Boris Johnson news – live: PM insists he is ‘not worried’ by Tory leadership plots

Boris Johnson has insisted that he is unperturbed by potential plots by his fellow Tories to oust him, following a stinging double by-election defeat and the resignation of Tory Party chair Oliver Dowden.

The prime minister told journalists at the G7 summit that questions over his leadership had been “settled” in the recent confidence vote, despite reporting over the weekend suggesting Tory MPs have submitted a flurry of new no confidence letters to the 1922 Committee.

The fresh rebellion against the prime minister was allegedly provoked by his suggestion that he is planning to lead the country into the 2030s, with one former Cabinet minister telling The Telegraph: “Talking about a third term before even winning a second is taking voters for granted – that usually doesn’t end well.”

Meanwhile, MPs are preparing to debate controversial new legislation to unilaterally suspend parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which Mr Johnson suggested could be done “fairly rapidly” and be in law by the end of 2022.

Key points

• Questions over my leadership ‘settled’, Boris Johnson insists

• ‘Fast’ plan to ditch protocol checks can be done in 2022, says PM

• Johnson faces fresh rebellion against his premiership

• Warning new internet laws will hand ministers ‘unprecedented’ powers

• UK to give £10 million to help rebuild Ukraine’s railways

Levelling up requires billions more than on offer, think tank warns

12:19 , Andy Gregory

Levelling up the UK’s cities will require investment that goes “far beyond anything currently being contemplated” by Boris Johnson’s government, a think tank has said.

A report published today by the Resolution Foundation found that differences in income were both “significant” and “persistent”, with only traditionally poorer areas of inner London such as Hackney and Newham significantly improving their position over the last 25 years.

Income per person in the richest part of the country, Kensington and Chelsea, was 350 per cent higher than income per person in Nottingham, the poorest part, the report found, and the think tank will argue that current government policies do not go far enough, in another report due on Thursday.

Taking Manchester as an example, where productivity is 30 per cent lower than in London, the think tank said closing that gap would require tens of billions of pounds of investment, more graduates working in the city and an extra 300,000 workers moving to Greater Manchester.

Plan to rip up Northern Ireland Protocol could become law ‘very fast’ in 2022, says Boris Johnson

12:02 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has more on Boris Johnson’s claims that his plan to rip up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol – in legislation being debated by MPs today – could become law “very fast” and could be implemented this year.

Plan to rip up protocol could become law ‘very fast’, says Boris Johnson

‘Show some backbone’: Tory rebel calls on cabinet to move against Boris Johnson

11:52 , Andy Gregory

A leading Conservative critic of Boris Johnson has called on cabinet ministers to “show a bit of backbone” and take action on the leadership, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.

William Wragg, who chairs the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee suggested that senior ministers with an eye on the leadership are damaging their own chances to succeed Johnson by failing to act decisively to remove him now.

Mr Wragg told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour that former Tory chair Oliver Dowden deserved “credit” for quitting the cabinet in the wake of disastrous by-election defeats last week.

But he said there was growing disappointment on the Tory backbenches that other senior ministers have not taken similar steps, adding: “Any of them with leadership aspirations might wish to consider this and do something about it.”

‘Show some backbone’: Tory rebel calls on cabinet to move against Boris Johnson

Speculation over Boris Johnson reshuffle plans

11:25 , Andy Gregory

A Tory insider has reportedly claimed that Boris Johnson “can’t do a reshuffle now because then everybody would realise he offered them the same jobs to get through the confidence vote”.

A reshuffle had been expected before parliament goes into recess next month in an attempt to refocus Mr Johnson’s premiership – but it has been dealyed until at least the autumn, according to The Times.

The paper quoted a Cabinet member as warning that sacked ministers could become “really vigorous agitators” on the back benches.

Tory MPs dismiss rumours of defection to Labour

11:14 , Andy Gregory

Following claims from Labour insiders that six Tory MPs are mulling a defection to Sir Keir Starmer’s party, two Conservative MPs have moved to rule themselves out of the running.

“For the avoidance of doubt – again – I’m not bloody defecting. To those anonymous colleagues spreading such rumours, my door is always open for a chat,” tweeted Dehenna Davison, who earlier this year dismissed “bonkers” reports that she was leading a so-called “Pork Pie Plot” coup against the PM.

