Boris Johnson is leading tidal wave of tributes for the "nicest, kindest and most unassuming of politicians" James Brokenshire, who died yesterday aged just 53.
Mr Brokenshire, who served as Northern Ireland Secretary and security minister, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. He had been in hospital since Sunday, after his condition deteriorated rapidly.
The Prime Minister said he was "desperately sad" by the news of Mr Brokenshire's death, praising his old colleague for having served "with particular distinction in the Home Office".
The Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup draw tributes from across the political spectrum, with Sir Keir Starmer saying he was "a thoroughly decent man, dedicated and effective in all briefs he held".
The Labour leader added: "He fought his illness with dignity and bravery. I'm incredibly sad to learn of his death and send my condolences to his wife and children."
Parliament "will be poorer without him", Mark Harper said, while Greg Hands, the energy minister, said he was "reeling" from the news. Tracey Crouch, who has faced her own battle with cancer, said she is "utterly devastated".
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Politicians from across the Irish Sea have joined Westminster in paying tribute to James Brokenshire, who served as Northern Ireland secretary under Theresa May.
Northern Ireland's former first minister, Arlene Foster, tweeted: "I am so shocked and saddened by James' death - one of the good guys in politics who handled his diagnosis with such grace.
"I am of course sending my love and prayers to Cathy and their children as well as all his colleagues and friends."
Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein vice president and deputy first minister, added: "Sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of James Brokenshire."
Micheal Martin, Ireland's Taoiseach, said he was "deeply saddened" by the news.
"A dedicated politician and public servant, whose sincerity and commitment shone through, especially in the context of his work in NI."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer revealed his nickname of "Special K" as he paid a visit to a Kellogg's factory.
Sir Keir toured the cereal factory in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, on Friday morning and met business leaders, apprentices and trade union representatives to discuss problems with distribution, shortages and supply chains.
He told reporters he shared a name with one of the manufacturer's well-known brands, saying: "I've been dubbed Special K since I was born, K for Keir."
The Local Government Association has paid tribute to James Brokenshire, who served as housing and communities secretary in Theresa May's government.
James Jamieson, the organisation's chairman, said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of James Brokenshire. On behalf of the whole of local government, I send our sincere condolences to his family and friends today at this hugely difficult time.
"Councils will remember James fondly as our secretary of state. He stood up for the interests of councils and communities with the same integrity and passion that characterised him as a person.
"He was a thoroughly decent man, a real gentleman, and showed remarkable bravery in the face of his illness. He will be sadly missed."
Karen Bradley, who succeeded James Brokenshire as Northern Ireland secretary, has highlighted her former colleague's surprise at being diagnosed with lung cancer.
The MP, who did not smoke, was diagnosed in 2017.
Mr Bradley said she was "in shock" because of the news of his death, adding: "He talked about people getting checks, getting tested... he was such a campaigner for raising awareness that this is a disease that affects people, no matter what your lifestyle or age, and you need to be aware of the symptoms."
James Brokenshire's former special adviser has paid a personal tribute to "Brokey", following his death of cancer aged just 53.
Peter Cardwell, who worked with Mr Brokenshire during his time as Northern Ireland Secretary, said he had become "like a brother".
"Three weeks ago we danced around his kitchen to Nicky Minaj," he added. "I can’t believe he’s gone."
Boris Johnson is governing "in chaos" and had failed to plan as energy prices continued to rise, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader added: "This is a Government that tries to govern in slogans but is finding that the failure to plan is hitting working people up and down the country.
"What we've got here is Universal Credit being cut by ￡1,000 a year, ￡1,000 a year for families that desperately need it.
"At the same time prices are going up, you're getting hit from both ends by a Government that's pretending that there isn't a problem there."
He said Labour would put the minimum wage up to ￡10 a hour and would "work with business, not treat business as the enemy".
