Boris Johnson will have "no democratic, electoral or moral justification" to refuse Scotland a second referendum if voters return a majority of independence-backing MSPs, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister piled on the pressure as she launched the SNP's manifesto today, ahead of the May 6 vote.
"After this election, if there is a simple, democratic majority in the Scottish Parliament for an independence referendum, there will be no democratic, electoral or moral justification whatsoever for Boris Johnson or anyone else to block the right of people in Scotland to decide their own future," she said.
"Whether or not Scotland becomes independent won't be decided by me or by the SNP or even by the Scottish Parliament. It will happen only when a majority of people who live here in Scotland are persuaded to vote for it.
Mr Johnson has repeatedly ruled out a second referendum, stressing that the 2014 plebiscite was a once in a generation opportunity for Scottish people to have their say, and that it should not be the focus during the pandemic.
However privately, Tories concede that this would be a challenging position to maintain for long if the election does yield a majority for independence parties.
03:09 PM
And that's it for another day....
Westminster still feels somewhat muted as the mourning period for the Duke of Edinburgh continues until the weekend.
But the lobbying row continues to rumble on with Lord Pickles, chair of the oversight committee Acoba, saying he has been concerned for some time that a scandal was likely because of lax rules.
However he notes his "eyebrows rose a full half-inch" at some of the revelations this week, adding that he never thought something of the scale of Greensill would emerge.
That perhaps explains why there are three parliamentary committees (and counting) who are investigating the matter, two of which - Treasury and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee - are chaired by Conservative MPs. A third, the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Labour's Meg Hillier, kicks off with two senior Treasury officials next week and will be summoning David Cameron. And there could be more yet to come.
All these are taking place on top of the Boardman review, ordered by Boris Johnson on Monday; an internal investigation by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the Cabinet Office's scrutiny of the Lobbying Act and yet another inquiry by the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, which advises the Prime Minister on conduct across public life in England.
Our readers overwhelmingly back this scrutiny: 81 per cent said no stone should be left unturned on this issue. Certainly the Government will have to be seen to act to avoid Labour's repeated accusations of "Tory sleaze". And with the drip-drip of more revelations, the story seems unlikely to die down yet.
For more on that, and the rest of the day's news, carry on reading below.
02:58 PM
MEPs back Brexit trade deal 'with overwhelming majority'
David McAllister, chairman of the European Parliament foreign affairs committee, said the committees had backed the UK-EU Brexit trade deal "with an overwhelming majority".
He said "it is the responsibility of both sides to make the best out it".
"The conclusion just after ten months of intense negotiations that ran literally until Christmas Eve is unprecedented in many regards," he added.
The German MEP said: "Unfortunately, the agreement is not completely exhaustive.
"For example, it does not include a chapter on co-operation in foreign policy, security and defence.
"Therefore, more work will obviously need to be done to broaden and deepen the new EU-UK relationship in the upcoming years."
02:57 PM
MEPs vote to back Brexit trade deal
MEPs in two key European Parliament committees have voted in favour of the EU-UK trade agreement.
The trade and foreign affairs committees voted on Thursday, although a date for a final vote to ratify the deal in a plenary session of the European Parliament has not yet been set.
At the extraordinary meeting, MEPs on the committees voted to give their consent to the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, which has been in place provisionally since the start of the year.
Some 108 votes were in favour of the agreement, with one against and four abstentions.
02:47 PM
Scottish Labour hits back at SNP's 'bold promises'
Scottish Labour's new leader has hit back at Nicola Sturgeon's "bold promises", suggesting the country will "have to wait 25 years for progress under the SNP".
Anas Sawar claimed his party could "do things in the here and now.
"There are no big ideas in the manifesto. The big ideas have come from us, in terms of the largest job creation scheme in the history of the Scottish Parliament, the largest economic stimulus package to get people out in the high streets and restart our tourism industry. No big ideas around that from the SNP," he told the Daily Record.
The Labour politician added: "Covid has changed Scotland, but it seems the Tories and the SNP don’t think our politics has to change as a result. They’re both wrong. Let’s focus not on those old arguments, let’s focus on our national recovery”
02:42 PM
Cameron-era lobbying rules 'among weakest in the world', says expert
The lobbying rules introduced under David Cameron are "among the weakest in the world", allowing for ministers to "avoid scrutiny" over some of their most influential contacts, an expert has said.
Professor Amy McKay, from the University of Exeter, said Mr Cameron's government knew the rules they had created were "inadequate", because "it acknowledged that excusing in-house lobbyists from registering would leave most lobbying unreported".
She added: "No revolving-door provisions exist. Gifts from lobbyists to ministers are allowed and need not be disclosed.
"The UK’s lobbying laws are in fact among the weakest in the world, lagging far behind the US federal government and all 50 US states, where lobbyists report their names, the precise issues they are lobbying about, and how much they spend on lobbying."
She estimates that just three per cent of groups with whom the government met in 2015 also appear in the lobbying register in 2015, and 90 per cent of disclosed meetings in 2015 were with groups that do not appear as clients in the lobbying register.
"The data show that during the Cameron years, ministers met with a small number of individuals very often—and we don’t even know their names," Prof McKay added.
02:31 PM
Military cutbacks will be seized on by 'dictatorial bully' Putin, says former minister
Cutbacks to the UK military will be seen as a sign of weakness by the "dictatorial bully" Vladimir Putin, and that Britain is "not to be taken seriously", a Tory former defence minister has warned.
