Boris Johnson news: MPs to vote on Online Safety Bill ‘before Christmas’ as Brokenshire remembered

Boris Johnson has committed to a Commons vote on the Online Safety Bill before Christmas, following a question by Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs in which he asked why Conservatives had not yet brought forward a second reading of the legislation.

Committing Labour’s support to the much-discussed Bill, Sir Keir cited examples of violent material not being removed by social media companies, including instances of abuse on the app Telegram posted while MPs gave tributes to murdered MP Sir David Amess on Monday.

In an exchange notable for its uncharacteristic calmness, in which Sir Keir repeatedly asked the PM to refrain from attacking Labour “considering the week we’ve had” – as MPs dealt with the death of Sir David – Mr Johnson ultimately said he would ensure the Bill “does complete its stages before this House, before Christmas”.

Following the prime minister’s questions session, MPs observed a minute’s silence in the Commons before paying tribute to Tory MP James Brokenshire, who died of lung cancer on 7 October. “Politics and Parliament would be the better if there were more people of his caliber involved,” Mr Johnson said in his opening tribute.

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Key points

• Vote on Online Safety Bill to come before Christmas, says PM

• Close loophole allowing social media bosses to escape law, Starmer demands

• Minute’s silence in Commons for Tory MP James Brokenshire

• Vladimir Putin will not attend Cop26 climate summit, Kremlin confirms

• Former police constable hits out at PM over refusal to make misogyny a hate crime

• MPs’ expenses to be redacted following murder of Sir David Amess

07:44 , Sam Hancock

Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling UK politics coverage. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates from Wednesday, with Boris Johnson set to face off against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in prime minister’s questions at 12pm.

MPs set to reject Lords amendments to Environment Bill

07:57 , Sam Hancock

Environment secretary George Eustice has rejected almost all the changes to the Environment Bill voted for by the House of Lords, with reports suggesting he has advised MPs to do the same ahead of a Commons debate on the changes later today.

The changes included greater protection for ancient woodland and a legal duty on water companies to reduce sewage damage to rivers.

The Greener UK coalition said the government’s decision was “hugely disappointing,” especially ahead of this month’s Cop26 climate summit. But the government said it would be bringing forward its own changes to the bill, to demonstrate “global leadership” before the conference in Glasgow.

The government says the bill - which was published in 2019 - is designed to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution, restore wildlife, and protect the climate.

The law sets up a new independent watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection, to monitor progress on improving the environment. During the bill’s passage through the House of Lords, peers voted for an amendment which sought to strengthen the watchdog’s powers.

They also voted to reverse a government move to exempt defence, national security and fiscal policy from a requirement to consider environmental principles when making policies.

On Tuesday morning, though, it was revealed Mr Eustice had formally recommended MPs reject almost all of the proposals.

Terrorist minimum prison sentence raised amid Amess fallout

08:00 , Sam Hancock

Terrorists who make plans to kill at least two people will face longer in prison under new sentencing guidelines published today, a new report suggests.

Justice secretary Dominic Raab has argued that the new advice for judges to hand down sentences of a minimum of 14 years would send a stronger message to those who plot to “kill and maim in the name of warped and fanatical ideologies”.

The Ministry of Justice’s move comes as police continue to question Ali Harbi Ali, 25, over the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess last week. He is being detained under the Terrorism Act, reports Lamiat Sabin.

The Sentencing Council has confirmed it will advise judges that the starting point for sentencing those who plot to kill with terror motives should be a minimum of 14 years, according to The Times.

Government raises minimum prison sentence for terror plotters under new guidelines

House of Commons schedule for Wednesday

08:03 , Sam Hancock

Here’s a breakdown of all the sessions scheduled to take place in the Commons chamber today.

11.30am Cop26 questions

12pm Prime Minister’s Questions

12.30pm Urgent questions/statements

Tributes to James Brokenshire

A 10-minute rule motion on Decarbonisation and Economic Strategy

Environment Bill – consideration of Lords amendments

A short debate on NHS dentistry in Lincolnshire

For a full Parliamentary schedule, including timings for Westminster Hall and the House of Lords, head here.

Cost of climate inaction greater than any estimate on net zero transition – Kwarteng

08:08 , Sam Hancock

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has been doing No 10’s media rounds this morning.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said the cost of inaction on climate change would cost more than any Treasury estimates of moving to net zero.

Mr Kwarteng was asked about the costs of the widely-discussed Net Zero Strateg, published by the government on Tuesday, and he said:

“I think if we look at the green agenda, the transition broadly, we’ll know that the cost of inaction, actually, could be greater than actually doing things.