Britain may have won the sausage war with the EU after Brussels offered surrender terms to keep the British banger being sold in Northern Ireland after Brexit.
The European Commission plans to offer a sausage clause to bring lasting peace to the banger battles over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Commission is willing to make an exception allowing “national identity goods” such as sausage to enter Northern Ireland, despite EU rules restricting chilled meats from non-EU countries.
“Well, we do have the Sausage King on the EU team,” an EU official said, referring to European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, who was given his nickname by Lord Frost’s predecessor Michael Gove.
Read more on that here.
The tributes to James Brokenshire, who died yesterday aged just 53, continue to pour in from colleagues of all political persuasions.
Sadiq Khan, Labour's London Mayor, said: "Deeply saddened by the news that James Brokenshire has passed away. James was a dedicated and diligent public servant to the nation and his constituents in Old Bexley & Sidcup."
Oliver Dowden, the Conservative Party chairman, tweeted: "We are all deeply saddened by the loss of James. He was a decent and honourable man, and a much loved colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons leader, added: "James was a good and kindly man, he will be much missed especially by his family.
"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace."
French fishermen will not suffer because of the UK's "bad choice" to leave the European Union, a member of Emmanuel Macron's government has said, as he doubles down on threats to cut off supplies.
Paris is infuriated by London's refusal to grant what it considers the full number of licenses due to French fishing boats to operate in Britain's territorial waters, and is threatening retaliatory measures as a result.
Clement Beaune, France's European affairs minister, said: "They failed on Brexit. It was a bad choice. Threatening us, threatening our fishermen, will not settle their supply of turkey at Christmas.
"We will hold firm. The Brits need us to sell their products."
Earlier this week Mr Beaune threatened to cut off the UK's energy supply - a move which Lord Frost dubbed "unreasonable".
James Brokenshire was "one of the good guys" and Parliament "will be poorer without him", Mark Harper has said.
The former chief whip has joined a string of colleagues across the political spectrum in praising the MP, who died yesterday aged 53.
Therese Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "Terribly sad news of the death of my fellow MP James Brokenshire after a brave battle against cancer. RIP. Thoughts and prayers with his family."
Tracey Crouch, who fought breast cancer during the same period that James Brokenshire was battling lung cancer, has said she is "utterly devastated" by the news of his death.
Theresa May, the former prime minister under whom he served as Northern Ireland secretary, tweeted: "Truly saddened by the death of James Brokenshire.
"He was an outstanding public servant, a talented minister and a loyal friend. My thoughts are with Cathy and his whole family."
Boris Johnson has paid a lengthy tribute to James Brokenshire, describing him as "the nicest, kindest and most unassuming of politicians".
The Prime Minister praised the Conservative MP, who has died aged 53 from lung cancer, saying he "served with particular distinction in the Home Office and as Security Minister.
"If the Government needed something done well and speedily - and sensibly explained - James was the man to do it," Mr Johnson added.
"His fight against cancer was heroic, and it is a measure of his resolve that he came back from a first bout with the disease to serve in government again. He will be missed by all who knew him."
Greg Hands, the energy minister, has said he is "reeling from the death of my friend and colleague James Brokenshire".
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted: "The news that James Brokenshire has passed away is utterly heartbreaking. A gentle, kind man with three young children - a dedicated public servant, a gentleman. Thoughts are with his lovely Cathy who he adored and his family on this desperately sad day. RIP James."
Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, added: "Losing a loved one is always hard, but losing someone so young is particularly difficult."
Mr Brokenshire, who had been suffering from lung cancer, "died peacefully at Darent Valley Hospital yesterday evening with family members by his bedside", according to a statement issued moments ago.
Rishi Sunak has said James Brokenshire was " a valued friend and colleague and will be deeply missed" after the former minister died yesterday, aged 53.
The former colleague was "a man of public service and the highest integrity," the Chancellor added. "My thoughts are with his family on this incredibly sad day."
