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A close ally of Boris Johnson has been accused of “cosying up” to the Brazilian government and failing to publicly speak out about the damage being wreaked upon the Amazon rainforest by wildfires.
It comes as No 10 claimed the PM’s meetings with Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel showed they were “willing to engage” on the idea of a new Brexit deal.
Philip Hammond, meanwhile, is reportedly preparing told hold talks with EU leaders in a bid to make sure any legislation forcing the government to seek an extension to Article 50 is supported by Brussels.
See below for live updates
The EU is considering plans for a €100bn investment fund to finance European "industrial champions" and compete with multinational companies.
The proposals for the sovereign wealth fund, reported by the Financial Times, would herald a move towards a more active industrial policy by the bloc
The so-called European Future Fund would be financed by member states and target its investments into strategic sectors where the EU lagged behind its rivals.
More here:
The European elections showed that, together, Remain forces can outpoll Leave. Now is the time to set party politics aside and form an alliance, writes Best for Britain chief executive Naomi Smith.
Boris Johnson has told migrants not to cross the English Channel to get to the UK as "we will send you back".
The Prime Minister's comments came after nearly 100 people took to small boats to try to make the crossing from France to the UK in one day.
The news prompted Home Secretary Priti Patel to seek talks with her French counterpart to address the crisis.
Mr Johnson told reporters on Friday: "Clearly the most important thing is to stop them coming across from France so we are working very closely with the French authorities.
"The point I would just make to people thinking of making this journey - one, it is very hazardous, you may think the weather looks great but it's a very, very dangerous thing to do.
"The second thing is - we will send you back. The UK should not be regarded as a place where you could automatically come and break the law by seeking to arrive illegally.
"If you come illegally, you are an illegal migrant and I'm afraid the law will treat you as such."
Opinion: Northern Ireland is already spiralling out of control, but nobody is paying any attention, writes Ben Kelly...
The Liberal Democrats have branded Boris Johnson's comments on migrants "unlawful and inhumane".
Home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: "It is just plain wrong for Boris Johnson to label refugees crossing the Channel as 'illegal migrants'.
"Quite apart from the dehumanising language, there is nothing illegal about seeking sanctuary in the UK, and it is shameful that we have a prime minister who says it is.
"We know that many of these people have fled persecution in Iran. For the prime minister to casually dismiss their rights to asylum with no evidence whatsoever is unlawful and inhumane.
"The way to stop these dangerous crossings is through an effective and compassionate response: investing in a stronger Border Force to stop the smugglers and traffickers, while ensuring safe, legal routes to sanctuary for those forced out of their home countries."
Downing Street has refused to comment when asked if Boris Johnson's migrants remarks mean he is proposing that the UK breaches its legal responsibility to examine asylum claims.
The UK has a legal obligation under what is known as the Dublin Regulation to ensure all asylum applications lodged are considered - regardless of how applicants have reached the country.
Yet the prime minister earlier told migrants not to cross the English Channel as "we will send you back".
"If you come illegally, you are an illegal migrant and I'm afraid the law will treat you as such," he added.
Asked by PA to clarify the prime minister's remarks, Downing Street said: "We cannot elaborate."
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has accused Boris Johnson of deliberately inflaming tensions with "misleading" comments about migrants attempting to reach the UK.
It warned Britain would violate international law by sending back asylum-seekers without assessing their claims, as the prime minister's remarks appeared to imply his government would.
The council said in a statement: "The UK is perfectly capable of providing safety and a well-functioning, dignified welcome for desperate people trapped in limbo across Europe.
"Those who are forced to take dangerous means of reaching our shores have a legal right to have their voice heard and we should be creating safe and legal routes for vulnerable people to come.
"Johnson's comment is misleading, designed to inflame tension and, if put in practice, would violate international law."
A leading human rights lawyer has said Boris Johnson's migrant comments are "inflammatory" and contribute to the demonisation of asylum-seekers.
Annette Elder, a partner at human rights law firm Elder Rahimi and a member of the Law Society's immigration committee, said: "Clearly it's not possible to say that everyone who crosses the Channel in small boats from France is going to be sent back.
"The UK is bound by legal obligations.
"This is another example of the way asylum seekers are criminalised.
"To talk about people illegally crossing the Channel - it's inflammatory.
"It misrepresents the situation. Everyone has a right to seek asylum."
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