Lord Robathan attacked the Government's decision to reduce the number of service personnel by 10,000 as concerns were raised at Westminster over the massive build-up of Russian forces along the border with neighbouring Ukraine.
He told peers: "President Putin is an authoritarian and dictatorial bully, and like all bullies he senses weakness."
He added: "He senses weakness when the United Kingdom reduces its armed forces, its aircraft, its ships and above all the size of its army at this time.
"Will the minister go back to the Foreign Secretary and get him to argue in Cabinet that to reduce the armed forces at the moment is a signal to bullies that we are not really to be taken seriously?"
Foreign Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said the Government was "fully committed to our armed forces", and that the UK stands "very firmly with our allies and in support of the Nato alliance".
02:21 PM
More than 34m Covid vaccines given in England
More than 34m Covid vaccines have now been given in England, with a further 371,500 people getting a jab yesterday, official figures show.
Some 34,306,139 vaccines, including first and second doses, have been given since December 8.
NHS England said 27,251,419 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 79,117 on the previous day, while 7,054,720 were a second dose, an increase of 292,383.
The regional breakdown is as follows:
- Midlands: 6,543,026 total (5,296,700 first doses and 1,246,326 second doses)
- South East: 5,556,386 total (4,433,023 first and 1,123,363 second doses)
- North East and Yorkshire: 5,506,254 in total (4,314,022 first and 1,192,232 second doses)
- North West: 4,433,358 total (3,470,727 first and 962,631 second doses)
- London: 4,201,507 total (3,334,953 first doses and 866,554 second doses)
- East of England: 4,124,571 in total (3,253,826 first doses and 870,745 second doses)
- South West: 3,768,217 (3,001,594 first and 766,623 second doses)
How many people have been vaccinated in the UK?
02:03 PM
Number 10 refuses to comment on 'private' messages between Boris Johnson and Saudi prince
The Prime Minister reportedly asked Lord Udny-Lister to investigate - PA
Number 10 has refused to comment on whether any "private" messages were exchanged between Boris Johnson and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
The Prime Minister asked one of his top aides, Lord Udny-Lister, to investigate after a Saudi bid to buy Newcastle United ran into difficulties. Mohammed bin Salman had warned it could damage relations between the two countries, according to the Daily Mail
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Downing Street "provide readouts of conversations with world leaders on a regular basis”.
"Obviously I’m not commenting on private conversations and I haven’t asked him that specific question. But more broadly Saudi Arabia is a major investor in the UK and an important partner across trade, defence and security.”
Pressed on whether WhatsApp messages between the PM and a world leader could be considered private, the spokesman said: “There are clear processes we follow to ensure the public are aware of conversations that happen between world leaders. I don’t have anything to add to that.”
01:52 PM
Watch: Boris Johnson says his thoughts are with the Queen
Boris Johnson has praised Prince Philip's "amazingly distinguished naval career", and said his thoughts are with the Queen, as he visited the garden where the pair met in 1939.
The Prime Minister praised cadets who he watched take part in a passing-out parade, saying they were "incarnating the finest traditions of the Royal Navy in the way that the Duke did himself".
He added: "Funnily enough, here in this very garden, I think in 1939, the Duke of Edinburgh met the then Princess Elizabeth for the very first time. So, our thoughts are with her again today."
01:40 PM
Russia trying to 'undermine our democracies' with cyber attacks, says Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab said Russia is trying to 'undermine our democracies' - Anadolu
Britain has accused Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, of being behind a series of cyber attacks on the west as part of efforts to "undermine our democracies".
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the National Cyber Security Centre had assessed it was "highly likely" that the SVR was responsible for so-called SolarWinds hack.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement: "We see what Russia is doing to undermine our democracies.
"The UK and US are calling out Russia's malicious behaviour, to enable our international partners and businesses at home to better defend and prepare themselves against this kind of action.
"The UK will continue to work with allies to call out Russia's malign behaviour where we see it."
01:38 PM
Covid case rates drop in all age groups and regions in England
Case rates in England are continuing to fall among all age groups, and in all regions, Public Health England said.
The highest rate is among 10 to 19-year-olds, with 42.8 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to April 11, down week-on-week from 53.8.
Meanwhile in Yorkshire & the Humber, the rate of new cases stood at 57.4 per 100,000 people in the seven days to April 11 - the highest rate of any region, but down from 68.5 the previous week.
The East Midlands recorded the second highest rate: 34.9, down from 44.4.
South-west England recorded the lowest rate: 12.8, down very slightly from 15.3.
01:29 PM
Scotland can be like Denmark or Norway with independence, says Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has said she could go further than her "transformational" manifesto if Scotland was independent.
She outlined a £2.5 billion increase in NHS spending in the next five years if her party is re-elected on May 6, along with an £800 million boost in social care funding.
NHS dentistry charges will be scrapped, at an initial cost of £75 million a year and then rising to £100 million annually as demand grows, and government-supported childcare will be expanded to one and two-year-olds.
The rates of income tax will also be frozen over the next parliamentary term.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I believe passionately that with the powers of independence we can do so much more for Scotland. I look around Europe and I see independent countries, of similar size to us, that are among the wealthiest, fairest and happiest in the world.
"If Denmark and Norway and Ireland can do it, then with all our resources and talent, why not Scotland?"