“As I’ve said, I actually think there’s a huge amount of economic opportunity. Look at the announcements regarding Nissan’s investments in terms of electric vehicles. I speak to Ben Houchen in the northeast, look at the investments there, the freeport.

“All of these things suggest to me that, actually, the economic opportunity, in terms of the transition, is huge and that’s what I’m focused on. I think, ultimately, that’s what’s going to drive huge amounts of prosperity, lots of prosperity in the UK.”

Minister admits inflation ‘something government is concerned about’

08:15 , Sam Hancock

More from Kwasi Kwarteng now.

The business secretary has admitted the government is “concerned” about the rate of inflation currently affecting the UK, despite weeks of reassurances from Boris Johnson that the economy is merely “waking up” from Covid and Brexit.

Asked to share figures given to him by the Bank of England, following reports inflation could reach 4 per cent in Britain, Mr Kwarteng laughed and said those “conversations are private”.

He said: “I read all sorts of things ... those are private conversations. But I see also ... I read lots of analysis from city economists and there’s a debate at the moment as to how long this inflation will last. I’m confident that it’ll be contained, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Government rules out Covid lockdown despite NHS’ call for ‘Plan B’ restrictions

08:19 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson’s government is ruling out another Covid lockdown or any “further restrictions” this winter, despite NHS leaders’ call for ministers to enforce “Plan B” curbs.

Amid another surge in Covid cases, the NHS Confederation has urged ministers to implement the back-up strategy – including mandatory face coverings and asking people to work from home, writes Adam Forrest.

But business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the government was not interested in bringing back curbs. “We don’t want to go into lockdown or further restrictions,” he told Sky News on Wednesday.

Government rules out Covid curbs despite NHS chiefs’ call for ‘Plan B’

Transitioning to net zero will be ‘very costly’ for consumers, Kwarteng admits

08:31 , Sam Hancock

In a slightly confusing message, Kwasi Kwarteng said the price of consumers transitioning to net zero will be driven down by private investment – before conceding it would still be “very costly”.

Speaking to Sky News, the business secretary said it was a “fair question” for people to ask how much measures such as insulating homes and switching to low-emission vehicles would cost.

Pointing to guidance in the government’s new Net Zero Strategy, published yesterday, he said the document was “trying to attract huge amounts of private investment into the UK, and what happens with private investment is that the unit costs of the energy actually is driven down, it’s lowered, it’s cheaper”.

“If we look back over the last nine years, the cost of those renewables has gone down hugely, something like two-thirds. So, more investment, actually in diverse energy sources, is actually going to reduce costs in the medium and long term,” he added.

However, while signalling prices would still be costly for a huge number of households, Mr Kwarteng said: “It’s a fine line you have to tread between making the transition and essentially forcing people and imposing costs on people to make the transition, and what we want to do is to keep people with us on the transition, on the journey.”

Watch: Business secretary rules out winter Covid lockdown

08:40 , Sam Hancock

Cost of decarbonising homes ‘could exclude low-income families’ – economist

08:45 , Sam Hancock

Economist Jonny Marshall has said the “huge costs” attached to upgrading heating systems in Britain could mean low-income families are “left behind once again”.

LBC’s Nick Ferrari pointed out these discussions are happening “only two weeks” after Universal Credit was “slashed”.

“And now we expect someone [in that position] to pay £5,000 to put in a heat pump?” he put to Mr Marshall, to which the financial expert agreed could cause real concern.

UK cost of living ‘cause of concern’, says Kwarteng as price rises dip only slightly

08:48 , Sam Hancock

Following my earlier post (8.18am), here’s Adam Forrest with more detail on Kwasi Kwarteng’s remarks about “real concerns” in government over the increasing cost of living.

The latest Consumer Prices Index figures show the rise in the cost of living fell to 3.1 per cent in the year to September – down slightly from 3.2 per cent in August.

However, the inflation figure remains far above the Bank of England’s target rate of 2 per cent, as fuel, food and transport costs remain a struggle for many people across the country.

“I think it’s a real cause of some concern because, clearly, we want inflation rates to be lower,” Kwarteng told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday.

UK cost of living ‘real cause of concern’, says business secretary

‘I don’t think tax rises are inevitable,’ Kwarteng says about net zero costs

09:40 , Sam Hancock

Last bit from Kwasi Kwarteng now, after the business secretary gave a slightly confused interview to LBC.