Ministers have joined the chorus from Westminster paying tributes to James Brokenshire, who has died from cancer aged just 53.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said his former colleague was "quite simply the nicest man in politics. A true gentleman".
Conor Burns, Northern Ireland minister, said it was "deeply cruel news".
Penny Mordaunt, the trade minister, added: "Much of what James did as a Minister the public will never know about. He made a huge contribution to their safety and security. He was modest, kind and endlessly cheerful. It was a honour and a pleasure to work with him.
The death of James Brokenshire aged just 53 is sending waves across Westminster regardless of political persuasion.
Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said: "Sending my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of James Brokenshire.
"He has been taken far too young, a real tragedy. James was unfailingly professional and kind and it was clear that he cared deeply about his work and public service. Rest in peace James."
Sir Keir Starmer has paid a similar tribute:
Tributes are pouring in for James Brokenshire, who died yesterday evening aged just 53.
Brandon Lewis, who succeeded Mr Brokenshire as Northern Ireland Secretary, said: "Incredibly sad to hear this news.
"An immensely kind and generous man, James was admired by all who had the privilege to know him and work with him. I know there will be many across NI who will share that sentiment. My thoughts are with his family."
Will Quince, the families minister, said: "Terribly sad news about our much loved and respected colleague James Brokenshire, a genuinely lovely man and a dedicated public servant. He will be greatly missed."
David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, added: "Really sad news about the death of James Brokenshire. He was a very good minister, but more importantly a really decent man. My condolences to his wife and family."
James Brokenshire, a former Government minister and Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has died aged 53.
The MP, who had been suffering from lung cancer, "died peacefully at Darent Valley Hospital yesterday evening with family members by his bedside", according to a statement from his family.
He had been in hospital since Sunday after his condition rapidly deteriorated.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of James Brokenshire MP at the age of 53," the statement added.
"James was not only a brilliant government minister... but a dedicated constituency MP, first for Hornchurch from 2005 to 2010, and then for Old Bexley & Sidcup for the past 11 years.
"But most importantly, he was a loving father to his three children, a devoted husband to Cathy and a faithful friend to so many."
Two senior MPs have called on the Government to change employment law, after a study found mothers were routinely using holiday allowance to care for sick children.
A Mumsnet survey of more than 1,000 people found that 88 per cent of parents reported having taken time off work to care for a sick primary school aged child, with 39 per cent using holiday to do so, while 29 per cent had taken unpaid leave. Two per cent had been forced to quit their jobs entirely.
Caroline Nokes, the Conservative MP, said the survey was a "stark" reminder of the extent to which women were "carrying the economy" by taking unpaid leave.
"There are good fiscal reasons to support women forced to take time off in this way but also good societal reasons," she added. "It’s high time we recognised and valued this sort of invisible but vital contribution."
Harriet Harman, the veteran Labour MP, added: "Public policy is completely out of date... the forthcoming Employment Bill is our chance to insist that we put this right."
Labour has claimed Boris Johnson's approach towards the Northern Ireland protocol "is doing real damage" after the US' National Security Adviser raised a warning over the region's stability.
Yesterday Jake Sullivan told the BBC that triggering Article 16 - as has been threatened by ministers including Lord Frost - would be a "serious risk to stability" and "of serious concern to the United States".
Louise Haigh, shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said: "Boris Johnson’s approach is doing real damage - it is inflaming tension, while solving nothing and damaging our standing with our closest partners.
"Boris Johnson personally negotiated every dot and comma of the protocol. He should show some responsibility, drop the endless threats and reach the agreement businesses and communities need."
The EU said yesterday it will bring forward new proposals on the protocol next week - something which the DUP attributes to the UK's tough talk. See 10:41am for more.
Grant Shapps this morning said the country was at "the tail end" of the petrol crisis (see 7:59am). with supplies stabilising in most of the country beyond London and the South East.