01:15 PM
Boris Johnson says 'thoughts are with Queen' as he visits garden where she met Prince Philip
Boris Johnson meets cadets after the passing-out parade - Getty
Boris Johnson has said his thoughts were with the Queen again after he visited Dartmouth where she is said to have first met her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last week.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters: "I'm here at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, which is the college from which the Duke of Edinburgh himself passed out, became an officer in 1940 before going on to have that amazing distinguished Navy career - the Battle of Cape Matapan, Sicily and then seeing the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
"And you've just seen those wonderful cadets become officers themselves and incarnating the finest traditions of the Royal Navy, in the way the duke did himself.
"And actually, funnily enough, here in this very garden, I think in 1939, the Duke of Edinburgh met the then Princess Elizabeth for the very first time, so our thoughts are with her again today."
01:06 PM
Boris Johnson: Reforms are needed on revolving door between Whitehall and business
Boris Johnson in Dartmouth today - Getty
Boris Johnson has said "I agree thoroughly" with Lord Pickles that reforms were required when it came to monitoring the relationship between the private sector and the civil service.
Speaking to broadcasters at Dartmouth College in Devon, Mr Johnson said: "I think the most important thing is for us to get to the bottom of it properly and I want all ministers and civil servants to be making the information that needs to be known known to Mr Boardman and let's see what he has to say.
"You're absolutely right, we need to understand what's gone on here.
"I agree thoroughly with Lord Pickles."
01:04 PM
Boris Johnson attends passing-out parade
Boris Johnson has attended a passing-out parade at Britannia Royal Naval College during a visit to Devon, and taken part in a one-minute silence in commemoration of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh today.
Boris Johnson attends a passing-out parade - Getty
Boris Johnson during the one minute silence for Prince Philip, - Getty
12:54 PM
EU states believe MEPs have handed UK leverage in Brexit talks over Northern Ireland
Britain’s hand in negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol has been strengthened by the European Parliament’s refusal to set a date to ratify the Brexit trade deal, EU governments have warned.
MEPs refused to name the date for the plenary vote on the trade deal for a second time this week, in a bid to heap pressure on Britain over the agreement that introduced a customs border in the Irish Sea to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The threat infuriated European capitals, which are worried it could backfire and believe it weakens the EU’s negotiating position in the talks over Northern Ireland.
“There is serious incredulity around the table,” an EU diplomat said, “The irresponsible actions by the UK government have been bemoaned by MEPs for months only for them to act exactly the same way.”
Have your say: Should all former prime ministers be called over Greensill?
Prime ministers including Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Gordon Brown and Theresa May could be hauled in front of MPs, to give evidence on their lobbying activities.
Commons committees including Mel Stride's Treasury and William Wragg's Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and Meg Hillier's Public Accounts Committee are all conducting investigations, which could see ministers and prime ministers stretching back many years.
Some of those in the frame have been curiously quiet in recent days - but most have left public office several years ago. The current ban on lobbying is two years - but even if it's extended to five, as has been suggested, that exempts the majority of ex-PMs.
So should there be a cut-off point for who should be called - or should all living prime ministers be expected to give evidence? Have your say in the poll below.
12:36 PM
In pictures: Labour figures on the campaign trail
Key Labour figures have resumed campaigning today, after the pause to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
But the party is facing quite a different challenge throughout the country. Wales is said to be on course for the closest race since devolution, with Mark Drakeford's party just two percentage points ahead of the Conservatives for the upcoming Senedd election in May, according to a recent poll.
Sir Keir Starmer joins Mark Drakeford on the campaign trail, ahead of the Welsh parliament elections on May 6 - Getty
Conversely, London Mayor Sadiq Khan seems set for an easy return to City Hall - and could even win the race in the first round on the basis of first preference votes alone, as his Tory rival Shaun Bailey fails to muster support.
Sadiq Khan looks set to easily win the mayoral race - PA
Angela Rayner joins Sadiq Khan on the campaign trail - Getty
12:18 PM
Home Office minister breaks wrist skateboarding
A Home Office minister has told her counterpart she injured her arm "skateboarding".
Safeguarding minster Vicky Atkins is sporting a white and pink strap on her wrist after apparently breaking her wrist.
Labour frontbencher Jess Phillips arrives in the Commons and asks Home Office minister Victoria Atkins how she injured her arm.
Ursula von der Leyen has had the Covid vaccine - but she didn't reveal whether it was an AstraZeneca dose.
The European Commission president said she got her first jab today as the EU passes the 100m milestone.
"Vaccinations will further gather pace, as deliveries are accelerating in the EU," she added. "The swifter we vaccinate, the sooner we can control the pandemic."
Ursula von der Leyen gets the jab
11:59 AM
Government will act on Hull University's 'appalling' decision to drop literacy standards
Dropping the requirement for university students to demonstrate high levels of written spoken and English is "dumbing down standards", a minister has said.
It came as Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon, called the university's decision "patronising and counterproductive".
He added: "Is it not better for universities to work with schools and colleges to ensure that all pupils reach the required standards of literacy to secure places on quality degree courses and degree apprenticeships?"
Ms Donelan agreed. "I am appalled by the decision of some universities to drop literacy standards in assessments," she said. "I think that this is misguided, and, in fact, it is dumbing down standards. That will never help disadvantaged students. Instead, the answer is to lift up standards and provide high quality education."
The Government "will act on this in line with our manifesto commitments on equality," she added.
11:55 AM
Third committee announces plans to investigate David Cameron over Greensill
A third parliamentary committee has confirmed it will carry out an investigation into the lobbying scandal that has erupted around Greensill and David Cameron.
The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Labour MP Meg Hillier, will call the former prime minister as part of a probe. Treasury official Charles Roxburgh has also been asked to appear at next Thursday’s session to discuss his involvement, alongside the department's permanent secretary Tom Scholar.