Asked about the new taxes being discussed following a Treasury review into the government’s net zero plans, the business secretary said resolutely: “You will know that I don’t think that tax rises are inevitable”.

He continued: “Because if we look at how we’ve moved just in the last 10 years in this green transition: 10 years ago, 40 per cent of our electricity came from coal, basically burning coal. Today that figure’s 1 to 2 per cent and renewables have taken up most of that difference, and costs haven’t gone up in that time actually, and so I think that the Green Revolution, if you want to call it that, is a huge opportunity for people to invest.”

The Treasury’s review appeared to suggest tax rises could occur after the separate Net Zero Strategy outlined a possible loss of £37bn a year in motoring taxes alone due to the planned switch to electric cars.

Challenged on his position, LBC’s Nick Ferrari said: “But it’s the Treasury who said taxes will have to rise, Mr Kwarteng.” To which the minister said the department “didn’t factor in the actual investment that we’re going to be attracting”.

“So the Treasury can’t get their sums right, that’s a bit frightening isn’t it?” Mr Ferrari quipped.

But Mr Kwarteng wouldn’t be drawn, responding: “No they get their sums right, but [as] you will know, they have various assumptions that model those figures.”

Charities ‘bitterly disappointed’ by MPs rejecting Environment Bill changes

09:58 , Sam Hancock

Back to the Environment Bill now, which is set to debated in the Commons later today following amendments made to it by peers in the House of Lords.

Here’s some expert commentary on reports George Eustice, the environment secretary, has advised MPs to reject almost all the changes.

Tim Dexter, clean air campaign manager at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, said:

“The Environment Bill represents a landmark opportunity to tackle toxic air and we are bitterly disappointed and frustrated at the government’s inaction. Further delays will cost lives and those with lung disease are likely to suffer the most. We know that 88 per cent of people with a lung condition report that air pollution affects their health and wellbeing. That’s too many lives blighted by toxic air.

“Air quality is one of the greatest injustices of our time. No one should suffer just because the air where they live is unsafe. Every year, air pollution is linked with up to 36,000 premature deaths. It reduces life expectancy, increases our chances of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and stunted lung growth in children. High air pollution can be a fatal trigger for people with lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“We will continue to campaign to make sure that the voices of those who are most vulnerable to air pollution are heard. The Bill must be returned to the House of Commons with an amendment on clean air so that everyone can live full lives free from the fear of toxic air.”

‘Getting people out of cars’ more key than switch to EVs, critics suggest

10:03 , Sam Hancock

ITV News’ Anushka Asthana reports the following about electric cars:

MPs’ expenses to be redacted following murder of Sir David Amess

10:12 , Sam Hancock

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) - the MPs’ expenses watchdog - will temporarily redact some details of claims due to security fears following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess.

IPSA acknowledged concerns about information being published on MPs’ travel and the hire of venues for constituency surgeries, after Sir David was killed at one on Friday.

In a letter to MPs, the organisation’s chairman Richard Lloyd and chief executive Ian Todd said IPSA was seeking fresh security advice on what should be disclosed and while that review was being carried out it would temporarily remove some details from previously published claims.

The watchdog said the review would also examine how Freedom of Information Act requests are assessed, and that it would be postponing the scheduled publication of figures due in November.

IPSA chiefs said:

“In light of the terrible events last Friday we are seeking fresh expert advice on what and how we publish your business and staffing costs.

“Whilst this review is under way, we are postponing the publication of expenditure information due in November and temporarily removing descriptive detail from previously published claims on our website whilst the review is under way.”

On an episode of The Guardian’s daily podcast Today in Focus this week, Labour MP Diane Abbott said she first noticed “vitriol” intensify against politicians following the MPs’ expenses scandal of 2009.

‘The City was burned by Brexit, now Boris Johnson wants it to pay for net zero’

10:18 , Sam Hancock

In case you missed this week’s Global Investment Summit, our economics editor Anna Isaac has an analysis of what went down at the two-day event.

Here’s a snippet:

Global Britain wants global investors’ money, and it isn’t mincing its words. Summits, at which the government seeks to woo the world’s financial elite, always need a number. The UK got one: £.9.7bn – some was new, some had already been announced.

But there was a gap between the reality and rhetoric that went beyond grouping deals for a press release at Tuesday’s Global Investment Summit, held at the Science Museum in London. When the prime minister took to the stage, he asked for trillions, and he was getting billions.

“I am given to understand that there is $24 trillion represented in this room, and so I want to say to each and every one of those dollars you are welcome to the UK and you have come to the right place at the right time,” Mr Johnson said.

