Markus Andrews

Labour are demanding a Downing Street sleaze investigation into claims that  Matt Hancock promoted a healthcare firm whose shareholders donated thousands of pounds to the Conservative party and to the health secretary personally.Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, wrote to Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser Christopher Geidt asking him to open an inquiry into what she claimed was an instance of “contempt” of the rules on ministers’ conduct.Ms Rayner said that Mr Hancock had “repeatedly endorsed” Babylon Healthcare publicly without declaring that one of the firm’s investors had given £200,000 to the Tories, while another gave £10,000 to his campaign for the Tory leadership in 2019.Meanwhile, Ms Rayner said that the health secretary had appointed a third Babylon shareholder as a government adviser in 2018.Founded in 2013, Babylon is a start-up that offers smartphone-based NHS GP consultations and symptom-checker servicesMs Rayner wrote: “Shortly after he became health secretary, Mr Hancock said that he himself used Babylon’s products and wanted to ‘see [Babylon’s GP at Hand app] available to all’.“The health secretary also attended an event to mark Babylon receiving a $100m investment in a clear endorsement of the company, and again endorsed Babylon’s services in a paid-for sponsored advertorial supplement in a newspaper.”She asked: “Why has the health secretary been hawking the wares of a private healthcare company without declaring that the firm’s shareholders have made significant donations both to the Conservative party and to himself personally when promoting this company?” Mr Hancock was last month found by Lord Geidt to have breached the ministerial code in relation to his 20 per cent holding in a company owned by his sister which won NHS contracts.Ms Rayner said: “Yet again, the health secretary has shown his contempt for the rules and made a mockery of the ministerial code system.“His job is protecting and standing up for the National Health Service, not shilling for private healthcare companies that bankroll his leadership campaign and fill Conservative party coffers with cash.”It is understood that Babylon itself has not made donations to any politician or party.A company spokesman said that its GP at Hand service launched in 2017 had attracted more than 100,000 members, which the company says makes it “the largest GP practice in the country” with a 95 per cent satisfaction rating and an ‘outstanding rating for leadership from the Care Quality Commission.“This has naturally attracted support and interest from a wide variety of individuals, public bodies and leading thinkers from the scientific and medical community across the globe who want to better understand the transformative potential of our model to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthcare for all,” said the spokesperson.“We are proud of our work with the NHS, but it is just one element of our work. Babylon is a global service that covers 24 million people across the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia.”The Independent has contacted the Department of Health for comment. More

Junk food ads will be banned before 9pm on TV, but loopholes will allow brands to continue to advertise online, under new rules announced by the government.The ban, to come into force at the end of 2022 as part of a drive to cut child obesity, will outlaw daytime and early-evening TV slots for foods high in fat, salt and sugar and bar paid-for advertising on the internet.But brands will be able to carry on promoting their unhealthy products on their own blogs, websites, apps or social media pages.The restrictions will apply only to businesses with 250 or more employees and will allow continued advertising for foods deemed to be less harmful despite high fat, salt or sugar content, such as honey, olive oil, avocados and Marmite.Public health minister Jo Churchill said the measures could remove 7 billion calories from children’s diets nationally each year, reducing the number of obese children by more than 20,000 over the coming years.But Labour said the ban will not be enough to turn round what shadow public health minister Alex Norris said was an “obesity crisis”.“We need decisive action from the government,” said Mr Norris. “Labour has pushed for four years for a ban on junk food advertising, which has been repeatedly kicked into the long grass by ministers.“This ban alone will not be enough. We need a radical obesity strategy in this country that goes further, ensuring families are able to access healthy food, supporting local leisure facilities and tackling child poverty.”And Chris Daly, CEO at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, warned that the short timeframe for change would cost the industry millions as brands switch from TV to radio and online ads.“Clarity on the government’s intentions is to be welcomed, but the timeline of implementation is too short and will cost marketers and manufacturers millions in wasted planning time,” said Mr Daly.“Professional marketers plan years in advance, and the changes announced today will require creative and media buying plans to be torn up as product advertising pre-watershed is swapped with further investment in radio and online advertising.”The government estimates that children saw around 2.9 billion ads for unhealthy food on TV and 11 billion online in 2019 and hopes that restricting exposure will encourage them to make healthier food choices and help them developing conditions associated with excess weight later in life, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, colorectal cancer, liver disease and breast cancer.The ban was introduced following a public consultation in which 79 per cent supported a 9pm TV watershed and 74 per cent backed advertising restrictions online.Ms Churchill said: “We are committed to improving the health of our children and tackling obesity. The content youngsters see can have an impact on the choices they make and habits they form. With children spending more time online it is vital we act to protect them from unhealthy advertising.“These measures form another key part of our strategy to get the nation fitter and healthier by giving them the chance to make more informed decisions when it comes to food. “We need to take urgent action to level up health inequalities. This action on advertising will help to wipe billions off the national calorie count and give our children a fair chance of a healthy lifestyle.” More

