UK Politics

Conservative Party donors are being put on a secret “advisory council” with access to ministers and advisors in return for large donations, it has been revealed.The Sunday Times reports that property tycoons, hedge fund managers, and a Russian banker are among a secret club of donors to be given access to government.The board has 14 regular members, most of whom have given at least £250,000 to the Tory party as part of a supposedly “transactional arrangement”, the newspaper says.The members of the board have a combined wealth of at least £30bn when their companies and families are taken into account.In total the group, which includes four billionaires, have donated £22m to the Tory party, £10m of which came under Mr Johnson’s leadership.Members invited to advisory board meetings reportedly used their access to lobby the government directly on Covid-19 strategy and procurement, and received help and advice applying for public appointments. Others are said to have lobbied against higher taxes for the ultra-rich.A Conservative spokesperson said: “We can confirm that, on occasion, senior Conservative politicians, just like senior Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians, do in fact attempt to raise funds for the party they represent.”Anneliese Dodds, chair of the Labour Party, said: “These revelations raise serious national security questions about the cash-for-access culture that Boris Johnson has created at the heart of government.“The prime minister appointed Ben Elliot as co-chair of the Conservative Party, he sanctioned the creation of a secret club of super-rich donors that gets privileged access to ministers, and he has chosen time and again to turn a blind eye to unacceptable conflicts of interest. This is on him.“Boris Johnson must explain what donors with links to Putin’s Russia got in return for their six-figure annual membership fee and clarify whether these meetings had any impact on government policy at the height of the pandemic.” More

A Russian invasion of Ukraine is “very, very highly likely and very, very imminent” a UK foreign minister has said.Speaking on Sunday morning James Cleverly said Vladimir Putin’s government was getting “more aggressive” and “more belligerent”.His comments come as Boris Johnson said such a conflict “could be the biggest war in Europe” since the Second World War.Mr Clevely’s assessment contrasts with that of the German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who on Saturday said the Kremlin had signalled that it was open to dialogue. Mr Scholz and Mr Johnson had both attended the Munich Security conference where the issue was discussed.In an interview at the conference broadcast on Sunday morning Mr Johnson told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme that economic sanctions against Russia might not be enough to stop an invasionHe added: “We have to accept at the moment that Vladimir Putin is possibly thinking illogically about this and doesn’t see the disaster ahead.”US president Joe Biden on Friday said he was “convinced” Mr Putin was preparing to order troops into Ukraine within days. Mr Johnson told the BBC that “evidence points to” the US assessment being correct.”The fact is that all the signs are that the plan has already in some senses begun,” Mr Johnson said.”That’s what our American friends think and you’re seeing these provocations now in Donbas – these explosions and so on – that we’ve been warning about for a long time.”The plan that we’re seeing is for something that could be the biggest war in Europe since 1945 just in terms of sheer scale.”Meanwhile Mr Cleverly, who is Europe minister at the FCDO told Sky News: “We’ve seen now more aggressive, more belligerent activity by Russia, we’re not seeing the things that we had hoped to see.”So, unfortunately, at the moment, an attack, an invasion seems far more likely than unlikely, but we will continue to work to try and avert that.”He added: “Everything that we see indicates that an invasion is very, very highly likely and very, very imminent, now we will continue working, every day that we can prevent this conflict is a good day at work.”So, we will continue working to try and avert conflict to let Russia know, to let Vladimir Putin know, that there will be significant consequences from the international community, including from the UK through sanctions.”Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied he has any plans to invade Ukraine but has amassed around 150,000 troops on his country’s border with Ukraine. More

Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine would lead to the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War, the Prime Minister has warned.Boris Johnson said he wanted people to “understand the sheer cost in human life” that an incursion into Ukraine would bring, with casualties on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, as he continued to urged Moscow to engage in peace talks.Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, meanwhile, used a separate interview to state that President Vladimir Putin “will not stop at Ukraine” as she argued he is looking to piece the Soviet Union back together.The comments came as Ukraine’s military said two soldiers died on Saturday as violence escalated in the east of the country between government forces and rebels.There are growing fears Russia could use the increase in tension in the separatist-held region as a pretext for an attack.The Prime Minister spent Saturday engaged in diplomatic efforts to avoid war as he warned the Kremlin during a speech at the Munich Security Conference of increased financial sanctions should Mr Putin order troops across the border.He also told broadcasters that he believed Mr Putin’s invasion plan was “in motion” with the aggression in the Donbas region potentially a “prelude to bigger action”.In other comments made while in Germany, Mr Johnson warned that the “sheer scale” of the offensive being prepared by Moscow had not been seen for almost 80 years. More

The legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid-19 will end next week, Boris Johnson is set to announce.Downing Street said the prime minister will confirm the repeal of all of England’s pandemic regulations when he lays out his “living with Covid” plan on Monday.The PM is expected to say that the vaccination programme, testing, and other new treatments like anti-viral drugs can be relied on to keep people safe – and that infectious people will not be made to stay at home.“Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” Mr Johnson said ahead of outlining his plan.“We’ve built up strong protections against this virus over the past two years through the vaccine rollouts, tests, new treatments and the best scientific understanding of what this virus can do.“Thanks to our successful vaccination programme and the sheer magnitude of people who have come forward to be jabbed, we are now in a position to set out our plan for living with Covid this week.”But Labour accused the prime minister of “declaring victory before the war is over” in an attempt to distract from Partygate lockdown rule breaking.No 10 said that by the end of the week, self-isolation regulations will be scrapped for those who test positive, as well as for their close contacts.Councils will be required to manage any localised outbreaks of Covid-19 in their areas with existing public health powers, as they would do with other infectious diseases.Downing Street said pharmaceutical interventions would “continue to be our first line of defence” and that the vaccine programme would remain “open to anyone who has not yet come forward”.“Government intervention in people’s lives can now finally end,” Downing Street said. Ninety-one per cent of the UK’s eligible population has had at least one dose of vaccine, with 85 per cent double vaccinated. As well, 38 million booster jabs have been administered. Officials said Monday’s “living with Covid” plan, as well as removing quarantine impositions, will maintain “resilience against future variants with ongoing surveillance capabilities”.This appears to suggest the government will retain state-funded infection sampling, following reports that such studies could be withdrawn as part of the plan.It comes after senior statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter argued that some form of the Office for National Statistics’s coronavirus study should remain in place.The Cambridge University professor, who is a non-executive director for the ONS and chairman of the advisory board for the Covid Infection Survey, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the results had been vital for deciding how to proceed in the pandemic.“It has been absolutely so important as we have gone along,” the professor said on Saturday.“It has been running since April 2020, and so, as I said, I do have a bias here but it is not just me – I think lots of people are saying how important it is, particularly the statistical community.”Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary said: “Boris Johnson is declaring victory before the war is over, in an attempt to distract from the police knocking at his door. “Labour doesn’t want to see restrictions in place any longer than they need to be. The government should publish the evidence behind this decision, so the public can have faith that it is being made in the national interest. “Now is not the time to start charging for tests or weaken sick pay, when people are still being asked to behave responsibly.”Labour’s plan for learning to live well with Covid would prepare for new variants and secure our lives, livelihoods and liberties.” More

London’s transport authority could declare bankruptcy if the government does not provide support for it in a matter of days, Sadiq Khan’s office has warned. Transport for London (TfL), which funds most of its operations through fare revenue, saw its income collapse during the pandemic because of a sharp reduction in passengers. The government provided a series of short-term funding deals to keep the public body afloat but the latest one ran out at midnight on Friday without an extension being agreed.Passenger footfall has still not recovered, with Tube ridership just 59 per cent of pre-pandemic levels according to new figures. Meanwhile, TfL bus ridership has returned to around 75 per cent.“We are still in negotiations with the government about a new funding deal for Transport for London and hope to be able to finalise a deal in the coming days,” a spokesperson for the Mayor of London said on Saturday. “It’s vital that the government provides TfL with the long-term funding deal it needs to properly maintain vital transport services in the capital.”The spokesperson said 43,000 jobs outside London depended on TfL’s investment and that “if the government refuses to deliver the funding TfL needs, it could impact TfL’s UK-wide supply chain, hitting jobs and growth and holding back the economic recovery in London and across the UK”.Mr Khan’s office said one option being considered if the government refused support was issuing a report under section 114 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 – effectively declaring TfL bankrupt. The transport authority manages the London Underground, Overground, DLR, buses, other public transport, and also looks after major roads in the capital.The organisation previously suggested that without a long-term funding settlement it would have to take London’s transport system into a period of managed decline, which could even go as far as potentially closing a Tube line. But the government said the Mayor of London must find more money or somehow reduce costs.“We have repeatedly shown our commitment to supporting London’s transport network throughout the pandemic, providing over £4.5bn in emergency funding to Transport for London and pledging a further billion pounds of capital investment every year up until at least 2024-25 – all at a time of significant pressure on the national finances,” a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said.They added: “We’re aware that TfL are still feeling the aftereffects of the pandemic, but it is the Mayor’s responsibility to accelerate overdue reforms that will ensure TfL becomes financially sustainable in a way that is fair to taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing and we will provide an update in due course.”A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “We continue to discuss our funding requirements with the government. There is no UK recovery from the pandemic without a London recovery and there is no London recovery without a properly funded transport network in the capital. We hope these discussions can be concluded successfully soon.” More