The crowd, which included chiefs from a host of the world’s largest investment banks and asset managers, was entertained, but it isn’t adding zeros to its cheques quite yet. The UK isn’t out of the woods in terms of laying out its post-Brexit vision in the cold, hard terms investors need: that means a clear and consistent message on regulation and tax, one investor who attended the summit told The Independent.

Read the rest here:

The City was burned by Brexit, now Boris Johnson wants it to pay for net zero

Former police constable hits out at PM over refusal to make misogyny a hate crime

10:32 , Sam Hancock

An ex-Nottinghamshire Police chief constable has criticised the government, specifically Boris Johnson, for refusing to classify misogyny as a hate crime.

It comes after the PM said at the Tory conference police officers were “too busy” to make the change, citing forces still being stretched amid the pandemic.

Asked about the refusal on Sky News today, Sue Fish said the “police are there to protect every section of the population, not just men”.

“This is endemic, both in policing and in society, and the police are there to protect. For the PM to say ‘no, I don’t think it is really important’... how appalling is that, that he condemns 50 per cent of the population to being not worthy of police protection?”

The former senior police officer continued: “Frankly, I think he totally misreads the situation.”

Nightclub boycotts planned after date rape injections leave women afraid

10:49 , Sam Hancock

Following my last post, the government is being urged to tack action after reports surfaced of women being “scared” to go clubbing as police investigate allegations of spiking via injection.

Nightclub boycotts are planned across UK cities next week as students call for tighter security in nightclubs amid reports of women being attacked with needles, reports Zoe Tidman.

Zara Owen, 19, told The Independent she woke up after a night out in Nottingham last week with a “sharp, agonising pain” in her leg, a limp and no memory after a certain point. She later found a “pinprick” on her leg and pressed it, triggering a shooting pain.

Nightclub boycott after date rape injections leave women afraid

Vladimir Putin will not attend Cop26 climate summit – report

10:57 , Sam Hancock

Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced he will not attend the UN Cop26 summit hosted by Boris Johnson in Glasgow, the BBC reports.

It comes as a serious blow to the PM who hoped to get global agreement to a significant climate change deal.

Putin snubs Cop26 climate summit, in blow for PM

11:16 , Sam Hancock

Following my last post, here’s our political editor Andrew Woodcock with more on Vladimir Putin snubbing Cop26.

Confirmation from the Kremlin of Mr Putin’s snub comes amid widespread expectation that Chinese president Xi Jinping will also not travel to Glasgow for the crucial gathering, at which Boris Johnson hopes to seal an ambitious deal to keep global warming below 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and to provide $100bn a year to assist less developed countries prepare.

There are fears in London that the absence of key power players from the two-week summit, beginning in 11 days’ time, will make it more difficult to get agreement on thorny issues like stepping up reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and switching from polluting fossil fuels to greener sources of energy.

Putin snubs Cop26 climate summit, in blow for Boris Johnson

Sharma to take Cop26 questions in Commons at 11.30am

11:23 , Sam Hancock

Alok Sharma, the president of Cop26, is due to take questions on the summit in the Commons within the next 10 minutes.

It is highly likely he will be quizzed about why Russian president Vladimir Putin has just confirmed he will not be attending.

Ministers accused of climate ‘hypocrisy’ over proposed oil drilling in Surrey

11:35 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson’s government has been urged to change course over its support for new oil drilling in Surrey or risk “hypocrisy” at the crucial Cop26 climate conference.

The government is set to defend in court a decision by Surrey Council to grant planning permission for six oil wells only a few days after the crucial international summit in Glasgow end next month, writes Adam Forrest.

However, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has written to Cop26 president Alok Sharma, urging him to push for the drilling application to be called in and refused.

In a letter shared with The Independent, Mr Davey wrote: “This new oil field is the equivalent to ministerial colleagues breaking your cricket bat just as you walk out to the crease at Cop26.”

Government urged to stop new oil drilling in Surrey ahead of Cop26

PM going head-to-head with Starmer at PMQs

11:51 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson is going up against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in today’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session at 12pm.

You can watch it live here:

PMQs begins with question on safety of women

12:08 , Sam Hancock

The first PMQs since party conferences has begun in the Commons.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell asks about Sir David Amess and James Brokenshire, saying both MPs served the public well before they died. She also asks about the lack of confidence women have in the police, citing the Met’s “flag down a bus” advice.

Boris Johnson says this is “one of the most important the country faces”. Women should feel confident in the police, he says, adding the government is investing in more police and better street lighting.