Former minister Caroline Nokes also reassured Tory colleagues that she had no such intentions either.

Prince Charles accepting millions in suitcase ‘unusual’, says minister

10:56 , Andy Gregory

The idea of Prince Charles receiving millions in donations in a suitcase from a former Qatari prime minister is “a bit unusual”, cabinet minister George Eustice has said.

The Prince of Wales personally received around three lots of cash, totalling €3m, from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, according to the Sunday Times. Clarence House has maintained that the “correct processes” were followed in handing the money over to the prince’s charities, and there is no suggestion the donations were illegal.

“My understanding is this was immediately passed on to the charity, declared and checked in the usual way,” said Mr Eustice. “On one level of course it’s a bit unusual to have such a large amount of cash.”

Asked by LBC what his reaction would be if he was offered large amount of money in bags, the environment secretary said: “Of course it’s unusual, but if it’s a permitted donation that’s been checked, it’s still a permitted donation.”

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has the full report here:

Prince Charles accepting millions in suitcase ‘unusual’, says cabinet minister

Today could mark ‘significant step forward’ in Brexit protocol row, DUP minister says

10:38 , Andy Gregory

It will be a “significant step” if the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill gets through its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday – but the future looks “bleak” if it does not, the DUP’s Edwin Poots has said.

Asked if his party will be any closer to returning to Stormont if it gets through, Mr Poots told BBC Radio Ulster: “In a sense, yes.”

He warned that if it does not get through “I think that the future looks bleak”, adding: “If it gets through today it is a significant step forward and we’d be working with government to see what other steps can be taken in advance of legislation being fully applied.”

Threat of Stormont pay cut will have ‘no bearing whatsoever’ on DUP protest, minister says

10:27 , Andy Gregory

A UK government threat to cut MLA pay if Northern Ireland’s executive remains frozen will have “no bearing whatsoever” on the DUP’s decision on whether to return to Stormont powersharing, the party’s agriculture minister has said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has warned that he will move “soon” to reduce the wages of Assembly members if the legislature in Belfast remains in cold storage.

Asked if he felt discomfort in accepting his salary when the Assembly and Executive were not meeting due to the DUP boycott, Edwin Poots told BBC Radio Ulster: “I’m working six days a week most weeks, so personally I have no issue about taking pay, but if Brandon Lewis wants to cut pay, bring it on – that’s entirely up to him.

“That will have no bearing whatsoever on the position that we’re adopting. None whatsoever. We are standing on a principle. Therefore pay will not be an issue that will detract us from achieving what we’ve set out to achieve.”

Asked if he felt Mr Lewis was issuing an empty threat, Mr Poots responded: “I don’t care, he can threaten all he likes – this is about a principle. Therefore, if Brandon Lewis wishes to do this, he can do it.”

‘Fast’ plan to ditch protocol checks can be done in 2022, says PM

10:13 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson has claimed his plan to tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol could be done “fairly rapidly” and be in law by the end of 2022, our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports.

The PM told reporters at the G7 summit – also being attended by senior figures from the EU – that “the interesting thing is how little this conversation is being had, certainly here”, indicating he is not expecting a major diplomatic row on Monday.

“All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market.”

Asked if the measures could be in place this year, he said: “Yes, I think we could do it very fast, parliament willing.”

He said it would be “even better” if we could “get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic”.

Boris Johnson ‘not worried’ by Tory leadership plots while at G7

09:58 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson has said he is not worried about Tory leadership plots and insisted questions over his leadership have been “settled”, our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports.

Asked if he is concerned about plotting while he is at the G7, he told reporters: “No. We settled that a couple of weeks ago.”

He said he was focused on addressing the cost of living crisis, building a stronger economy and “the general government agenda, levelling up the country”.

Johnson and Biden clash over plan to cut green fuels for food production

09:44 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden are at odds over a plane to cut the production of biofuels in a bid to free up land for food production, our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports.

The prime minister wants G7 leaders to temporarily cut the amount of grain produced for biofuels, claiming the process is pushing up the cost of food.

Britain is backed by Germany – also pushing for a temporary waiver on their biofuel commitments – but the US and Canada are against the move.