"The Committee intends to invite former Prime Minster David Cameron to appear before this inquiry," a spokesperson said.
The Treasury Select Committee yesterday said it will carry out its own inquiry, after Labour's motion to create a new committee specifically charged with the investigation failed. The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee could go even further and summon several former prime ministers, including Tony Blair. The terms of the inquiry - and witnesses - will be published next week.
It comes on top of the Boardman review and the ongoing Cabinet Office scrutiny of the Lobbying Act. The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, which advises the Prime Minister on conduct across public life in England, is also conducting an inquiry.
11:46 AM
Lobby latest: 'Heavy lifting' done by lockdown, not vaccines, says No 10
Boris Johnson believes the "heavy lifting" in reducing the coronavirus infection rate has been done by the lockdowns across the UK, Number 10 has said - despite data suggesting he is wrong.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Johnson had been "very clear that vaccines are having an impact".
"I think the PHE (Public Health England) data shows they've saved around 10,000 lives, and that's excellent," the No 10 spokesman continued. "And they are having an effect on hospitalisations and deaths.
"The point the Prime Minister made very clearly - Chris Whitty (England's chief medical officer) has made similar points - that at this stage, the reductions we have seen, the heavy lifting of that has been done by the excellent work of the British public to abide by the lockdown rules.
"Obviously vaccines have played a part in that and that's the point the Prime Minister was making."
Vaccine effect on hospital admissions with Covid-19
11:35 AM
SNP goverment to fund pilot for four-day week
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to provide funding to companies to pilot a four-day working week if an SNP government is elected.
Launching her party's manifesto, Ms Sturgeon said: "Before the pandemic struck, many people were already worried about work-life balance.
"We want to do more to support people to achieve a better balance and help businesses employ as many people as possible.
"As part of that, we will establish a £10 million fund to support willing companies to explore and pilot the benefits of a four-day working week."
11:31 AM
David Cameron was 'a very successful prime minister', says Jacob Rees-Mogg
David Cameron was 'a very successful prime minister', says Jacob Rees-Mogg - Getty
David Cameron was a "very successful prime minister" people should not rush to make judgements, Jacob Rees-Mogg has told MPs.
During business questions, SNP chief whip Owen Thompson called on the Commons Leader to "give a commitment to the House that he'll ensure within his powers everything possible is done" to get to the bottom of the Greensill scandal.
Mr Rees-Mogg responded: "Obviously committees of this House can make what inquiries that they wish and can set their own terms of reference. But I think it's a mistake to rush to judgment, particularly in relation to David Cameron who was a very successful prime minister who succeeded in getting the nation's finances back on order.
"And rushing to judgment is I think not a proper way for this House to operate. We need to have the reviews and consider them and that is what is happening."
11:24 AM
Lord Frost meets with Irish minister ahead of Brussels trip
Lord Frost has met Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney ahead of his meeting with Maros Sefcovic - Shutterstock
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Lord Frost have met with Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney "as part of regular bilateral engagement", Downing Street has confirmed.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will meet with Mr Coveney this afternoon, officials said.
Lord Frost is due to meet vice-president of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Thursday evening.
"The meeting is part of an ongoing process with the EU to resolve outstanding differences on the Northern Ireland Protocol," Number 10 said.
10:58 AM
Former prime ministers face being dragged into Greensill lobbying row
Tony Blair could join David Cameron in being grilled by former colleagues - PA
Former prime ministers who served before David Cameron could be dragged into the Greensill lobbying row, with multiple select committees launching probes into the scandal.
Yesterday, after Labour's motion to create a new committee charged with a Greensill inquiry was defeated, Mel Stride's Treasury committee announced plans for its own probe, which could see Mr Cameron brought in for a grilling about his involvement with Greensill Capital.
This morning the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will meet to discuss the scope and remit of a separate inquiry, which could result in Mr Cameron and several of his predecessors facing a similar grilling, the Telegraph understands. The terms of the inquiry - and witnesses - will be published next week.
Yesterday PACAC chairman William Wragg offered to " take up as the AC-12 of Whitehall" - a reference to the anti-corruption unit in TV show Line of Duty.
A spokesman for Mr Cameron said he would "respond positively" to requests to give evidence "when the terms of reference of each inquiry are clear".
10:44 AM
Ministers should be sacked over undeclared meetings with lobbyists, says Sir Keir Starmer
Any ministers who did not declare meetings with lobbyists should be sacked, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to south Wales, the Labour leader said: "We've got very strict rules in place for the shadow cabinet with declarations being made.
"What we're talking about here is lobbying of Government for massive procurement contracts involving millions, sometimes billions, of pounds.
"Increasingly we're seeing a murkier and murkier picture, whether it's the way contracts are handed out, the lack of due process, or the lobbying which is not a revolving door but now an open door into Government."
Asked if ministers should expect to be sacked if they failed to declare meetings with lobbyists, Sir Keir said: "I think it's absolutely a sackable offence not to declare such meetings."
Matt Hancock this week confirmed he did meet David Cameron and Lex Greensill, but said he had informed officials.
10:40 AM
Government wrong to block lobbying inquiry, says Sir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer said existing rules 'aren't working' - Julian Simmonds
Sir Keir Starmer said the Government's voting down of Labour's plans for a parliamentary inquiry into lobbying was the "wrong thing to do".
Speaking during a visit to Gower, south Wales, he said: "We need more and stronger lobbying rules. What we've got is lobbying rules that obviously aren't working.
