Boris Johnson news – live: Vaccine sceptics called 'nuts' by PM as ministers target junk food ads in obesity crackdown
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Boris Johnson has hit out at anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists, describing them as “nuts”, as he set out his government’s plan for an extra 30 million people to get the flu jab this winter.
The prime minister also called on the public to lose weight this summer, saying it was one of the ways “you can reduce your own risks from Covid”. He is set to propose a ban on TV junk food ads before 9pm in a bid to tackle Britain’s obesity problem.
And in an interview with the BBC, Mr Johnson admitted the UK could have handled the coronavirus pandemic better - saying there were "open questions" over the timing of his decision to send the country into lockdown. He added: "I think it's fair to say that there are things that we need to learn about how we handled it in the early stages”.
It comes exactly a year after Mr Johnson assumed his role in Downing Street, a 365 stretch that has seen him win an outright majority in the commons during the 2019 election, trigger the start of the Brexit process on New Year’s Eve and launch a response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Elsewhere in a stinging attack on the nation’s readiness to split from Brussels, a former national security adviser claimed ministers are refusing to admit to the threat from terrorists and crime gangs if there is no Brexit deal.
In a report to the House of Lords, Lord Peter Ricketts said “Without a deal, the loss of operational effectiveness for UK law enforcement agencies – including in Northern Ireland – will be profound, undermining modern intelligence led policing and putting the safety of the public at risk.”
And UK and US defence chiefs have accused Russia of launching an anti-satellite space weapon. Defence secretary Ben Wallace claimed Britain remained “deeply vulnerable” to the “weaponising” of space.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of politics events across the UK and beyond.
Britain and US accuse Russia of firing anti-satellite space weapon
The UK and the US have accused Russia of launching a weapon-like projectile from one of its satellites – Cosmos 2543.
Gen Jay Raymond, head of the US space command, said there was evidence “that Russia conducted a non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon”. The head of the British space directorate, air vice-marshal Harvey Smyth, said the manoeuvres “threaten the peaceful use of space”.
What are we supposed to make of it? How big a deal is it? One defence source said: “They’ve crossed a line when it comes to the scale of this.”
Defence secretary Ben Wallace said Britain remained “deeply vulnerable” in space. He added: “The threat against space is regretfully real, our adversaries are weaponising space and we are deeply vulnerable in the West from those types of actions because we rely so much on space assets.”
Our defence editor Kim Sengupta has the details:
Boris Johnson marks one-year anniversary at No 10
Boris Johnson is marking his first full year in office by holding talks with chancellor Sunak at Chequers, where they are expected to discuss infrastructure projects to help Britain recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.
The Financial Times reports the government is considering a new British infrastructure bank to assume the role of the European Investment Bank after the Brexit transition period.
The European institution is said to have lent more than €118bn (£108bn) to the UK for building infrastructure before Brexit.
Boris Johnson outside No 10 (AFP)
Patel promises new bill will bring in tougher sanctions against spies
The home secretary has promised new laws against foreign interference amid a storm over Russia’s influence in the UK.
Priti Patel has said she is working on a Bill which will bring tougher sanctions against spies and their states. She told The Express: “Security is what we are about - protecting our people, our country, our state.”
Patel also claimed the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC)’s Russia report was out-of-date and Britain had since improved its position.
“When it comes to our adversaries, we are much stronger than we were.”
The ISC this week warned that successive governments “welcomed the oligarchs and their money with open arms” and allowed them to forge “connections at the highest levels with access to UK companies and political figures”.
Tory donor claims Russian-linked businessmen have “zero” political influence
Russian-born Tory donor Alexander Temerko insisted Russian-linked businessmen have “zero” influence on British politics. Temerko, who has donated more than £1m to the Tories, said his wealth gave him influence in the City but not Westminster.
Asked about the influence wielded by Russian-linked individuals like him in the capital - dubbed “Londongrad” in the ISC’s Russia report – Temerko, now a British citizen, said: “Influence where? In the City, it is quite significant - in energy sector, yes quite significant but on a political level, zero.”
In an ITV News interview, he denied buying influence with his political donations, saying that to discuss his company with government officials would be “very inappropriate behaviour” and “impossible”.
Temerko said he was “absolutely” an enemy of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The Times reported this week that 14 cabinet ministers and two Tory members of the ISC had taken money from figures linked to Russia.
Government ‘to announce ban on junk food advertising before 9pm’
Boris Johnson is expected to will announce restrictions on how unhealthy foods are sold in Britain as soon as next week, in a bid to tackle high levels of obesity.
His government is set to propose a ban on online and TV advertising of unhealthy foods before the 9pm watershed and introduce new restrictions on supermarket promotions, executives briefed on the plans told the Financial Times.
Proposed new rules are also thought to include the introduction of compulsory calorie counts on restaurant and takeaway menus.
Police ‘don’t have the capacity’ to enforce new face covering rules
Today’s the big day face coverings become the norm in enclosed public spaces in England – including shops, supermarkets, banks and post offices.
After several days of confusion, the government finally clarified that they must also be worn when buying takeaway food and drink. People who refuse to wear a mask covering their face and nose in places set out by the government could face a £100 fine for today.
Yet the chair of the Police Federation has warned police “just don’t have the capacity" to enforce new face mask rules. John Apter called on businesses to help educate people on the new regulations as a joint effort.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I think the unfortunate thing is there’s an expectation that the police are almost the first port of call when it comes to enforcement ... We just don’t have the capacity, we simply can’t do it, not to the level some people expect which is for us to be almost in every high street, in every store, ensuring that people are wearing a face covering.”
Junk food crackdown ‘coming soon’, says minister
The care minister Helen Whately has been discussing the government’s new anti-obesity drive.
“The Department of Health has been consulting on the best way to protect children for instance from the advertising of unhealthy food,” she said.
“There will be an announcement about it imminently … the announcement is coming soon.”
Sugar tax extension needed to make junk food crackdown work, PM told
Health campaigners have warned the government that a refusal to slap a sugar tax on more products will fatally undermine a new crackdown on junk food.
Boris Johnson – who once vowed to fight any curbs on unhealthy foods – is expected to propose a ban on junk food ads online and before the 9pm watershed.
The National Obesity Forum said the existing levy on drinks, introduced in April 2018, had been “extremely successful”, driving down the sugar consumed by about 28 per cent.
The group said there was “very hard evidence that levies on industry, as opposed to taxing the people at the shop, is the way to go”.
Tam Fry, the group’s chairman added: “There are many products which would work for this kind of levy.”
Earlier this morning the health minister Helen Whately refused to discuss why a sugar tax extension appeared to have been ruled out, while admitting she was “well aware of the argument”.
‘Not sensible to relax restrictions’ in Blackburn, council leader says
The leader of Blackburn with Darwen council has told local residents it is “sensible not to relax” lockdown restrictions, as the rate of Covid cases in the borough has shot up.
Councillor Mohammed Khan urged the community to “keep up the momentum” in combating the disease as 122 new coronavirus cases were recorded in the seven days to 20 July.
Public Health England (PHE) has upgraded Blackburn with Darwen to an “area of intervention” following the increase, which means increased support.
Mr Khan said the reopening of council leisure facilities in the area would be delayed, alongside new “localised prevention measures”.
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