American officials have said Mr Biden will block the plan in a bid to protect the lucrative US market for ethanol and biodiesels and the country’s climate change commitments.

Boris Johnson and Biden clash over plan to cut green fuels for food production

Johnson has a ‘lot he wants to do’ as PM, minister insists

09:33 , Andy Gregory

A Cabinet minister has backed Boris Johnson’s suggestion that he could see himself remaining in Downing Street for another decade, and claimed that the prime minister was really saying that he has a “lot he wants to do”.

“I sometimes feel in these situations that prime ministers can’t win,” the environment secretary George Eustice told Times Radio. “They either say that they want to carry on and they’ve got a lot to do and they want to keep going. And that’s what obviously Margaret Thatcher said and what Boris Johnson is perceived to have said.

“Or like Tony Blair, they say they’re not going to go on and on and people spend years arguing about the date of their departure. So they can’t really win in these situations.”

George Eustice continued: “I think what the prime minister was really saying is he’s got a lot that he wants to do. There’s a lot going on in the world that he’s focused on, and he doesn’t want to get distracted by these sorts of discussions.

“Yes, he’d like to go on and on. But to be honest, we also understand that we’ve got a lot of hurdles to clear before we get to that point.”

‘Big challenge’ to get grain out of Ukraine by rail, minister says

09:21 , Andy Gregory

It would be a “big challenge” to get grain out of Ukraine by rail, environment secretary George Eustice has said.

Questioned about the logistical difficulties of such a move, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is a big challenge. If it were easy, we would have found a way of doing it so far.”

But he said that moving it by ship through the Black Sea would be fraught with difficulty, adding: “You’ve got a very perilous situation for shipping in the Black Sea. It’s mined. Ukraine themselves, for defensive and security reasons, have secured that port and they’re not letting shipping in anyway.

“It therefore probably means that a rail route would be the most likely, the most successful, but, as you say, that’s not easy either. This is something we should apply our minds to, to try and find a way of getting this wheat out.”

Asked whether plans to help facilitate a so-called safe corridor from ports such as Odesa are still being considered, Mr Eustice said: “I think we keep all options open at the moment to try and find a solution. But it is very, very challenging.”

New bill ‘will fix’ problems with NI Protocol, Liz Truss claims

09:12 , Andy Gregory

The government’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will “fix the problems” that the post-Brexit arrangements in the region have caused,” foreign secretary Liz Truss has claimed.

MPs will debate the proposed legislation on the protocol later on Monday.

Nicola Sturgeon evokes Margaret Thatcher ahead of Scottish independence announcement

08:57 , Andy Gregory

Nicola Sturgeon has evoked Margaret Thatcher in her bid for a second Scottish independence referendum, as she prepares to outline her plans tomorrow for a fresh vote next October.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross insisted on Sunday that his party will not indulge in what he described as a “pretend referendum” and accused the first minister of playing constitutional “games”.

But ahead of her announcement, Ms Sturgeon said that “even previous Tory leaders, from Margaret Thatcher to Theresa May, said they believed the UK was based on the consent of the people who lived in its constituent nations”.

“Westminster is taking a wrecking ball to the idea of the United Kingdom as a voluntary partnership of nations,” she said. “A Tory Government with just six MPs from Scotland, supported on this issue by Labour, is seeking to deny the democratic right of the people of Scotland to choose their own future.

“In doing so they are demonstrating beyond doubt that in place of a voluntary partnership they believe the UK is instead defined by Westminster control. The case for a referendum is therefore now as much a Scottish democracy movement as a Scottish independence movement.”

Zelensky to ask G7 leaders for more weapons

08:37 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky will urge leaders of some of the world’s richest countries to do more to support his nation’s fight against Russia.

Mr Zelensky will address Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and other G7 leaders by video link from Kyiv as his country continues to come under attack from Vladimir Putin’’ missiles.

In his nightly address on Sunday, he urged the allies to be “partners, not observers” and give his country the ability to defend itself – warning that any delay would be an invitation to Russia to strike again.

Mr Zelensky said he would demand extra defence systems. “We need a powerful air defence – modern, fully effective – which can ensure complete protection against these missiles,” he said.

He added: “Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again. The occupiers – these terrorists – must be beaten with all our might so that they do not think they can put pressure and outplay someone.”