A collapse in British exports to the Republic of Ireland since Brexit has handed Dublin an extraordinary trade surplus with London, new figures show.The Irish government says new trading red tape explains a €2 billion plunge in the value of goods sales – 47.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the start of 2020.It is revealed after ferry routes were expanded between the country and France, to bypass British ports mired in the extra paperwork brought by Boris Johnson’s trade agreement.The figures, published by Dublin, suggest its companies have switched to buying products directly from EU countries, rather than from across the Irish Sea. More

Young people will lose vital knowledge of other cultures unless the UK rethinks pulling out of the Erasmus study exchange scheme, the EU ambassador is warning.João Vale de Almeida appealed for Boris Johnson to return to the project – after a domestic replacement was attacked as far less generous, offering fewer opportunities.The prime minister pledged there was “no threat” to Erasmus from Brexit, but then pulled the plug – triggering accusations that he is crushing the hopes of students who want to live, study and travel abroad.“The Erasmus programme is one of the greatest successes of the European Union, but – most importantly – because it is about the young people, it is about creating links, addressing misperceptions,” Mr Vale de Almeida said.“You know, increase the knowledge of the other side, of other countries, of other cultures“It has been, in the European Union, a fundamental instrument to create a sense of belonging to Europe, but also a sense of respect for diversity.”Giving evidence to the Lords European affairs committee, the ambassador – expressing a “personal” view – said: “Maybe there is a chance for this to be redone?”Mr Vale de Almeida also pointed to the absence of a cooperation on foreign policy and security, after the UK rejected the idea in the Christmas Eve agreement.“The British government did not want to engage on work on that,” he said, adding: “This is one area where I think we can make progress.”Amid the outcry over the axeing of Erasmus, ministers announced a new “Turing Scheme”, named after the legendary Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing.But the details suggested far less financial support than was provided by Erasmus – which was scrapped to save the UK money.And, most significantly, free studies in any EU country, plus some others in Europe, has been replaced by pressure on universities and colleges to strike deals.In his evidence, Mr Vale de Almeida said he wanted to “lower the temperature”, welcoming the UK’s move to apply for a delay to a ban selling chilled meats in Northern Ireland – rather than acting unilaterally.The three-month extension to the grace period is expected to be granted by Brussels within days, although many other trading problems remain.“I’m encouraged by very recent developments in the context of the Northern Ireland Protocol,” he said.“The fact that the UK government decided not to opt for unilateral measures regarding some aspects of trade is encouraging [and] allows me to feel encouraged by possibly a new, more constructive climate in our relations.”Mr Vale de Almeida said the EU was “turning our regulations upside down to try and find a solution to this problem”.“What we didn’t like to see was unilateral action by the government in breach of what we had agreed – I hope that is behind us now.” More

The three leading contenders to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor in Germany s upcoming national election spoke out strongly Thursday in favor of the European Union and its ideals.In a combative speech, the candidate from Merkel’s center-right Union bloc recalled how the Soviet blockade of West Berlin had demonstrated the importance of international cooperation.“That was an attack on the free world,” Armin Laschet told lawmakers on the 73rd anniversary of the blockade’s beginning. It ended almost a year later after an unprecedented effort by western Allies to fly essential goods into the besieged city, in what became known as the Berlin Airlift.“The airlift was the embodiment of the outstretched hand of the United States Great Britain, France and other countries,” said Laschet, the governor of Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia. “(It showed that) when liberal democracies work together then there’s no chance for division and confrontation,” he added.Laschet took aim at the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which recently approved a program that includes pulling the country out of the EU.“We need Europe more than ever,” he said, accusing AfD of “harming German interests.”“We’re not going to let a deadly virus nor anti-European gloating and skepticism, and certainly not populists and nationalists, destroy this Europe,” said Laschet.His words were echoed by the candidates for the center-left Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz, and for the environmentalist Greens, Annalena Baerbock.Scholz praised the EU’s decision to jointly borrow money — an idea long resisted by Germany — for the pandemic recovery fund, but called for the EU to also find solutions to political problems, including the issue of migration.Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the European Union, Baerbock said the bloc needs to find “clear language” when it comes to addressing human rights abuses among its own members. She cited the new law in Hungary restricting materials deemed to promote homosexuality, and recent pushbacks of migrants on the Croatian border. More

George Osborne has added the chairmanship of the British Museum to the array of jobs he has taken on since leaving government.The former chancellor’s appointment, to come into effect in October, was announced by museum director Hartwig Fischer, who said Mr Osborne was someone who “knows the museum well and values the trust the museum enjoys around the world”.But Labour shadow heritage minister Alex Sobel said that the former chancellor had been “the architect of devastating cuts to funding arts and culture” while at the Treasury from 2010-16.“He has enough jobs already, he doesn’t need another,” said Mr Sobel.Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said the prime minister played no part in the choice.“The decision to appoint Mr Osborne was made by the museum’s trustees,” the spokesperson told reporters.Since leaving public office, Mr Osborne has acquired a number of high-profile jobs, serving as editor of the Evening Standard from 2017-20 and becoming chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, founding partner of venture capital firm 9Yards Capital and an investment banker with Robey Warshaw.He said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at the British Museum – and so honoured to have had the opportunity to apply for this role, and to have been chosen by the trustees to become their chair.“All my life I have loved the British Museum. To my mind, it is quite simply the greatest museum in the world.“It’s a place that brings cultures together and tells the story of our common humanity.”Mr Osborne said that outgoing chair Sir Richard Lambert will be “a very hard act to follow”, but said he hoped to bring “my experience, energy and passion to this incredibly exciting role”.The 50-year-old former chancellor was selected following what was described by the museum as an “independent, open and thorough search process for a leader with a global perspective, with a demonstrable interest in culture and history, and a commitment to engaging local, national, and international audiences”. More

