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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.
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
Here’s our Europe correspondent Jon Stone’s take on the big Johnson-Macron summit in Paris.
There’s breathless talk of a “game-changer” after the summit in Paris.
Tory MP and former minister Tobias Ellwood says he feels more optimistic about getting a deal with the EU following the Boris Johnson’s meeting with Emmanuel Macron.
“We saw here, both in Berlin and indeed in Paris, a can-do attitude, a body language, a new rapport developing.”
“I am more optimistic about us securing a deal now than I ever have been since March 2019, and we have been given that window, that critical window of 30 days to provide what is the detailed micro concern about the backstop itself, and that is what we have got to prove, and that is what the Prime Minister will be doing.”
Ellwood said it is a “gamechanger” that both Macron and Merkel have shown some flexibility on a potential deal.
He added: “Whatever you say about the Prime Minster, there is a sense of vigour, determination, and a focus that we didn't have under the last prime minister, and that is why I am cautiously more optimistic.”
Philip Hammond is reportedly quietly organising his own talks with European leaders, according to The Times.
The Tory MP and fellow rebels are plotting legislation to force the government to seek an extension to Article 50 – and the former chancellor is said to be ready to use his extensive list of contacts in Brussels to suss out what sort of extension would be agreeable to them.
“The next step is likely to be something that seeks to direct the government to seek an extension,” one unnamed MP told the newspaper. “They will need to have an idea of what extension they should be asking Brussels for.”
One of Hammond’s supporters said: “He has a lot of respect from senior figures in Europe. They think he was one of the few sensible ones in cabinet.”
We’re expecting Boris Johnson to pay a short visit to Devon today, but he will be packing his bags later for his trip out the French resort of Biarritz for the G7 summit this weekend.
Ashley Cowburn has taken a look at the days ahead for the PM.
Tory MP Damian Collins has been talking about Boris Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings.
The chair of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee is still angry that Cummings refused to appear at a committee hearing.
Speaking at the Edinburgh international TV festival, Collins claimed there should be “real-world sanctions” for those – like Cummings – found in contempt of parliament.
He suggested Cummings should not have been given a key role at No 10.
“I think we have a very inadequate situation where there’s not enough real-world sanctions for those found in contempt of the house.
“There should be some sanction for those found in contempt of parliament, including whether they should be considered fit to hold public office.”
After returning semi-triumphant to Downing Street, Boris Johnson has reportedly order his officials to draw up a presentable proposal outlining a workable alternative to the backstop.
Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and his team have been told to “turbocharge” work on a new Irish border policy, according to The Daily Telegraph.
It is set to focus on examining proposals in a 268-page report already written by the Alternative Arrangements Commission – which recommended a series of administrative and technological measures.
One of the ideas is that trusted trader regimes would allow firms to cut down on paperwork and potentially avoid routine customs checks at the border.
If you missed our sketch writer Tom Peck’s take on the Paris summit, here it is.
Jeremy Corbyn has warned the government is “failing a whole generation of children” who are falling victim to rising homelessness and poverty.
The Labour leader’s remarks come after a report by the Children’s Commissioner for England estimated there could be more than 210,000 children without a permanent home in England, with thousands living in dangerous converted shipping containers.
Set to visit a children’s lunch club in an undisclosed location in Wales today, Corbyn said Labour would “take radical action” to improve the situation.
According to the Labour leader, stopping the roll-out of Universal Credit and introducing 30 hours of free childcare a week for all two to four-year-olds will help people in poverty.
Corbyn said: “Working class children are still being held back while their wealthy peers get ahead. The next Labour government will take radical action to unlock the potential of every child, not just a lucky few.
“The Tories are failing a whole generation of children. A child growing up in a shipping container or a B&B, or going to school hungry, cannot be expected to reach their full potential. We have a moral responsibility to end the scandal of child poverty and homelessness.”
Here’s our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan with more on Tory MP Damian Collins’ criticisms of top Downing Street aide Dominic Cummings.
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