Government backs plan to reduce biofuel crop use, minister says

08:35 , Andy Gregory

The government backs plans to potentially re-purpose land used to grow grain for biofuels, the environment secretary has said.

Boris Johnson wants G7 leaders to look at grain produced for biofuel, claiming the use of it to power vehicles may be reducing availability and pushing up food costs.

“If we could temporarily reduce the amount of biofuels going into the petrol pumps, that actually does bring down the price of maize quite significantly,” George Eustice told Sky News.

Asked about US opposition to such a move, he stressed the plan would be “temporary” and said that the UK would work to get the Biden administration onside.

He said the US was also thinking about its own fuel supply, adding: “It would temporarily increase the amount of wheat and maize on world markets and would therefore bring food prices down. So we’ve done the analysis on this.”

Last week, a study from the Green Alliance found that, if foreign land used to grow the UK’s bioethanol were instead used to grow food, it would be enough to feed an additional 3.5 million people each year.

While it was estimated that this alone would lower the impact of the war in Ukraine on global hunger by 25 to 40 per cent, Green Alliance also found that, were the UK, EU and US to halve their collective use of crop-based biofuels, sufficient grain would be freed up to replace all the grain previously exported from Ukraine – which fed some 125 million people globally prior to Russia’s war.

Controversial Brexit legislation is ‘damaging on multiple fronts’, expert warns

08:26 , Andy Gregory

The government’s controversial new Brexit legislation is “divisive, damaging on multiple fronts, officially justified on flimsy grounds, and unofficially justified on a plan that isn't working”, an analyst has suggested.

As MPs prepare to debate the bill aimed at unilaterally overriding parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, David Henig, founder of the UK Trade Forum, suggested that, “unofficially, the point of the Protocol Bill is not to become law, but threaten the DUP back to the Northern Ireland government and the EU to drop their position in negotiations”.

“Neither is working, lacking credibility not least of the UK government following through,” he added.

UK ‘will protect interests of single market’ with controversial Brexit legislation, minister says

08:20 , Andy Gregory

The EU should be reassured that UK plans to rip up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol will still see the single market protected, George Eustice has said.

The environment secretary told Sky News that it would be “foolish” of the bloc to launch a trade war over the controversial changes the government plans to make to the post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland.

“We are not breaking an agreement, we are bringing clarity to how it should be interpreted,” Mr Eustice said, accusing the EU of refusing to consider revisiting their negotiating mandate, which he said was creating a “circular” problem.

He rejected the suggestion that the UK action was illegal, adding: “What is legal is what parliament deems legal through the legislation it passes ... What we will do – and we can absolutely give them this guarantee – we will protect the interests of the EU single market in the way we legislate.”

MPs will debate the proposed legislation on the protocol later today.

08:11 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson has gone for another early-morning swim, this time in the Ferchensee lake near the Schloss Elmau hotel where G7 leaders are meeting in Germany.

The prime minister’s morning dips during his time abroad have sparked various metaphors in the press suggesting his premiership is “struggling to stay afloat” and “swimming against the tide” domestically.

The prime minister is expected to use meetings on Monday to continue to press for more support for Ukraine and international efforts to release grain trapped by the Russian naval blockade.

Boris Johnson will be gone by end of the year, ConservativeHome deputy editor predicts

08:03 , Andy Gregory

The idea that Boris Johnson can win a third term is “for the birds” and he will be gone from Downing Street by the end of the year, the ConservativeHome website’s deputy editor Henry Hill has suggested.

“Every prime minister has to do this. They can never say when they’re going because the moment they do it completely changes the dynamic,” he told TalkTV.

“But I think it is a bit ridiculous for a prime minister in Boris Johnson’s position to be talking about a third term, given he has just lost two seats in two completely different wings of his political coalition, he’s been firefighting for six months, his poll ratings are well down,” Mr Hill added.

“I think a lot of Tory MPs are trying to work out if he can possibly win the next election – the idea that he’d then go on to win another one after that is for the birds.”

Asked if he believes Mr Johnson will remain in office at the end of 2022, he replied: “No.”

‘Bring it on,’ Starmer tells Johnson over early election

07:49 , Andy Gregory

As Boris Johnson claimed over the weekend that he intended to remain in Downing Street into the next decade, Sir Keir Starmer sought to use Labour’s by-election victory in Wakefield to insist that his party is ready for a general election, saying: “Bring it on.”