Ministers have repeatedly stressed that there is enough food and fuel to go around - as long as people buy what they need. This week Boris Johnson said Christmas would be "considerably better" than last year's.
But retail groups and trade bodies have warned that there is more pain to come as we head into the winter, with yesterday seeing a warning over Quality Streets.
So are we through the worst of the crisis - or could Christmas see shortages worsen again?
Have your say in the poll below.
Around one in six adults in Britain have been unable to buy essential food items in the last fortnight, figures suggest.
Some 17 per cent of adults said they had not been able to purchase such goods because they were not available, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Almost a quarter (23 per cent) said the same for non-essential food items.
One in seven (15 per cent) could not buy fuel.
The ONS analysed responses from 3,326 adults between September 22 and October 3 as part of its Opinions and Lifestyle survey.
Overall, 57 per cent said everything they needed had been available to buy.
For some time now, Rishi Sunak has been seen as the obvious alternative to Boris Johnson, writes Fraser Nelson.
He has been the bookmakers’ favourite since he responded so quickly to the pandemic with a furlough scheme that has become the envy of countries such as the United States.
Now, Sunak is the face of tax rises. He had to spend his time at Tory conference explaining why higher National Insurance is better than higher national debt. He’s right, but both options are resented by his party. Things might get worse yet, with the Prime Minister refusing to rule out more taxes.
No such worries haunt Liz Truss, who spent Tory conference revelling in her new status as Foreign Secretary and posing for selfies with her army of admirers. They see her as refreshing, entertaining, perhaps a bit naughty – but, at heart, a Conservative who actually believes in conservatism at a time when others, when tested, have faltered.
Read more from Fraser here.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed the "change of tone" from the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol.
Sit Jeffrey met with Irish premier Micheal Martin in Belfast on Friday to discuss the latest proposals by the bloc to solved the impasse over the protocol.
He said: "I welcome the change in tone, I welcome the change in the language being used. People are now solution-focused.
"They're now talking about negotiations. All of these things were off the table, even three months ago.
"I think that our actions have caused a sharper focus on the need to find a solution that removes the Irish sea border and restores Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom."
Northern Ireland's deputy first minister is to meet with Irish premier Micheal Martin to discuss the EU's olive branch on Brexit.
Michelle O'Neill said the meeting "comes at a very important time", following Maros Sefcovic's announcement yesterday that the EU would table new proposals on the protocol next week.
"What the people here want, what the business community here want what the farmers here want is certainly stability," the Sinn Fein politician said. "I believe that the way to do that is with the EU side and the British Government working through the outstanding issues and finding solutions.
"That's very much what I want to speak to the Taoiseach about, alongside obviously, the issue of the current political situation here in the north, with the DUP threatening to pull down the Assembly and the Executive while the rest of us are trying to get on with dealing with the issues that are important and weighing heavy on people's minds."
The West should impose further sanctions over Nord Stream 2 because "it is clear [Russia] are using it as a weapon," the chief executive of Ukraine's Naftogaz has said.
Joe Biden has long opposed the pipeline, like his two predecessors, because it would bypass Ukraine, putting at risk lucrative gas transit fees and potentially undermining its struggle against Russian aggression.
"We do expect that the US will impose real actions," Yuriy Vitrenko told Sky News. "This will send very real signal, and will stop the crisis."
Noting that Ukraine could deliver more gas to Europe as well as help with storage capacity, he added: "It is not too late to impose sanctions, to make Russia play by European rules, if they want to be a part of the European market...if the West, and particularly the US, show their strength and commit to the old principles."
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has the "upper hand" in the energy crisis, which he is using to win a propaganda war and make "the west appear as corrupt as Russia", a Ukranian energy expert has said.
Yuriy Vitrenko, chief executive of the energy firm Nastrogaz and a former acting minister of energy, told Sky News that "the current crisis really proves" the power Putin wields as he was able to "withhold gas supplies to blackmail the European Union" into making Nord Stream 2 operational without conforming to EU law.
