Watch live as Jonathan Van-Tam leads briefing on Covid booster jabs
Brexit has led to UK firms paying tariffs on up to £9.5bn of exports – despite Boris Johnson’s claims of a “tariff-free” deal, an investigation has revealed.
In other news, MPs are set to vote on whether to scrap the controversial standards reforms that sparked Westminster’s sleaze row.
A motion to rescind the so-called Leadsom amendment, which looked to establish a review of the MPs standards investigation process and delay Owen Paterson’s suspension for breaking lobbying rules, has been tabled by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg for Monday.
It comes as the prime minister admitted for the first time that he could have handled the Paterson affair “better”.
UK can ‘lobby and encourage’ other countries on climate commitments – No10
Downing Street said the UK can “lobby and encourage” but cannot force other nations to commit to climate promises.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “But we will continue to keep the pressure on, that’s something that Alok Sharma will continue to do as his role as Cop President this year, to ensure those countries who have made commitments stand by them and those where we feel can do more, we will keep the pressure on to encourage them to come forward with further action.”
Zoe Tidman15 November 2021 13:08
Boris Johnson to hold Covid press conference at 3pm
Boris Johnson is to hold a Covid-19 press conference with the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris
Whitty at 3pm, Downing Street has said.
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 12:38
Tariffs paid on £9.5bn of UK exports to EU despite Boris Johnson’s claim of ‘tariff-free’ deal
Brexit has forced UK firms to pay tariffs on up to £9.5bn of exports to the EU despite Boris Johnson claiming he struck a “tariff-free” deal, an investigation has found.
More than one in eight traders say they have lost business since it came into force in January – some reporting their exports have disappeared completely, a TV documentary reveals.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the full story:
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 12:20
Airlines still imposing wrong passport rules post-Brexit
A woman attempting to travel from the Wirral to Cyprus with her husband was reportedly denied access to an easyJet flight by staff imposing the wrong passport rules.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has the exclusive story:
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 12:00
Boris Johnson praises bravery of Liverpool taxi blast driver
The prime minister has praised the taxi driver caught up in the Liverpool explosion for acting with “incredible presence of mind and bravery”.
Speaking at a medical centre in east London on Monday, Boris Johnson echoed the city’s mayor Joanne Anderson in crediting the driver, named locally as David Perry, for his conduct when his car exploded on Remembrance Sunday.
Mr Johnson said: “It does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.”
Three men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after the blast involving the taxi at Liverpool Women’s Hospital at 10.59am, around a mile away from the city’s cathedral where a large Remembrance service was taking place.
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 11:13
Boris Johnson refuses to be drawn on row over MPs’ standards during medical centre visit
Boris Johnson has refused to be drawn on the continuing row over MPs’ standards, following the controversy over the report into former cabinet minister Owen Paterson.
Speaking during a visit to a medical centre in Forest Gate, east London, he said: “I just want to salute you and the media for keeping going on this.
“I’m here to talk about boosters and urge people to come forward and get their boosters.”
Asked about reports that transport secretary Grant Shapps set up a group to lobby against housebuilding on airfields, Mr Johnson said: “If there are things to be investigated, then of course, that should take place.”
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 10:57
Boris Johnson mocked for saying Glasgow’s Cop26 took place in Edinburgh
Boris Johnson has been mocked for mistakenly referring to the Cop26 climate summit “in Edinburgh” rather than Glasgow where it was actually held.
The prime minister was speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Sunday as he defended a pledge by countries to start “phasing down” coal.
Matt Mathers has more on this story:
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 10:23
Tories reject watchdog’s call for Boris Johnson to lose power to decide on sleaze investigations
The Conservatives have again rejected a watchdog’s call for Boris Johnson to be stripped of the power to decide whether ministers are investigated for sleaze, despite rising public anger.
The independent committee on standards in public life made the recommendation – followed by a startling warning that Britain risk slipping into becoming “a corrupt country”.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more on this story:
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 10:07
Starmer says accusations he broke rules by using office for Zoom calls ‘complete and utter nonsense’
Sir Keir Starmer said accusations that he had broken the rules by using his Commons office for Zoom calls with the public were “complete and utter nonsense”.
The Labour leader told LBC: “We were going around the country virtually, because it was the middle of lockdown, and therefore I’m the leader of the opposition, I’ve got to get out and talk to businesses, talk to the public etc, and I’m not allowed to get out because of restrictions.
“So we did a virtual one, which was to do a Zoom call where members of the public could talk to me, businesses could talk to me, etc.
“It’s exactly what the leader of the opposition should be doing. And that story is an absolute nonsense.
“The idea as leader of the opposition I can’t talk to the public, I mean, only has to be said in one sentence to be seen to be ridiculous.”
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 09:45
Tory MPs to be challenged to vote to ban second jobs, as Labour piles on pressure over sleaze
Conservative MPs will be challenged to vote to ban second jobs on Wednesday, as Labour piles pressure on Boris Johnson to act on sleaze.
Keir Starmer revealed his party would stage the showdown – and argue for all outside work to be outlawed, except for working in the NHS or other public services.
Follow our breaking news story for more details:
Chiara Giordano15 November 2021 09:30