"Last night we called a vote to say there should be a transparent, independent inquiry into the increasing sleaze that's going on in Government.
"The Government voted that down and blocked it. That was the wrong thing to do."
10:36 AM
Jacob Rees-Mogg defends 'propriety' of Government, saying 'lobbying did not suceed'
Jacob Rees-Mogg defends the review and the "highly respected" lawyer Nigel Boardman, noting he has stood down from Beis while the inquiry takes place.
He says it will also be looked at by a number of committees "with the full power and authority of the House of Commons".
But Valerie Vaz was "not right" to say that public money was spent on Greensill because "the lobbying was done but the lobbying did not succeed".
The Commons Leader adds: "That is something that should reassure us about the propriety of the way this Government is run. That who you know and how you are connected does not mean you get what you want.
"That is the test of whether Goverment is operating properly and this Government is operating properly."
10:28 AM
Ministers 'think country is stupid' in appointing Beis non-exec to lead Greensill inquiry
Over in the main chamber, Labour frontbencher Valerie Vaz has attacked the decision to appoint Nigel Boardman to head up the Greensill inquiry.
"I don't know whether the Government thinks the country is stupid, but asking someone who is serves as a non-executive in the Beis department to lead the inquiry is absolutely incredulous," the shadow leader said.
The country is "absolutely brimming" with lawyers without governmental contacts, she adds. "Why don't we have one of them?"
She claims civil servants should not have two jobs at the same time, saying it is "an abuse of power", adding: "It matters because this is about public money and public money can't be found for NHS workers, but it can be found for Greensill."
The UK and Ireland should broker a bilateral deal to replace the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, a former senior Irish diplomat has claimed, as he accused Dublin of being too close to the EU.
Ray Bassett, who previously served as Ireland's ambassador to Canada, Jamaica and the Bahamas said he believed the new post-Brexit trading arrangements were fuelling “such a disillusionment” among unionists and should be overhauled.
Mr Bassett, who also served as joint secretary to the British-Irish intergovernmental conference, told The Telegraph's Planet Normal podcast, which you can listen to using the audio player below, that the implementation of the protocol had been "very heavy handed" and appeared to have "destroyed" good will in Northern Ireland.
Listen to the interview in full below.
Planet Normal Podcast Ray Bassett
10:12 AM
It is 'sensible' to have lobbyist on Acoba board, says Lord Pickles
Lord Pickles has defended the appointment of Andrew Cumpsty to the board of Acoba, after it emerged that he is a lobbyist.
The former minister said it "wasn't a matter for me, it was a matter for the Cabinet Office", but said "it didn't seem odd to me" because Mr Cumptsy had not been "engaged in politics".
Because "I know him, I know him very well," Lord Pickles had "adopted a process of asking everyone the same question" and ensured he did not "lead" on the process, which included putting forward six names to be selected.
Mr Cumpsty was included because "I wanted to give the option of having somebody with experience of lobbying", he adds.
"I think he was brave to do it because I felt that sooner or later a newspaper would turn him over... [but] all the information is there and I support the minister's decision - it was sensible to have someone with experience there."
10:03 AM
Officials who move into another public sector role should be allowed to lobby, says Lord Pickles
Lord Pickles has said he wants to actually lift restrictions on lobbying in some instances, as long as it is done "in the open".
The Acoba boss tells MPs of PACAC that he wants to look more closely at the links between officials and academia, noting that former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell was "rather offended because we rapped him over the knuckles for not applying" when he took up roles after leaving public office.
He added that he will "also be looking at people who move from government into another form of the public sector", who might need to talk to ministers.
"This will raise all kinds of questions about what is permissible and what is not," he added. "Obviously they can't come down to London and go around to a coffee shop... but if it's done in the open and recorded and with officials that is something I want to look at."
09:53 AM
UK's ethics regime has 'lagged behind' during pandemic, says Lord Pickles
The UK's ethics regime has "lagged behind" because of the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, Lord Pickle has said
The Acoba boss says ethics should be built it into the system so things "move along at a reasonable speed", reiterating that a memorandum of understanding could be "the building blocks" of change.
He says transparency is essential.
"We talk about lobbyists... it's almost like it's organised crime. There is nothing wrong with lobbyists - what is wrong is with unregulated lobbying, secret lobbying, people getting an undue advantage.
"Our entire political careers have been built by lobbying of some sort," he adds. "But where it becomes wrong is where it is not properly regulated and is transparent."
09:42 AM
Revolving door culture has created 'assumption of being looked after', says Lord Pickles
Lord Pickles has said the "revolving door" of senior civil servants joining business has seen cohort after cohort assuming them will be 'looked after'.
He told MPs of the PACAC committee that the culture had created an "entitlement" in which one "cohort looked after the cohort that just left, in assumption that the cohort coming up would look after them".
Reforming existing laws such as expanding the ban on jobs could end up costing "millions of pounds without any real material benefit", suggesting taxpayers "might not get any change out of £30-40m a year in gardening leave.
"What we need to demonstrate is that if you break the rules there are consequences, and there are a number of consequences without going to thermo-nuclear option.
The "neglected part of the Nolan principles is all about leadership", he adds.
09:35 AM
'No evidence' that people are being made consultants to avoid scrutiny
Lord Pickles has said he has "no evidence" that any individuals have been made a consultant rather than a Spad to avoid scrutiny.
Asked this point, he told MPs of the PACAC committee it was "an interesting thought", noting it "would be a very serious thing that would have happened and quite a short sighted thing."
