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Boris Johnson says no-confidence vote win ‘decisive’ despite mass Tory rebellion
Boris Johnson is expected to attempt to turn the political tide with a raft of policy announcements aimed at easing the housing crisis.
In a speech in Lancashire on Thursday, the prime minister will set out plans to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants, and to allow people to use housing benefits to secure and pay a mortgage.
Mr Johnson was branded a “lame duck” as he faced MPs in the Commons for the first time since 41 per cent of his own party voted to oust him on Monday night. SNP leader Ian Blackford likened him to Monty Python’s Black Knight, who claimed fatal wounds were just flesh wounds, telling the prime minister: “It’s over, it’s done.”
But a defiant Mr Johnson claimed he had “picked up political opponents all over” because his government had “done some very big and very remarkable things which they didn’t necessarily approve of.
Recommended Boris Johnson ‘to announce plan to let low-earners use housing benefit to pay mortgages’ Allies warn Boris Johnson not to reward disloyalty by placating rebels More than a few disgruntled backbenchers: Tory rebels can make life very difficult for Boris Johnson Ian Blackford v Boris Johnson full exchange: Blackford attacks ‘delusional’ PM after confidence vote
Key points Boris Johnson to announce raft of housing policies on Thursday No 10 rejects claims PM could replace Rishi Sunak with Jeremy Hunt ‘Wanting and inadequate’ NHS costs lives, says Sir Keir Starmer PM a ‘lame duck’, says Ian Blackford
Show latest update 1654759233 Michael Gove says he would not challenge prime minister for leadership
Levelling up minister Michael Gove said on Thursday that he had no plans to challenge prime minister Boris Johnson for the leadership.
When asked about potentially running against Mr Johnson for leadership of the Conservative Party, he replied: “Oh God no!”
Michael Gove competed in the leadership contest in 2016 where he lost to Theresa May and it was reported that he considered running for leadership against Boris Johnson in 2019.
Mr Gove told Sky News: "I made a mistake in 2016, a misjudgement.
"If you've been in politics for a little while, as I have been, then you know, there are always mistakes you can look back on.
"But no, I think the prime minister is doing a good job, I've been privileged to work alongside him when he made sure the Brexit entanglement, the imbruglia was broken."
Thomas Kingsley 9 June 2022 08:20
1654758333 There will be a ‘cap’ on number of people that can use new housing scheme, minister says
More details are coming in this morning from Levelling Up minister Michael Gove on the government’s new housing policy.
Mr Gove said there will be a "cap" on the number of people who can take advantage of the government's new housing scheme, but when asked what the limit would be, he said: "That's something I will be discussing with housing associations."
Speaking on Sky News, he added: "We're looking specifically at a savings vehicle that people can use in order to save for that deposit.
"Because home ownership is not just good for individuals, it's good for society overall.
"We want people to have a stake in the future, we want people to be able to invest in their own home, we want people to have somewhere safe and secure, warm and decent, in which they can raise their children."
When asked where the money for the scheme will come from, he said: "It will come from the overall parcel, the overall envelope, of Government spending."
(AFP/Getty)
Thomas Kingsley 9 June 2022 08:05
1654757733 Power firms provided ‘unacceptable service’ to some after Storm Arwen - watchdog finds
Electricity networks provided an "unacceptable service" to thousands of customers following Storm Arwen, which left nearly one million homes without power, industry watchdog Ofgem has said.
Winds of 100mph caused widespread disruption, uprooted trees and damaged power lines, cutting the electricity supply from 26 November across northern England and Scotland.
Power outages lasted for more than 10 days in some areas and customers complained of poor communication from their suppliers about when they would be reconnected.
Ofgem has carried out an independent review of the industry, focusing on whether the power outages could have been prevented, if correct and timely information was given to customers affected, whether power was restored quickly enough, and how customers were supported after the storm, including compensation payments.
If found staff at distribution network operators (DNOs) worked hard in challenging conditions, but concluded that thousands of customers were provided with an "unacceptable service".
Thomas Kingsley 9 June 2022 07:55
1654756702 Chancellor ‘on the side of people struggling’ minister says amid pressure to cut taxes
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is "on the side of those people who are struggling" amid the cost of living crisis, despite tax rises, according to Housing Secretary Michael Gove.
Speaking on Sky News, he said: "The Chancellor has been clear with the energy levy that he's introduced that those companies that are making huge windfall profits will pay their way into helping people with the cost of living challenges that we all face at the moment.
"Nobody likes increasing taxes but the Chancellor is vigilant, and on the side of those people who are struggling most at this time."
He added that the chancellor is keeping "under review all the measures" to tackle the rising cost of energy bills and fuel.
"The situation is difficult for many people and of course it's all a consequence of the war in Ukraine, and we don't know how the shockwaves of that war will continue to affect the energy market and the price of petrol for people who are hard-pressed.
"We have taken action to try to deal with the situation - the Chancellor has reduced fuel duty - and of course we keep under review all the measures necessary in order to help people with the cost of living.”