"This will damage politics in all the EU, because it will show that autocrats like Putin basically win," he said. "Everyone will suffer from this".
As well as a gas shortage there was also a wider "security threat and moral hazard" to neighbouring countries.
He said "such kind of narrative is very dangerous for Ukraine and the countries around Ukraine that suffer from Russia's malign influence".
A Cabinet minister has urged people to get their flu vaccination this year, saying "it's extremely important" they do so.
"This year is different," Grant Shapps told Sky News, as he noted that people might usually think it was unnecessary. "We have had people not building up any immunity because last year we were all split apart so much and obviously [there is] the twin threats of Covid and flu."
Anyone in a high-risk category should "just go and get it done," the Transport Secretary added. "We know dangers of flu, it’s not new. Last year was just an exception.
"But we can all do something about it, through vaccines. When you get the call, please go and get the jab as has been so familiar with Covid."
An Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain activist embarked on a 10,000-mile, four-month long holiday and toured across Europe in a diesel van last year, new photos have revealed.
Cameron Ford gained infamy last month after spending his 31st birthday in a police cell after blocking roads on the M25 and being dragged away by officers.
The carpenter from Whittlesford, Cambridge, remained unapologetic for the disruption to motorists, commenting at the time: “I hope by causing disruption through civil disobedience that we can get our message across.”
However, new photos have emerged reportedly showing Mr Ford indulging in globe-trotting holidays across Canada and Europe.
Read the full story here.
The UK is not directly exposed to Russian influence on energy prices, a Cabinet minister has said.
The Kremlin is facing accusations of withholding gas from Europe for political gain, to hold Germany to ransom over the start-up of the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, exacerbating the global crunch on gas supplies felt by households, business owners and factories from Ukraine to London in Europe’s interlinked gas markets.
But Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, tried to play down the impact that President Putin's manoeuvres were having on prices in the UK.
He told Times Radio: "There's a massive global uplift in prices and, as the world has woken up from, you know, being in a slumber of coronavirus, as with a lot of commodities the price has gone up. I don't know the extent to which there's sort of Russian intervention.
UK reliance on Russia was minimal- just three per cent of total energy supply, he noted. "We are not directly impacted other than, of course, the global gas price does have an impact overall."
Grant Shapps has branded members of Insulate Britain "glued fools" after they targeted a roundabout in central London this morning (see 9:08am).
The Transport Secretary told LBC: "It's dangerous, it's really outrageous, and actually, ironically, it probably adds to pollution as cars idle, waiting for their nonsense... for them to be unglued from the road."
He said: "Existing laws need toughening up to get these glued fools off the road... in the meantime, I have been applying actively for court injunctions, which cover the national highway network around London, around the South East. Now these people can go to jail for what they're doing.
"I very much imagine that the courts will take very dimly of the view that they're ignoring a court injunction," he added. "People may be going to prison as a result."
A French MEP has claimed that "nobody will have a better life in the UK if you try to make life for the fishermen harder in France".
Pierre Karleskind, who is chairman of the European Parliament's committee on fisheries, told Sky News he could not understand why licences had been rejected by Jersey.
"I am afraid that this is a way for Boris Johnson to divert from the current issues related to Brexit," he added. "But one thing is clear - nobody will have a better life in the UK if you try to make life for the fishermen harder in France.
"It is really not useful to try to give troubles to French fishermen," he added. "I don't know what Boris Johnson is trying to do except diverting [attention]."
Earlier this week, Clement Beaune threatened to cut off energy supplies to the UK over the row.
Grant Shapps has praised Marcus Rashford as a "fantastic advocate" after the footballer had said the Conservative conference in Manchester would have been a good time for the party to reach out to him.
The Transport Secretary defended the decision to end the uplift to Universal Credit, which Mr Rashford has campaigned against, telling BBC Breakfast: "It was for a limited period for coronavirus. Coronavirus has come to an end."
Mr Shapps added: "If you wanted to carry on with that uplift, you need to find ￡6 billion a year from somewhere. Inevitably that means taxing people on their PAYE, maybe putting the cost of fuel up even more, even though it's at record levels, or something else.
"So nothing is free when you're making these decisions. And of course, governments have to make all of these judgments to try to make things stack up."
Protesters from Insulate Britain have blocked Old Street roundabout in central London, as they continue their campaign of disruption.
A group of demonstrators are sitting in the road, causing large queues to build up during rush hour.
It has also blocked Junction 25 of the M25 motorway at Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire.
It is the latest in a string of protests from the group, which has previously targeted the M25, M4, Port of Dover and other roads in the capital.
The Government is "pretending" that the worker shortage is "a cunning plan to drive up wages", Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader contrasted his party's conference, in which "we got our house in order" and policies were announced with the Conservatives' approach.
"I made a serious speech - I accept that - about the future of the country. From the Tories what you have seen this week is chaos and shortage, which they are pretending is a cunning plan to drive up wages.
"You've seen prices go up, taxes go up and frankly a load of baloney from the Prime Minister, who said more about beavers than it did about the six million people... who are going to lose a lifeline [through Universal Credit cuts]."
Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government has wasted billions of pounds of "crony contracts, which have never ever delivered".
The Labour leader also attacked spending on the "vanity yacht which nobody needs" and the decision to introduce stamp duty relief during the pandemic.
"Don't say to me the money isn't available - the government is making choices here.. and at the same time cut benefits to those most at need," he told BBC Breakfast.
Challenged over whether "crony contracts" could cover the cost of public spending, Sir Keir said: "The difference between us is the Government wants to tax working people through National Insurance - we say it should be those with the broadest shoulders."
But he would not put a figure on incomes that would be taxed more.
The changes to travel restrictions are "a major step forward", Grant Shapps has said.
Only seven countries will remain on the red list, which requires travellers to be quarantined in a hotel on their return to the UK at a cost of ￡2,285 per person, after 47 countries were removed in one of the biggest reopenings of foreign travel since the start of the pandemic.
Ministers also abandoned plans to force holidaymakers to video themselves taking tests after a backlash from the travel industry, which argued that it would be costly and a logistical nightmare for families.
"The travel industry which was into this crisis first, out last in many ways, has suffered hugely, with many jobs on the line," the Transport Secretary told Sky News. "We anticipate getting this done for October half term and what a difference this will make."
Travel from the UK to the US will resume in November, but there is no specific date yet, Grant Shapps has said.
The Transport Secretary said he had spoken with the US ambassador in recent days, but "they are still working through the technicalities" of reopening the border.
"They've said November to us and obviously we're working very closely with them because we would like to see that done so families can reunite, businesses can get together and people can go travelling again," he told Sky News.
"So we think it's certainly well due. We're allowing Americans here, we're recognising their vaccines."
The price cap is "doing a good job" as it is protecting consumers from energy price turbulence, Ofgem's chief executive has said.
Jonathan Brearley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You cannot describe this situation as rosy - this is a phenomenal and unprecedented shift in wholesale prices that we are seeing. That is what is causing all of this.
"What we are doing is managing this transition on behalf of consumers and the price cap is doing its job. The price cap is in place to make sure companies don't make unfair profits, but we do need to pass legitimate costs through."
The industry needs to come together "a little bit like we did for Covid" to strengthen the system, he added.
Mr Brearley said the regulator was "open-minded" about potentially adopting a price cap for businesses, which yesterday warned that they were at risk of going under without such protection.
There are "no plans to raise the price cap before April", but the system could be overhauled thereafter, the chief executive of Ofgem has said.
Jonathan Brealey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Sensibly, given the change in circumstance, of course we look at how we might calculate the price cap."