But he added: "I have no evidence to suggest that has taken place."
His earlier suggestion to instigate a procedure whereby anyone working for or with government could be done "quite quickly while more fundamental reforms take place", Lord Pickles notes.
"Most people are compliant," he adds.
09:26 AM
Public 'entitled' to know about officials' second jobs, says Lord Pickles
Acoba chairman Lord Pickles said that the public was "entitled" to know the arrangements for second roles being approved by the Cabinet Office, as with the Bill Crothers case.
"I would expect it to be recorded in a register, I would have expected that register to be transparent, I would have expected the rules to be known," he told MPs on PACAC.
"So far as I know, the rules have never been published, therefore I have asked them to publish the rules - this is not a satisfactory situation.
"And I think, not only you are entitled to know or I am entitled to know, I think the wider public are entitled to know what these arrangements are, how they apply, what criteria is raised, what checks are raised, what conditions are made on an agreement to do so.
09:10 AM
Possibility of Greensill-level scandal 'didn't cross my mind', says Lord Pickles
Lord Pickles giving evidence to PACAC this morning
William Wragg then asks Lord Pickles where he thought the scandal would arise.
The Acoba chairman explains that 34,000 people left the civil service in 2020, but his body received just 108 applications for scrutiny on those appointments.
"There are some departments like the Ministry of Defence have a very clear system pretty well established. There are others that are less well established," he says.
Lord Pickles tells the MP there need to be "proper procedures" introduced to create "consistency".
"The possibility of something like Greensill, if I'm honest, didn't really cross my mind."
09:05 AM
Lord Pickles: I was warning of scandal for some time - but this is not what I expected
Lord Pickles says he has been warning of a scandal for some time "but this is not where I expected it to come from".
He says before the Greensill scandal came out he had conversations with ministers and they "are taking it seriously". There are "not loopholes" but areas that are not covered by Acoba across Goverment, which should "fall within an umbrella of some kind".
Former Labour frontbencher John McDonnell asks who has raised these matters with, and Lord Pickles says "the proper channels". He confirms he has not gone as high as secretary of state or prime ministerial level.
"I have been concerned, I have made some suggestions... and we are starting to work these up."
He adds that "not for one moment did I anticipate anything like Greensill" but he had been "considerably worried about what has been going on below Acoba level" for some time.
"The Greensill thing has raised all kinds of other things that I should take seriously and this committee should take seriously and anybody who has an interest in ensuring respect for public life."
08:58 AM
Lord Pickles defends role of Acoba
Lord Pickles was a minister under David Cameron - Geoff Pugh
Lord Pickles has defended the role of Acoba, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, but insisted it is not a watchdog.
Asked "what is the point" of the body he is in charge of, he told MPs: "The point of Acoba is to put together conditions and delays to ensure the integrity of government is protected.
"But there is a misunderstanding, which I find deeply irritating. Acoba is not a watchdog, not a regulator. It has a very limited and defined role."
Acoba is charged with considering applications for new jobs made by former ministers, senior civil servants and other Crown servants.
08:52 AM
'Doesn't seem to have been any boundaries' between business and civil service, says Lord Pickles
The revolving door: Lord Pickles says there doesn't appear to have been "any boundaries"
Lord Pickles says the focus should be less on "civil servants going out to get experience" but on outsiders coming in.
He tells MPs that the "kind of constraints we put on them" should be looked at "really carefully".
He adds: "Every government for the past 20-25 years - it's true of Lady Thatcher, true of Major, certainly true of Tony Blair and Brown - were all seeking to get people into civil service with business experience.
"So I understand how we got to this circumstances, but I don't think it excuses the final result."
But "part of the problem we have got is that it has not been clear where the boundaries lay - in fact, I hope this doesn't seem rude -there doesn't seem to have been any boundaries at all."
08:47 AM
Lord Pickles: Bill Crothers' second job very unusual
Lord Pickles said he hadn't 'really come across anything quite like [Bill Crothers' second job] before'
Asked by David Jones about the "very glaring conflict of interest" about Bill Crothers' dual jobs, Lord Pickles quotes PG Wodehouse, saying: "my eyebrows did raise a full quarter inch".
He adds: "I haven't really come across anything quite like this before."
Asked if Mr Crothers' secondment needed approval, Lord Pickles said he would have expected to be recorded and "have gone through a process at which at least the Nolan principles would have been applied".
He adds: "I sincerely hope there was a record of this and it wasn't just on the say-so of an individual".
"If Mr Crothers had decided he wanted to go for a milk round or something I don't think we would be particularly bothered," he adds. "But his particular position, in terms of running procurement and working for a commercial organisation, is something that does require a full and frank and transparent explanation."
08:43 AM
Lex Greensill not actually a special adviser, despite business card claims, says Lord Pickles
Lex Greensill does not appear to have been a special adviser, Lord Pickles says - but this is one of the "anomalies" in the system.
The financier had a business card describing himself as an adviser to Number 10, but if he had been a Spad he would have been covered by the remit of the watchdog Acoba.
There are some simple steps that could be taken now, he adds. "Rather than trying to create a very elaborate system, somebody in Mr Greensill's place, somebody offering advice on the procurement of health equipment, should at least sign a memorandum of understanding which would outline their responsibilities."
This should be published "so everybody understands where they are," he adds. "That needs to be put in place."
Longer-term, there should be focus on contracts given the "high churn among the upper echelons" of the civil service.