But it is also important that men are prosecuted, that the CPS secures convictions and that sentences are tough, “which this side of the house believes in,” Mr Johnson adds.

Vote on Online Safety Bill to come before Christmas – PM

12:15 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson has committed to a second reading of the Tories’ Online Safety Bill before Christmas, following a question by Sir Keir Starmer.

Starmer said the Bill is not before the House yet and cited examples of violent material not being removed by social media companies, including instances of abuse on the app Telegram while MPs gave tributes to murdered MP Sir David Amess on Monday.

The Labour leader said if the PM brings the Bill forward, his party will suport it.

The PM welcomes Starmer’s comments. He says the bill will toughen up laws for social media companies and commits to a vote before Christmas.

Starmer asks PM to be considerate of ‘week we’ve just had’

12:24 , Sam Hancock

Keir Starmer says the House is “making progress”, repeating that he will not engage in jibes against the PM following the death of Sir David Amess. He says criminal sanctions are currently not on the face of the Online Safety Bil, instead they are only an option for ministers.

In a nod to The Independent’s story on Monday, Starmer asks if the government will accept the recommendations from the commission on countering extremism set up after the Manchester Arena bombing.

But Boris Johnson refuses to be drawn in, instead attacking Labour for not support Conservative ambitions to increase terrorist prison sentences.

Starmer criticises Johnson for his approach “considering the week we’ve had”.

Johnson repeats the government’s intention to do all it can to strengthen its counter-terrorism laws.

Starmer urges PM to work with him to stop online spaces ‘being safe for terrorists’

12:27 , Sam Hancock

Starmer and Johnson end their exchange with the Labour leader asking if the PM will commit to working with him to “stop online spaces being safe spaces for terrorists”.

Johnson says he is willing to do so, before repeating calls for Labour to back measures to stop the early release of terrorists from prison.

Heads are shaking from across the Labour benches as the PM speaks.

Burnham responsible for review into GMP, says PM

12:37 , Sam Hancock

Over to the rest of the Chamber, Tory MP Mary Robinson asks if the PM supports calls for a review into Greater Manchester police’s culture.

Boris Johnson says it is vital people speak up against wrongdoing. The people of Greater Manchester deserve better, he says, but stresses this is an issue “for the mayor [Andy Burnham]”.

PM supports call to pay tribute to Commons staff

12:39 , Sam Hancock

Tory MP Shailesh Vara says it is “MPs’ staff” who receive the abuse directed at MPs, including “hostile phone calls”.

They are caught in a “vicious cycle of venom and abuse”, Mr Vara said, before asking if Boris Johnson would pay tribute to them for the work they do.

Johnson says Vara “spoke for the entire House of Commons on this”. He adds some Commons staff have in the past paid with their lives.

MPs observe minute’s silence in memory of James Brokenshire

12:44 , Sam Hancock

PMQs have now ended and ministers are bowing their heads in a minute’s silence to remember Tory MP James Brokenshire, who died of cancer earlier this month.

Speaking after the minute is up, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Commons speaker, says Brokenshire’s family is present in the Commons and remembers his “dedicated” colleague’s “positive attitude”.

Boris Johnson goes on to lead the tributes, making jokes and remembering “the gentleman” he says he was.

Asking former PM Theresa May if he could borrow words she issued after news of Brokenshire’s death on 7 October, Mr Johnson said:

“Politics and Parliament would be the better if there were more people of his caliber involved.”

Government and Parliament ‘poorer’ for loss of Brokenshire – May

13:10 , Sam Hancock

Continuing with tributes to James Brokenshire, former PM Theresa May said the government and the country is poorer for the loss of Brokenshire and described him as an “outstanding minister” and a “true friend”.

Mrs May said it was a “enormous privilege” working with Brokenshire in government. She described him as diligent and hardworking, “a loving family man” and also “great fun”.

She told MPs:

“James was a remarkable man. He was an outstanding minister, a great constituency member of Parliament, and a true friend.

“As a minister he was assiduous in dealing with the briefs ... he was thoughtful in his consideration of the issues and careful in his decision-making.

“That is what you want from a government minister. He gave his time and effort because he understood the importance of the decisions he was making. He cared about people and he cared about the work he was doing. And that came through in all the decisions he made.”

Mrs May added:

“He gave dedicated public service to this country. The government is the poorer for his loss. This Parliament is the poorer for his loss. And our country is the poorer for his loss.”