He noted that the regulator changed the way smart meters were installed and altered the formulae because "of all the changes with Covid" and suggested one option might be a more frequent review of the price cap from April.
But he stressed it was "too early for us to come out with solutions" now.
Energy bills will rise again in April, when the price cap is reviewed again, the chief executive of Ofgem has said.
Jonathan Brearley told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he would "caution against predicting" what happens in the wholesale market.
"But looking at the costs in the system, we are expecting a significant rise in April", he added.
Asked if estimates that it could rise as much as ￡800, Mr Brearley repeated again that he expected "significant" rises as result of "extraordinary" changes to wholesale prices.
The Government is "turning on the poorest in our society" at a critical point, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast that families "desperately need that uplift in Universal Credit to make ends meet".
"And it comes, this cut, at the worst possible time because prices are going up," he said.
"Whether that's fuel or food, or energy prices, and this is going to drive families and children into poverty and for the Government to turn on the poorest as we come out of the pandemic is just so wrong."
He said said Labour would do away with Universal Credit altogether - but if he was in No 10 he would keep the ￡20 uplift until the system was overhauled.
Grant Shapps said the Government's spending review, which will be set out with the Budget on Oct 27, would see more clarity about the future of HS2.
That would be the "big moment", he told Sky News. It comes after the Transport Secretary hinted that the Birmingham to Leeds leg might be scrapped.
He didn't give anything away this morning, saying: "We want to make sure we get the benefits of high speed trains from Birmingham to Leeds as well...
"The Northern Powerhouse rail, that is the plan to link up lots of cities by rail. We just want to make sure it is all properly integrated together."
Grant Shapps insisted the petrol crisis has "ended" in most parts of the country, with London and the South East the "only only two areas where seeing continued problem, and even there seeing supplies start to come through".
Nationwide there was now "twice as much petrol in forecourts" as there was during the crisis, the Transport Secretary told Sky News. "We are right at the tail end of this now."
Yesterday the Petrol Retailers Association called for an independent probe into the crisis, saying that Government inaction and poor prioritisation had caused problems to run on for longer than necessary, highlighting the fact that we are now 15 days into the crisis.
The former housing secretary has "strongly" urged Boris Johnson to follow through on the Government's planning reform proposals.
Robert Jenrick is understood to have lost his job primarily because he failed to bring Tory backbenchers on board with plans to overhaul the system to reach the target of 300,000 new homes a year in England.
Planning is largely seen as the reason for the Tories' defeat in the Chesham and Amersham by-election to the Liberal Democrats in June.
In his first interview since being sacked from the Cabinet, Mr Jenrick urged the Prime Minister to "stick with" the plans.
He told BBC Newscast: "Housing is one of those areas where you can make a huge difference, helping people onto the housing ladder, reducing the cost of living, increasing productivity, helping small businesses.
"It cuts across all of the government's priorities, so I strongly, strongly urge the Prime Minister to stick with it."
The Business Secretary will today hold talks with the representatives of energy intensive industries, such as steel and chemicals, to discuss the wholesale gas crisis.
On Thursday, Kwasi Kwarteng gave an "energy update" in the form of a Twitter thread, insisting protecting consumers from rising global gas prices is "his top priority".
He also disclosed he would meet the Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) on Friday, which represents companies such as manufacturers of steel, chemicals, fertilisers, paper, glass and cement.
He said: "The Energy Price Cap is holding back a wave of instant bill increases. It will remain in place, and at the same level, this winter."
It comes as Ofgem has opened the door to a major relaxation of energy price cap rules which would expose millions of households to the risk of sudden price increases.
As we head into autumn proper, fears are building about the cost of living and challenges that some of the country's poorest face when it comes to deciding whether to eat or heat their homes.
And there are renewed warnings about the return of Covid coinciding with a surge of flu cases, after last year's lockdown naturally reduced the annual rate.
But there is good news for those hoping to get away for October half term.
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