08:40 AM
Paid second jobs for senior officials 'seems to be a new thing', says Lord Pickles
Lord Pickles says it is "not unusual" for a civil servant to have a second job but says it is not normally at this level - or paid.
"It is relatively common for someone lower down to have a second job - they might be involved in a small cottage industry," he adds.
"The level that Mr Crothers was, the kind of way the system would have been used would have been to allow them to say offer them advice, to say Citizens Advice or some other voluntary organisation - to sit on the board of a housing association or local authority," he adds.
This would not be problematic because they would not be paid, but Bill Crothers' job with Greensill was surprising "with regard to that excuse," Lord Pickles tells MPs.
Former civil servants "also shared my surprise", he adds. "This seems to be a new thing."
08:36 AM
Greensill has highlighted 'anomalies' in oversight system, admits Lord Pickles
William Wragg has called to order the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, which is hearing from Lord Pickles today.
The Tory MP confirms that the PACAC will commence an inquiry "into the topical matters around Greensill", the details of which will be published next week.
He then welcomes the former minister and turns immediately to the questions of Acoba's oversight in light of Greensill.
Lord Pickles says the watchdog's "only involvement" on the matter is with Bill Crothers, but says he feels "slightly embarrassed" because "most of the fuss" came after he wrote to the former civil servant about why he did not seek advice.
"It appears he was not isolated in that position", says Lord Pickles. "It also highlights a number of anomalies in the system, which require immediate address."
08:29 AM
Boris Johnson 'correct' to say lockdown, not vaccines, have cut cases
The Prime Minister is "correct" in saying lockdown measures have had the main impact on reducing Covid-19 infections, an honorary associate professor in the Department of Respiratory Sciences has said.
Boris Johnson said earlier this week that, although vaccines have helped, lockdown restrictions have done "the bulk of the work" in getting numbers down.
Asked about his comments, Dr Julian Tang told Sky News: "At the moment the lockdown is causing the main impact in the reduction of number of cases and deaths", but said the vaccine rollout is "encouraging".
He added: "We'll see that impact once you start to open up indoor spaces. If one in two people have antibodies, that immune barrier will reduce that spread of the virus in the indoor environment where the ventilation is poorer and where people are closer together unmasked and talking and breathing the same air.
"So I think that the Prime Minister is correct in that respect."
08:25 AM
What's on the agenda today?
Today is shaping up to be another interesting day in Westminster and beyond - here is what to expect.
From 9:30am: Lord Pickles to give evidence on his watchdog Acoba to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Also from 9:30am: International trade questions in Commons.
10:30am: Universities minister Michelle Donelan responds to an Urgent Question on compensation for university students
11:20am: Jacob Rees-Mogg sets out business for the week
12pm: European Parliament trade and foreign affairs committees to vote on Brexit deal
From 12:30pm: The domestic violence bill is debated until 5pm
7:30pm Lord Frost meeting European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic for Brexit talks in Brussels
08:15 AM
Have your say: Should all former prime ministers be called over Greensill?
Prime ministers including Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Gordon Brown and Theresa May could be hauled in front of MPs, to give evidence on their lobbying activities.
Commons committees including Mel Stride's Treasury and William Wragg's Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee are expected to confirm a list of witnesses that could stretch back many tenures, in a bid to get to the bottom of the murky world stirred up by David Cameron's interventions for Greensill.
Nick Clegg, Mr Cameron's deputy who now works for Facebook, could also be summoned.
Some of those in the frame have been curiously quiet in recent days - but many have been outside the tent for several years. The current ban on lobbying is two years - but even if it's extended to five, as has been suggested, that exempts the majority of ex-PMs.
So should there be a cut-off point for who should be called - or should all living prime ministers be expected to give evidence? Have your say in the poll below.
08:04 AM
Risks of blood clot 'pretty trivial' compared with Covid, says Sir John Bell
The potential risks of developing blood clots from a coronavirus vaccination are "pretty trivial" when compared with those posed by contracting Covid-19, a scientist has said.
Professor Sir John Bell, Oxford University's Regius Professor of Medicine, told Sky News that blood clotting events being linked to vaccines are "extremely rare".
He added: "The best way, if you want to have a bad clotting problem, is to get Covid.
"And if you don't get a vaccine you're going to get Covid, and if you get Covid you'll have a very, very much higher risk of getting a bad clotting problem.
"So, the clotting problems of the vaccine are pretty trivial compared to the real risks of getting clotting problems if you get Covid."
Exclusive: Three further figures implicated in Greensill scandal
Lord Hogan-Howe was a paid adviser to Greensill while working in Whitehall - PA
A trio of revelations in the Greensill scandal have been revealed by Telegraph colleagues this morning.
Sir John Manzoni, the civil service chief understood to have been responsible for signing off on Bill Crothers' position at Greensill, also held a secondary private sector role while in the civil service.
The Telegraph has also discovered that a third senior civil servant, Stephen Kelly, held roles in three private companies at the same time as a position within government. The private sector roles had been approved.
And it can be disclosed that the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe was a paid adviser to Greensill at the same time as working at the heart of Whitehall.
Testing reveals further South African variants in London
Further testing in London is revealing more cases of the South African variant, an expert has said.
There are now three areas in the capital undergoing surge testing, including two in the south of the city and one in the north.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director of Public Health England, said that more genetic sequencing of positive coronavirus tests had identified cases of the South African variant in the capital.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're finding cases because we're doing more genetic sequencing of PCR positive tests of coronavirus which we're seeing across the city.
"And that is identifying a low prevalence, a low number of cases, but we are finding cases of the South African variant.