French president Emmanuel Macron has backed Angela Merkel’s call for a “co-ordinated” EU policy on travel restrictions which could see quarantines enforced on Britons entering the continent because of surging cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19.Ms Merkel is pressing fellow EU leaders at a summit in Brussels to adopt a tougher common approach, after rocketing cases of the Delta variant in the UK put it at the top of the coronavirus table in Europe.She was criticised by environment minister George Eustice, who said the move was unnecessary, despite the UK itself currently requiring 10-day isolation on arrival from all EU destinations.And Boris Johnson appeared to hold out the prospect of foreign holidays this summer, saying that the successful vaccination programme offered a “real opportunity” to open up travel for those who have had both jabs.Arriving at the two-day summit of the European Council, Ms Merkel said: “We are obviously concerned about the Delta variant.“I will lobby for a more co-ordinated approach, particularly with regard to entries from regions where virus variants abound.”And Mr Macron echoed her comments, telling reporters: “We must all be vigilant because the much-talked-about Delta variant is coming, which spreads much more rapidly than the other variants and affects people who are not vaccinated or who only have had one dose.”For me, one of the issues of discussion is to be really taking co-ordinated decisions in terms of opening of borders to third countries and on recognising vaccines because at this stage we have to limit this to the vaccines that have been approved by the European medical authority.”New EU-wide rules being introduced next week will allow vaccinated people to move freely within the Schengen area, which covers most of continental Europe. But individual countries are able to set their own tougher rules and several, including Germany, Italy and Poland, are introducing quarantine for the British.Ms Merkel told the German parliament on Wednesday: “In our country, if you come from Great Britain, you have to go into quarantine – and that’s not the case in every European country, and that’s what I would like to see.”The comments came as the Balearic Islands, Madeira and Malta – all within the EU – were expected to be added later today to the government’s “green list”, allowing arrivals in England to avoid quarantine. More significantly, Mr Johnson wants fully vaccinated Britons – and their children – to be able to travel to amber list countries – including France, Greece, Italy and Spain – without the need for isolation or expensive testing on return.Hinting that move is not far away, Mr Johnson said: “I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab.“We’ve got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab. We’re really getting through it now.”However, he added: “I’m not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don’t want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.”The PM did not rule out a foreign holiday himself, saying: “My plans at this stage are at the unformed stage, I’m afraid. I’m certainly not ruling it in or ruling it out.” More

Britons have been offered fresh hope of foreign holidays after Boris Johnson said the vaccination programme offers a “real opportunity”.Just days after urging people to stay at home, the prime minister switched tack – hinting quarantine requirements will be lifted soon for visits to ‘amber list’ countries.“I think that the real opportunity we all have now is to open up travel through the double jab,” he said.The comments come as the Balearic Islands, Malta and some Caribbean islands are expected to be added to the quarantine-free ‘green list’ later today.But, more significantly, the government wants fully vaccinated Britons – and their children – to be able to travel to amber list countries, without the need for isolation of expensive testing on return.Hinting that move is not far away, Mr Johnson said: “We’ve got more than 60 per cent of our population have now had two jabs, 83 per cent have had one jab. We’re really getting through it now.”However, he added: “I’m not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don’t want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.”He did not rule out a foreign holiday himself, saying: “My plans at this stage are at the unformed stage, I’m afraid. I’m certainly not ruling it in or ruling it out.”Earlier, Angela Merkel threw a spoke in the wheel by calling for all EU countries to force holidaying Britons to go into quarantine – as Germany and Italy do.The German Chancellor called for a united EU approach, after rocketing cases of the Delta variant in the UK put it at the top of the table for Covid infections.She was criticised by George Eustice, the environment secretary, who claimed the move was unnecessary – despite the UK itself currently requiring 10-day isolation on arrival from all EU destinations.Greece and Spain are among Mediterranean sunspots that have broken with Brussels to allow in British travellers without requiring them to isolate, but are now under pressure to rethink.Mr Johnson ducked that controversy, but added: “I’m not going to claim that this summer, for travel purposes, is going to be like any other summer. I don’t want to cast a pall over things but, as I said the other day, it will be different.”He also defended UK actions after Russian jets and warships were involved in a dramatic confrontation with a Royal Navy destroyer in the Black Sea, off the coast of Crimea.“It was wholly appropriate to use international waters,” he said on a visit to New Normandy Barracks in Aldershot.“And, by the way, the important point is that we don’t recognise the Russian annexation of Crimea.“This is part of a sovereign Ukrainian territory, it was entirely right that we should vindicate the law and pursue freedom of navigation in the way that we did, take the shortest route between two points, and that’s what we did.” More