“The days where the prime minister and his acolytes could get away with breaking their promises and the law, or taking voters for granted with impunity are over,” Sir Keir wrote in The Observer. “They now face a credible Labour party: a government-in-waiting with a plan to deliver on the country’s demands.

“For months, Johnson has been privately claiming that he will hold an early election. My message to him is simple: bring it on. Because the quicker that election comes, the quicker this country will get a Labour government that delivers the positive change people are crying out for,” he added.

“I know why those I spoke to in Wakefield feel such a renewed optimism. It’s because Labour is back. That means hope is back, too.”

Boris Johnson has ‘full support’ of Cabinet, insists environment secretary

07:38 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson has the full backing of the Cabinet, environment secretary George Eustice has insisted, citing the fact that that is “the way that collective government works”.

Following a torrid few week for the prime minister involving a double by-election defeat, the resignation of Tory Party chair Oliver Dowden and renewed questions about his leadership, Mr Eustice told Sky News: “The way that collective government works is that those who are in the Cabinet, yes, we have our full support.

“We work as a team. We have the support of the prime minister, the prime minister has our support, we work together and we stick together through difficult times.”

Mr Eustice said that the two by-election defeats were “very disappointing”, but stressed that Mr Johnson’s senior ministers would continue to work together to back him, saying: “We’ve got an important agenda that we’re working on, and that’s what we’re all focused on.”

UK plan to impose ‘unlawful’ steel tariffs sparks fresh clash with EU

06:59 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson has said he is considering extending steel tariffs, despite concerns the move could break international rules and put him on course for another major row with the EU.

The prime minister is reportedly drawing up plans to slap “safeguard” limits of steel imports from several developing countries, and extend existing tariffs already imposed on China and others.

But critics have warned the move to widen tariffs will “violate” World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, with the EU ambassador to Britain warning against any “protectionism”, reports Adam Forrest.

UK plan to impose ‘unlawful’ steel tariffs sparks fresh clash with EU

Johnson threatened with legal action for delaying promised Covid inquiry

06:36 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson is being threatened with legal action for stalling on the promised public inquiry into his handling of the Covid crisis, with no date set for it to start.

Bereaved families have announced plans to explore a judicial review – accusing the prime minister of breaking a pledge that the probe would get underway in “spring 2022”.

It has been six months since the former Court of Appeal judge Heather Hallett was picked to lead the inquiry and more than six weeks since she recommended terms of reference, they said.

The delay is a breach of the 2005 Inquiries Act, which requires the government to announce an inquiry’s start date “within a reasonable time” of appointing its chair, it is argued.

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:

PM threatened with legal action for delaying promised Covid public inquiry

Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if Tory 1922 committee was ‘on his case’, claims Johnson

06:31 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson has suggested that Vladimir Putin would have not invaded Ukraine earlier this year if he had the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers “on his case”.

Speaking at the G7 summit, the prime minister boasted to CNN that he had “a new mandate for my party” after squeaking through the recent confidence vote arranged by the powerful Tory committee.

“I’m very happy ... I got a higher percentage of the parliamentary votes than I did the first time. So, I’m very happy, we will move forward,” he said on the challenge by Tory rebels.

“I think the great thing about democracy is that leaders are under scrutiny and that I do have, even though you say I got things going on back home, that’s a good thing. I have got people on my case, I have got people making arguments,” said Mr Johnson.

Adam Forrest reports:

No Ukraine invasion if Putin had Tory 1922 committee ‘on his case’, claims PM

Troubles amnesty plan ‘will protect IRA terrorists’

06:24 , Namita Singh

Government plans to protect a small number of veterans from prosecution will effectively hand an amnesty to IRA terrorists who murdered of hundreds of armed forces personnel, opponents say.

They will drive the point home by sending a letter to every MP in Britain, including Boris Johnson, detailing how many people from their own constituency were killed by republican terrorists during the Troubles.

The list includes the victims of the Birmingham pub bombings, and Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball, the two children killed in Warrington in 1993.

