Thursday morning UK news briefing: Cars and flights to be hit with green taxes

New green taxes on motoring and flying are likely to be introduced as part of plans to reduce Britain's transport emissions, the Government has suggested.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, unveiled his transport decarbonisation proposals on Wednesday, pledging that every vehicle on the roads would be zero emission within decades.

The document says further "carbon pricing" for flights could be introduced and suggests new motoring taxes could offset the anticipated loss of fuel duty from electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, the EU has charged ahead with plans for a carbon border tax.

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard analyses how Europe has picked a fight with the whole world by going for green protectionism.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will today promise voters in the South that his flagship strategy to "level up" the nation will not make them poorer.

Mr Johnson will frame his vision to boost the North and the Midlands as beneficial for all regions, relieving pressure on the "overheated" South.

In a landmark speech in the West Midlands, he will insist that "levelling up is not a jam-spreading operation". Read on for details.

Restaurants and pubs urged to use Covid passports

Covid passports could be used in pubs, bars and restaurants as new government guidance for businesses urged their wider rollout. Ministers have published delayed advice for businesses on how to operate when the country moves to step four of the roadmap out of lockdown on Monday. It said hospitality firms will be encouraged to consider asking customers to show Covid passports to enter their premises - but has prompted concerns about ID cards. Bosses have also been told to set up mental health hotlines for anxious staff ahead of their return to the office. Meanwhile, cartoonist Matt finds more humour in Freedom Day.

Sugar and salt taxes plan set to make wallets slimmer

New taxes on sugar and salt have been proposed by the Government's food tsar, amid warnings the move could add £170 a year to the average family's shopping basket. Restaurateur Henry Dimbleby, who has written an article for the Telegraph, has made a "reformulation" levy, designed to coax food manufacturers into lowering sugar and sodium levels in their products, the flagship policy in his National Food Strategy. The landmark review, commissioned by Boris Johnson, has sparked a backlash as low-tax campaigners warned that such a levy would be "deeply regressive", hitting the poorest families hardest. Read how the prices of items like strawberry jam and soy sauce would be affected.

At a glance: Coronavirus morning briefing

• Holiday chaos | Balearic Islands put back on amber travel list

• Vaccines tsar | Kate Bingham cannot travel abroad as she had trial jab

• Married women | Flight fears if vaccine passes show maiden name

• Virus 'triple-threat' | Flu deaths could double pressuring NHS

• Well-being | Masks 'doing care home residents more harm than good'

PS: We are asking Front Page readers like you to let us know what you will be doing differently after July 19 and what you will be thankful for. Email us your thoughts in 60 words with the subject line "Front Page" to yourstory@telegraph.co.uk with your name, age and where you live.

Also in the news: Today's other headlines

'Mob rule' | West End theatres were abandoned to football fans who damaged buildings, Britain’s leading producers have claimed, saying the Government scored an "own goal" by allowing mass crowds to gather.

• Britney Spears | Star wants conservator father to face abuse charges

• Homes collapse | Four dead and dozens missing in floods in Germany

• 'Wobbling' moon | Orbit to cause huge flooding in 2030s, Nasa warns

• Bone to pick | Dog owner's battle with council that rehomed his pet

• Gobbledegook-free | Prince Charles to scythe through climate jargon

Around the world: South Africa starved of supplies

"All is finished here. There is nothing left. No shops. No food, no water. Nothing, nothing, nothing. All burnt, or taken." That is how a resident of Alexandra, one of South Africa's most congested and pitifully poor townships, described the devastating impact of several days of looting and violence in and around Johannesburg. The scale of the destruction that has gripped the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal for nearly a week is incalculable. Now essential supplies are beginning to run out and there are warnings of a "humanitarian disaster". Watch a mother throwing her baby from a burning building and see more world pictures.

Comment and analysis

• Douglas Murray | Britain sleepwalking into perpetual Covid tyranny

• Con Coughlin | China is the West's real enemy in Afghanistan

• Madeline Grant | No winners in 'gesture politics' battle at PMQs panto

• Tanya Gold | London and our cities are being left to die

• Reader letters | On transport who will enforce masks?

Editor's choice

1. Changing names | Now wokeism is going for our birds and insects

2. Hating influencers | Why are the biggest trolls middle-aged women?

3. Uncomfortable truth | 'It didn't occur to me I had cancer because I drank wine'

Business and money briefing

Inflation impact | The average household could see their savings shrink by £206 per year after inflation climbed to a three-year high. The consumer price index rose 0.4 percentage points to 2.5pc in June, well above the Bank of England’s 2pc target. Read on for details.

• Pensions | Little-known annuities that guarantee your money back

• Investment tip | Biotech pioneer has potential for explosive gains

• Alex | View today's cartoon strip on the world of finance

Sport briefing

The Open | Organisers of the Open Championship have drafted in the Army to avoid repeats of the serious security breaches which marred last week's Scottish Open when a spectator sauntered unchallenged on to the first tee and grabbed a club out of Rory McIlroy's bag. Meanwhile, as play gets underway this morning, Bryson DeChambeau and all the other power merchants have been given a warning about the Royal St George's course: "Here is a Sandwich that can actually eat you alive."

• South Africa A 17-13 Lions | Unbeaten run ends despite fightback

• Tokyo Games | Dan Evans out of Olympics after positive Covid test

• Trippier looks to Man Utd | Defender wants Premier League return

Tonight's dinner

Sardine and onion tart | A very good dinner that kind of looks like a Mediterranean stargazy pie. Click here to view the recipe by Diana Henry and try our Cookbook newsletter.

And finally... for this morning's downtime

What did Shakespeare ever do for the Royals? | George V may have skipped Stratford for the FA Cup final but a new exhibition proves that the Bard has often inspired our monarchy. Dominic Cavendish reveals how a new exhibition shows that the Royal family has often turned to the great playwright to bolster its image.