Thomas Kingsley 9 June 2022 07:38
1654754478 Ministry of defence acquires government’s first quantum computer
The Ministry of Defence has reportedly acquired the government’s first quantum computer.
The machines are able to rapidly make highly complex calculations that cannot be done by regular computers.
Most computers process data in bits, which have a binary value of either zero or one, whereas quantum computers use a two-state unit for data processing called a qubit.
The ministry will work with London-based firm Orca Computing on applying the computers to defence applications, reported BBC.
It marked a “milestone moment”, according to Stephen Till of the ministry’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DTSL).
Read the report here:
Ministry of Defence acquires Government’s first quantum computer London-based firm Orca Computing will work with the ministry as part of the scheme.
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 07:01
1654753432 Wales could ban energy drinks to children near school in a bid to curb obesity
Banning the sale of energy drinks to under-16s and limiting hot food takeaways near schools are among the ideas being floated by the Welsh Government to reduce rising obesity in Wales.
The country currently has around 1.5 million overweight adults with 600,000 of those people deemed obese - just under half of the entire population.
One in four children are also overweight or obese by the time they start primary school.
Deputy minister for mental health Lynne Neagle said: “We want to hear people’s views on how we can support the nation to be healthier and to reduce the number of people who are obese or overweight.
“Often, foods that are sugary or high in fat or salt are more readily available and promoted, making it harder for people to make the healthy choice.
We know this is a difficult time for people with the growing cost of living crisis putting huge pressure on people financially. However, we also know If current obesity trends continue, more people in Wales will die prematurely from cancer, heart disease, liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
Lynne Neagle
“We need an open and frank conversation about how we can create a step change in our choices and behaviours. We are talking about reversing significant issues which have built up over generations in our food environment.”
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 06:43
1654752857 Foreign Office adviser quits after calling for ousting of ‘a liability’ prime minister
A Foreign Office adviser has quit after saying Boris Johnson should leave No 10 and is “a liability” who is “in the wrong job”.
Helena Morrissey, a Tory peer, also disputed that the prime minister had displayed “contrition” for the Partygate scandal – saying he needed to show “deeds not words”.
She has now resigned as director at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, a paid role to provide “strategic leadership” and “advice on performance and delivery”.
It is understood that she agreed to leave having been told by Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, that her position was untenable, reports our deputy political editor Rob Merrick.
Foreign Office adviser quits after saying ‘liability’ Johnson should be forced out Helena Morrissey disputed prime minister had shown ‘contrition’ for Partygate – and warned of ‘further challenges’
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 06:34
1654752625 Britain on brink of recession, warns OECD
Britain is on the brink of a painful recession as prices continue to rise rapidly and the economy records zero growth next year, according to a new analysis.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicted that the UK will be the worst-performing economy of any nation in the developed world apart from Russia in 2023.
The euro area economy is expected to expand by just 1.6 per cent and the US by 1.2 per cent while the UK lags behind with zero growth.
Zero growth forecast for Britain next year and global average share slashed to 2.8 per cent, reports Ben Chapman.
UK economy on brink of recession, OECD warns Zero growth forecast for Britain next year and global average slashed to 2.8 per cent
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 06:30
1654751724 Politics Explained: PM has little scope for tax cuts
Although some premiers make it look easy, governing, even in good times, is a difficult, frustrating, endlessly challenging business. In bad economic times, though, it is far more difficult. And so it is proving for Boris Johnson.
Even without Partygate or the Covid-19 pandemic, the weakness of the British economy would surely have led to unpopularity and the kind of economic crisis we are now experiencing – and with it the political price it has exacted from the prime minister and his party. Hence his troubles.
Indeed, if he could have cut taxes properly over the past couple of years then he might well never have faced a vote of no confidence.
We cannot know for sure, but the next 12 months will, if anything, be as hard as any, with the obvious exception of the lockdowns, writes Sean O’ Grady in Politics Explained.
Analysis: Johnson has little scope for tax cuts, they won’t fix the problems he faces Unlike previous cyclical downturns, Brexit has introduced new structural weaknesses into the economy, writes Sean O’Grady
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 06:15
1654751592 Cost of living could impact violent crime, warns London Mayor
The cost-of-living crisis could lead to more violent crime, warned London mayor Sadiq Khan.
Mr Khan spoke of his fears that progress in tackling violent crime could be jeopardised as figures show that London’s knife and gun crimes plus teenage murders have been reduced.
We must acknowledge that the spiralling cost of living could make things even more challenging and even risks taking us backwards.
Sadiq Khan
He says the impact of the cost-of-living crisis could jeopardise the progress made in tackling violent crime.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he does not have ambitions to lead the Labour Party
(PA Wire)
The cost-of-living crisis, which is impacting huge numbers of Londoners and some of the most vulnerable groups, could jeopardise the progress that has been made in trying to tackle violent crime and its underlying causes, according to Mr Khan.
Namita Singh 9 June 2022 06:13
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