Read the details in this report by our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin:

Troubles amnesty plan ‘will protect IRA terrorists who murdered hundreds of soldiers’

Ukraine peace deal would give Putin ‘license to manipulate’, says Johnson

06:09 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson has warned Emmanuel Macron that any attempt to settle the conflict in Ukraine now will give Russian president Vladimir Putin “license to manipulate” other countries.

The prime minister told the French president that compromise will “only cause enduring instability” as the pair met to discuss the war at the G7 summit in Germany.

Mr Macron was criticised for negotiating with Mr Putin at the start of the invasion and said Russia must not be “humiliated” – raising fears Ukraine could be pushed into giving up territory.

In the talks, the PM “stressed any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Mr Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity,” said a No 10 spokesperson.

Adam Forrest reports:

Ukraine peace deal would give Putin ‘license to manipulate’, Johnson tells Macron

UK to give £10 million to help rebuild Ukraine’s railways

05:58 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson’s government will pledge £10 million to help rebuild Ukraine’s railways in a bid to use trains to export grain trapped by Vladimir Putin’s blockade in the Black Sea.

The prime minister is set to call on fellow leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine at the G7 Summit in Germany on Monday.

Mr Johnson said the United Nations’ plan to get the grain out of Ukraine is a “non-starter” because Russia will continue to use food supply as a bargaining chip to ease sanctions.

The PM argued that allies need to now consider plan B, as he pledged British expertise to help de-mine the Black Sea and upgrade rail infrastructure, reports Adam Forrest.

UK to give Ukrainian railways £10m help get grain out by train

Warning new internet laws will hand minister ‘unprecedented’ powers

05:39 , Namita Singh

New internet legislation will hand ministers “unprecedented” censorship powers, with significant implications for free speech, new research warns.

The Government is facing calls to “slim down” its Online Safety Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, amid concerns over its impact on people’s freedoms and privacy, as well as innovation.

The legislation is set to require platforms legally to protect users from harmful content for the first time, with penalties for breaching the new rules including fines that could run into billions of pounds for larger companies.

Amy Gibbons reports:

Warning new internet laws will hand ministers ‘unprecedented’ powers

PM ‘planned £150,000 treehouse for son at Chequers’

05:30 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson planned to build his young son a £150,000 treehouse fitted with bulletproof glass on the grounds of his countryside retreat Chequers, according to reports.

The prime minister and his wife Carrie wanted to construct the outdoor structure for their son Wilf in autumn 2020, a few months after he was born, it is claimed.

However, Mr Johnson’s close protection officers are said to have raised concerns it would be visible from the road and could be a potential security risk.

The couple decided against the project following police advice, The Times reports.

Read the details in this report by Joe Middleton:

Boris Johnson ‘planned £150,000 treehouse with bulletproof glass for son at Chequers’

Johnson and Macron fail to discuss migrant crisis at G7

05:20 , Namita Singh

At the G7 summit, Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron failed to discuss the subject of thousands of migrants risking their lives to cross the English Channel.

The British and French leaders met at the summit in Germany’s Bavarian Alps, where they spoke about geopolitical crises such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But they did not address the situation which has seen more than 12,000 people cross the Channel so far this year.

When asked why the boat crossings weren’t discussed, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “There are very significant issues of geopolitical concern to discuss, not least the crisis in Ukraine.

“They have talked about those issues previously and I’m sure they will again. But, obviously, on the eve of the G7, that’s pretty much, I’m sure, at the forefront of both of their minds.”

Johnson faces fresh rebellion against his premiership

05:15 , Namita Singh

Boris Johnson is facing a fresh rebellion against his premiership as several MPs reportedly submitted a flurry of no-confidence letters to the 1922 committee.

The fresh rebellion against the prime minister was allegedly provoked after he suggested on Sunday that he is planning to lead the country into the 2030s and “thinking actively” about fighting the next two general elections to become the longest-serving post-war leader.

But rebels told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday evening that they had been contacted by MPs submitting new letters to the 1922 committee, despite Mr Johnson earlier urging disgruntled backbenchers to focus not on the things he has “stuffed up”.

Read the details in this report Emily Atkinson:

New wave of no confidence letters in Boris Johnson ‘submitted to 1922 committee’

04:50 , Namita Singh

Welcome to the UK politics blog for Monday, 27 June 2022 where we bring you the latest news and analysis from the heart of Westminster.