added: “If a man were to appoint his wife to be an executive director, you would hope that the Cabinet Office knew that the lady was married to the man.”Mr Rees-Mogg also dismissed criticism of Mr Johnson for failing to declare his own potential conflicts of interest to parliament as “irrelevant technicalities”.“What you want to know is that your prime minister is an honest man – and the prime minister is unquestionably an honest man.“Do you want to know that the prime minister is a leading bureaucrat? Well no, then we would still be in the European Union.Mr Rees-Mogg dismissed a focus on such rules as ‘very American”, telling a podcast for the ConservativeHome website: “That’s not the type of country this country is.”The parliamentary commissioner for standards is investigating the mystery of who funded the prime minister’s luxury Caribbean holiday on the island of Mustique, during Christmas 2019.Mr Johnson claimed the £15,000 cost of his villa was paid for by David Ross, a Tory party donor and former deputy chairman of Carphone Warehouse, who owns a property on the island.But Mr Ross then denied he had paid for the holiday and said he did not own the villa where Mr Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, stayed.The role of non-executive directors – who supposedly “challenge” ministers and provide independent scrutiny – is in the spotlight after the Hancock scandal.He appointed Ms Coladangelo, for whom he has now left his wife, to the role at the health department, having previously employed her as an aide.An analysis by the Open Democracy website found that she is one of at least 16 individuals with close ties to the Conservative party to have been appointed.They include the former Tory vice-chairman, Dominic Johnson, and Ben Goldsmith – a party donor and brother of the Tory peer and former cabinet minister Zac Goldsmith.The committee on standards in public life called for the appointment of on-executive directors to be regulated, in a report earlier this month. More