Close loophole allowing social media bosses to escape law, Starmer demands

13:13 , Sam Hancock

Social media bosses will escape prosecution for failing to stamp out online hate because of a dangerous loophole in proposed laws, Keir Starmer has told Boris Johnson.

At PMQs, the Labour leader attacked the weakness in the Online Safety Bill – itself delayed for three years – saying it allowed one site to “cheerlead for terrorists”.

Mr Johnson appeared to concede the loophole should be closed and agreed to finally bring forward the legislation before Christmas, in the wake of the killing of David Amess, writes our deputy political editor Rob Merrick.

Sir Keir also attacked the failure – revealed by The Independent – to act on any of the official recommendations for tackling the rise of extremism in Britain.

Close hate crime loophole used by social media bosses, Keir Starmer demands

SNP Westminster leader remembers Brokenshire as man ‘who had more to give’

13:30 , Sam Hancock

Back to tributes for James Brokenshire now, the 53-year-old Tory MP who died recently of lung cancer.

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford described Brokenshire as “a young man who clearly had so much more to give”.

Mr Blackford said:

“I think all of us across this House looked on with deep admiration and awe at the sheer bravery he showed while bravely battling against the cancer that, sadly, ultimately took his life.”

He added Mr Brokenshire “remained on very good terms with all the parties during his period as secretary of state. I think it’s fair to say that that in itself is no mean feat for any British secretary of state”.

Mr Blackford said James Brokenshire “wasn’t a man interested in the insubstantial distractions of politics”, rather “he quietly got on with his job”.

Government has no plans to activate ‘Plan B’ Covid restrictions

13:40 , Sam Hancock

Ministers have no plans to activate the government’s winter Covid “Plan B”, Downing Street has said.

A No 10 spokesman said they would continue to monitor the latest figures for the disease but that the numbers of hospital admissions and deaths were still “substantially lower” than they were earlier in the year.

He told reporters:

“The important thing is that is the fact that our vaccination programme has has been successful in breaking the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths.

“Our focus remains on ensuring ensuring we get boosters out to those who are eligible.”

Labour criticised for not echoing calls for ‘Plan B’ Covid restrctions

13:50 , Sam Hancock

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:

Govt ‘deletes document recommending curbs on airport expansion and airline subsidies’

14:00 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson’s government has deleted a document which recommended strong “interventions” to tackle aviation emissions – including curbs on airport expansion and subsidies for the industry, it has emerged.

The government was criticised for failing to outline measures to curb emissions from flights as part of its Net Zero Strategy, published on Tuesday, ahead of next month’s Cop26 climate summit.

But a supporting document commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – pulled from the government’s website in the past 24 hours – had urged ministers to consider a series of “interventions”.

Adam Forrest reports:

Government deletes document recommending curbs on aviation industry

Labour MP calls for Cressida Dick to stand down after Everard murder

14:15 , Sam Hancock

Harriet Harman has called on Met police commissioner Cressida Dick to step down from her post after Sarah Everard’s murder by a serving officer.

The Labour former minister told the Commons in an emergency question she welcomed the Home Office inquiry into Ms Everard’s killing, which she said could lead to institutional change in the police.

She said:

“We need firm leadership from the police, from the top of the police, in recognition that big change is needed and a determination not to stand in the way of that change but to make it happen.

“I don’t believe that will happen under the current Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who should, I believe, step down so this vital change can happen and happen now.”

The Daily Mirror’s Rachel Wearmouth reports:

Watch: UK cost of living ‘a real cause of concern’, minister admits

14:25 , Sam Hancock

‘Feminisation’ of police forces could help with public confidence – Home Office

14:33 , Sam Hancock

A “greater feminisation” of UK policing via the recruitment of more women as officers could help boost confidence in the police, according to a Home Office minister.

Kit Malthouse recognised work needs to be done to combat toxic police culture, telling the Commons:

“One of those processes, if you like, is what we’re seeing at the moment with the uplift programme, which is a greater feminisation of UK policing.

“We’ve moved over the last 10 years from 25 per cent of the force being female to just over a third, and we have a number of forces now that more than half of their new recruits are female.

“I hope that that progress will both mean women and girls feel the police force better reflects them and may result in better contemplation of these issues.”

That’s it for today...

14:41 , Sam Hancock

That’s it from us on the politics blog for today, thanks for following along. Be sure to check The Independent's homepage for all the latest politics news.

In the meantime, if you want to keep up-to-date on the pandemic, head over to our Covid blog.

We’ll be back tomorrow morning with all the latest developments from Westminster.