"And in addition, we're surging to identify additional cases belonging to the south London cluster, which we're investigating in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Southwark. So we're doing this very proactively."
07:28 AM
Vaccine passports could create 'two-tier society', warns equality watchdog
Vaccine passports could discriminate against some groups, causing a "two-tier society", the UK equality watchdog has warned.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission says certificates to prove who has been vaccinated could help to ease restrictions "in principle".
But they could create a "two-tier society whereby only certain groups are able to fully enjoy their rights".
Blanket mandatory vaccination policies are "likely to be unlawful", it added.
The independent commission says Covid status certificates - sometimes called Covid passports - could discriminate against marginalised groups where take-up of the vaccine is lower, as well as the small number of people who cannot have the vaccine for medical reasons.
07:25 AM
Focus on 'hands, face, space' guidance is wrong, says expert
Open doors and windows are key - Arcaid Images
The Government has placed the wrong emphasis on "hands, face, space", an expert has said, as he calls on the public to use the "garlic-breath distance" as an indication for Covid transmission instead.
Dr Julian Tang is a consultant virologist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and author of a new study published in the British Medical Journal that urges governments and health leaders to "focus their efforts on airborne transmission".
He told Sky News the previous focus on hand washing and sanitising was not correct, saying: "The emphasis is wrong. So the message 'hands, face, space', we think should be really 'space, space, hands'. The way this virus transmits is really through conversational distance, within one metre.
"When you're talking to a friend or sharing the same air as you're listening to your friend talking, we call it the garlic-breath distance. So if you can smell your friend's lunch you're inhaling some of that air as well as any virus that's inhaled with it.
"And this is why we say that masking is fine, social distancing is fine, but the indoor airborne environment needs to be improved and that can be done with ventilation."
07:15 AM
Brexit: Lord Frost travels to Brussels to thrash out 'significant differences' on Northern Ireland
David Frost will dine in Brussels - PA
Lord Frost is to attempt to resolve "significant differences" on the Northern Ireland protocol during talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic today.
Ahead of Thursday evening's meeting in Brussels, an EU spokesman said they would "take stock of ongoing technical work" on the protocol.
A UK Government spokesman said there were still "significant differences" which needed to be resolved if they were to rebuild confidence in the agreement among communities in Northern Ireland.
"This meeting is part of our ongoing engagement with the EU to work through the outstanding issues with the protocol, in order to restore confidence on the ground, reflect the needs of communities and respect all dimensions of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement," the spokesman said.
"The discussions so far have been constructive but there are still significant differences that need to be resolved. Both the UK and EU are continuing to engage with business, civil society and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland to understand the issues they are facing."
07:10 AM
Former official damns Boardman inquiry with faint praise
A senior former official has said people in public life must follow "principles" of good behaviour, rather than simply following the rules.
Sir David Normington, the former permanent secretary at the Home Office, told Radio 4's Today programme: "One thing we have heard a lot of is the behaviour in following the rules - but it's not just about the rules, it’s about the principles of standards in public life.
"We need good behaviour in public life, not just the following of rules. It’s exactly why Simon Case, [the Cabinet Secretary], is doing the right thing by checking there are no other examples of this and, I hope, nipping this in the bud."
But Sir David damned the Boardman inquiry with faint praise.
"It’s all we have got and we have… to trust Mr Boardman to carry out a thorough inquiry," he said.
"I would have preferred it to be out in the open, a more thorough inquiry, but since that isn’t going to happen we have to trust Mr Boardman."
Timeline: Greensill collapse
07:05 AM
Civil servants must be scrutinised when taking new jobs, says former mandarin
It is "essential" that the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments scrutinises appointments of top civil servants when they leave Whitehall, according to former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington.
On the Bill Crothers situation, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're not just talking here about any old civil servant.
"We're talking about someone who was responsible for commercial dealings in government and had oversight of relations with a large number of major contractors and the handling of lots of public money," he said.
"It's essential that the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is allowed to scrutinise those appointments and give its advice."
Lord Pickles, chair of Acoba, is due to give evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee this morning.
07:04 AM
'Absolutely baffling' that senior official 'evaded scrutiny' on Greensill job
A former permanent secretary at the Home Office has said it is "absolutely baffling" that Bill Crothers was able to "evade scrutiny" over his second job at Greensill.
Mr Crothers, who had been the government's chief procurement officer, joined financial firm Greensill Capital as an adviser while still working in Whitehall.
Sir David Normington, who was the most senior civil servant at both DfE and the Home Office over the course of a decade, told Radio 4's Today programme: "When I heard it I thought it was absolutely baffling - I have never come across anything like it."
He said he would be "very surprised" if Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who gave officials until 5pm yesterday to come clean, found any other instances within Whitehall.
"It is essential that people like that when they leave CS are subject to scrutiny and rules which mean they can’t take up appointments immediately," he added.
Profiles Greensill scandal
06:48 AM
Cabinet Secretary launches crackdown on mandarins' second jobs
Britain's most senior mandarin has warned that Whitehall officials with second jobs threaten the "integrity and impartiality" of the civil service as he launched a hunt for new conflicts of interest.
Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, laid bare his "acute concern" in a letter to the heads of all Government departments on Wednesday.
He ordered them to search their ranks for high-level civil servants with external paid roles that may be problematic, setting the end of this week as the deadline.
It came amid a growing row over Greensill Capital, the lender that collapsed last month, and the access its founder enjoyed to the heart of government during David Cameron's administration.
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