Boris Johnson has said Europe is at “a very dangerous moment” and stands on “the brink” of a possible war with Russia.In a speech at the Munich security conference on Saturday the prime minister said an invasion of Ukraine from the east would bring about the “destruction of a democratic state”.He warned that the world was at “the eleventh hour” to avert a conflict and said any invasion would echo out like “a shock” around the world and encourage other countries to resort to military aggression.”This is a very dangerous moment in our history. We stand on the brink of what could be a war in Europe,” Mr Johnson said during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart ahead of his speech.”I think it would be an absolute disaster be disaster for Europe, a disaster for Ukraine, and a disaster, certainly for Russia, if there were to be an invasion. “And I think everybody at this conference wants to stand united in support, and in solidarity with Ukraine. “And I remember actually, five years ago, I came here to the Munich Security Conference, I said exactly the same thing to your predecessor, or one of your predecessors, and it is more vital than ever. That we, we stand with you.”Addressing the conference Mr Johnson told an audience: “It is in our collective interests that Russia should ultimately fail, and should be seen to fail.”“The risk now is that people would draw the conclusion that aggression pays and that might is right. So we should not underestimate the gravity of this moment.”Amongst world leaders Mr Johnson has been among the most vocal over the Ukraine crisis – a decision that comes as he seeks to move on from domestic anger over alleged lawbreaking in Downing Street during the Covid lockdown.His visit to Germany this weekend for the Munich security conference comes as the US government claimed an invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces could come within “several days”. Russia denies it has plans to attack, but has built up an estimated 150,00 troops on its border with Ukraine.Mr Johnson has previously called the situation in eastern Europe “very grim” but stressed before his departure to Bavaria that “diplomacy can still prevail” if leaders unite.Russian president Vladimir Putin has insisted that large-scale military exercises with Belarusian forces close to the Ukrainian border are “purely defensive” and do not represent a threat to invade.The Kremlin said this week it was is withdrawing some of its military presence from the region, but western government say intelligence suggests that 7,000 troops have actually arrived on the border in recent days.Other apparent causes for alarm include claims of field hospitals and pontoon bridges spotted close to the border.There has also been increased activity in the separatist-held eastern region of Ukraine, including reports of a major explosion in the centre of the city of Donetsk on Friday.Responding to the prime minister’s speech, Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, said the opposition supported the government’s approach.”The Labour Party is steadfast in our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said.”We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and in unity with our international partners and NATO allies in warning President Putin that any attack will lead to immediate, severe and extensive sanctions.“The deeply concerning signs of escalation over recent days show the threat of invasion by Russia remains real and immediate. The stakes could not be higher but we share the view of our allies that diplomacy can still succeed at the eleventh hour.“Labour supports the actions the UK government is taking with the aim of securing a peaceful end to this precarious stand-off. We stand resolutely as one in ensuring the right of all democratic states to determine their own path to prosperity without fear or threat.” More

The government is likely to drop a promised ban on imports of fur and foie gras because of opposition within the Cabinet.The policies were set to be included in new animal welfare legislation, but several ministers are reported to have raised concerns about the plan.Jacob Rees-Mogg – who has just been prompted to Cabinet as Brexit Opportunities Minister – is said to be among opponents of the changes. Farmers in the UK are already banned from producing foie gras because it involves force-feeding ducks and geese in order to fatten their liver – but the food can still be imported from abroad.Fur farming has also been illegal in the UK since 2000 but campaigners have long pushed for an import ban on farmed fur produced in other countries.The government’s Animals Abroad Bill was expected to include the two trade bans as a way of improving animal welfare, but it has been held up by disagreements within government.It is also supposed to include other measures to help animals living in other countries such as restrictions on trophy hunting and holidays that lead to the neglect of animals. Ministers have confirmed that they will go ahead with the trophy hunting aspect of the bills but the BBC reports that action and foie gras and imported fur are likely to be ditched.Mr Rees-Mogg, the Brexit opportunities minister, is said to be opposed to the bans because he believes people should have the choice to buy products produced in cruel ways if they wish.Other ministers including Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have also raised concerns that a fur ban could ban the import of bear fur hats worn by Guardsmen soldiers.Environment minister Lord Goldsmith had previously said last year that the government would legislate for the bans at “the earliest possible slot”. But a spokesperson for the government now says no final decision has been taken, adding: “This government is united in its commitment to upholding its world leading standards in animal welfare.“Our Action plan for Animal Welfare sets out the government’s vision to introduce a range of world-leading reforms to improve the welfare and conservation of animals at home and abroad.”Responding to the news of a likely U-turn, a spokesperson for the British Fur Trade Association said: “We’ve said all along that a fur ban would make no difference to animal welfare, is not supported by the vast majority of the British people, would result in thousands of job losses, disrupt trade including between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and damage consumer choice.“We are pleased that sensible members of the Government have listened to our concerns and have decided not to pursue such an unworkable and damaging step despite the shrill unevidenced calls of animal rights activists. “It should be for people themselves to decide if they wish to buy and wear fur not the Government, acting like a wardrobe police, telling people what they should and should not wear. The Government should now engage with us on the comprehensive welfare schemes already in place to deliver on our shared goals around animal welfare.” More