Boris Johnson news: PM condemned over ‘cruel and callous’ deportations to Jamaica, as Labour leadership candidate sparks transphobia row
Follow all the latest developments as they happened
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK
Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of “cruel and callous” behaviour over the recent Jamaica deportation flight in a heated PMQs clash – as the Labour leader suggested the government was applying different rules to black people.
No 10 is urgently appealing against a Court of Appeal ruling which prevented 25 people boarding the deportation flight, and is said to want to “accelerate” moves to change the review process.
Meanwhile, ministers rushed legislation to stop automatic early release of terror offenders through the Commons, and Labour leadership hopeful Rebecca Long-Bailey sparks a row after backing a pledge to expel members who express “transphobic” views.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Government wants Ofcom to be online safety regulator
The Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DMCS) has confirmed it is “minded” appoint broadcasting regulator Ofcom as a new internet watchdog – with the ability to fine social media companies which do not protect users from harmful content.
Culture secretary Nicky Morgan and home secretary Priti Patel said Ofcom’s existing position as a regulator made it suitable to enforce rules to keep the internet safe.
Baroness Morgan said: “We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve.”
Ofcom interim chief executive Jonathan Oxley “welcomed” the announcement.
Culture secretary Baroness Morgan (EPA)
Starting HS2 in the north would have been ‘good idea’, admits Grant Shapps
The transport secretary was asked by Sky News’ Kay Burley why the northern section of the high-speed rail project couldn’t be built first.
Shapps said: “Actually I agree, it would have been a good idea to have done that, I think. But here we are ten years down the line … A lot of the land purchases happened for the phase one, that’s London to Birmingham, so it’s inevitable you have to start there first because that is where the money is.”
He added: “But I agree … I think it would have been better to sequence this differently.”
Critics condemn ‘dangerous’ plan for Ofcom to regulate what’s posted online
Our technology editor Andrew Griffin has more on the government’s plan to appoint a new regulator to police what is posted on the internet.
Ofcom will have the power to enforce a “duty of care” on companies such as Facebook and Twitter “to protect users” – and will be able to punish those companies that fail.
But critics have claimed the addition of new rules could stifle free speech on the internet, giving the government unprecedented. Campaign group Big Brother Watch has called the plans “dangerous and wrong”.
All the details here:
Long-Bailey’s backing for trans rights plan ‘worrying’, says professor
Guests on BBC’s Politics Live have been discussing Rebecca Long-Bailey’s backing campaign to “fight” women’s groups branded “transphobic” and to expel offending party members.
Oxford University history professor Selina Todd said she found it “worrying” – and criticised some aspects of the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights group’s 12-point plan.
“I’m against transphobia, I’m against any form of hatred towards any group. But one of the extraordinary things about the declaration Rebecca Long-Bailey has signed up to is that it suggests women should be defined as a gender, rather than as a sex.”
PMQs begins
Boris Johnson kicks off PMQs with a message of support for people caught up in flooding at the weekend.
He is asked by Tory MP Julian Lewis about the defence review, who says the previous review was done in a “straightjacket” and urges him to overhaul the plan.
Johnson says the next integrated review will be the deepest since the Cold War - and promises that defence and security will be amply provided for due to increase economic prosperity (he hopes).
Corbyn attacks government over deportations
He begins by saying Chinese people facing “alarming levels of racism” over coronavirus and offers support to those caught up in the flooding.
The Labour leader kicks off by asking about the deportations of foreign nationals to Jamaica. He says the PM has learned “nothing from the Windrush scandal” and accuses the government of 'callous and cruel' treatment.
Corbyn has a dig at Johnson and asks if there is one rule for young black boys and another for young white boys who dabble in drugs and conspire to beat up journalists (referring to the PM's past).
Johnson says Corbyn demeans himself and has no right to conflate the issues.
Corbyn asks if US diplomat’s wife is being protected as she is a spy
The Labour leader turns to the case of Anne Sacoolas, who fled the UK after being involved in a car accident which killed British teenager Harry Dunn.
Boris Johnson says the government wants to bring Sacoolas back to the UK to face justice (the US government is refusing to extradite her).
Corbyn asks if Johnson will sack the foreign secretary Dominic Raab in the upcoming reshuffle for protecting her.
Johnson says the government was not notified about Sacooolas’ role.
Corbyn says the extradition treaty with the US is lopsided and asks him if he will balance it.
The PM says the treaty is worth looking at but its not relevant in this case.
Corbyn turns to the case of whistleblower Julian Assange, who is facing the threat of extradition to the US.
Johnson won’t comment on the case but says he support whistleblowers and journalists.
SNP MP accuses PM of ‘washing his hands’ of the conflict in Syria
Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, says children in Syria are freezing to death and not enough is being done.
PM says the UK has contributed £3.2bn to humanitarian relief in Syria.
Blackford says the UK has accepted the rule of President Assad and asks if the UK is washing its hands of Syrian people.
PM rejects this and says the UK has called for Assad to stand down.
Corbyn calls for Dominic Raab to be sacked over Harry Dunn case
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies