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Today’s political headlines includes Johnson considering slashing the number of Government departments, Hunt accused of spouting macho nonsense, Corbyn calls for an inquiry into The Times and Hammond criticises candidates’ spending plans. 

Johnson considers reducing number of Government departments
The Daily Telegraph claims that Boris Johnson is considering proposals to reduce the number of Government departments. He has already backed merging the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office but is now being urged to consider abolishing up to seven other departments, in a move backed by supporters including Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Priti Patel. A source in the campaign told the paper that such a decision would have to wait until after Brexit had been delivered.

Hunt accused of ‘spouting macho nonsense’ over plan to cancel civil servants’ holidays
The Times says that Jeremy Hunt was yesterday accused of ‘spouting macho nonsense’ by Dave Penman, head of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, after Hunt threatened to cancel all civil service leave in August unless departments convinced him that their no-deal plans were ‘on time and on track’. Hunt also said that he would decide on 30 September whether a deal was likely, and if it wasn’t, he would cease all talks with the EU and would instead focus on preparing for a no-deal Brexit.

Corbyn calls for independent inquiry into report by The Times
The Guardian reports Jeremy Corbyn has asked for an independent investigation into a report by The Times which claimed that it had been told by senior civil servants that he would have to stand down due to health issues. Writing to Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Corbyn said the claims ‘undermined confidence in the principle of civil service neutrality’.

Hammond criticises candidates’ spending plans
The Times says that Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned that the spending plans announced by the Conservative leadership contenders are at risk of ‘throwing away’ his party’s ‘reputation for fiscal responsibility’. He warned that the £25bn ‘fiscal firepower’ held in reserve would be needed to tackle a no-deal Brexit and that the candidates risked ‘delivering a bigger burden of debt to our children and our grandchildren’.

Heseltine report calls for more powers for metro mayors
The Financial Times carries details of a new report by Lord Heseltine, commissioned by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which calls for metro mayors to have their budgets and powers increased. He makes twenty proposals to help narrow the gap with London, including overseeing affordable housing construction, school performance and employment training.

Bercow blocks attempt to prevent public spending after a no-deal Brexit
The Daily Telegraph reports that John Bercow yesterday blocked an attempt by Dominic Grieve and Margaret Beckett to prevent spending on education and international development in the event of a no-deal Brexit by refusing to accept their amendment. A similar amendment, covering work and pensions, and housing, communities and local government, will be ruled on today. 

Local authorities warn of funding crisis
The Guardian says a survey by the Local Government Association shows that almost one in five local council leaders will be forced to put drastic spending controls in place in the next few months to avoid bankruptcy. One in three warned that they expected to be unable to meet their statutory obligations, such as adult social care, within the next three years.

Government considers mandatory climate risk reporting for listed firms
According to the Financial Times, the Government’s new green finance strategy, published today, will say that the Government is to explore introducing a mandatory requirement for listed companies and pension funds to declare their climate-related risks from 2022.

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Today’s political headlines includes Johnson pledging Australian-style immigration system, social care bosses warn that services may be cut, new plan to block n0-deal Brexit and pro-cannabis Tory group is funded by cannabis manufacturers. 

Johnson pledges Australian-style immigration system
According to The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson has promised that he will bring in an Australian-style points-based immigration system in order to restore ‘public faith’. Migrants won’t be allowed to ‘cut ahead in the queue’ by taking jobs which could be done by British workers and won’t be entitled to benefits when they first arrive in the UK. He also called for the country to be ‘much more open’ to highly-skilled immigrants, but didn’t say what his immigration target would be as he wanted to consult the Migration Advisory Committee.

Social care bosses warn that services may be cut
The Guardian carries details of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ annual survey, which warns that the social care system is ‘not only failing financially, it is failing people’, putting them at risk of being denied basic support. Without urgent funding guarantees, local authorities might have to start decommissioning services this autumn. The association is calling for an urgent cross-party agreement.

New plan to block no-deal Brexit
The Times says that Dominic Grieve and Margaret Beckett are putting forward a plan to block Government spending if the new Prime Minister attempts a no-deal Brexit without Parliament’s approval. The move, expected to be backed by Labour in Tuesday’s vote, would make approval of the latest ‘estimates’ (Government expenditure) on policies including schools, benefits and aid contingent on MPs approving either a deal or no-deal.

Pro-cannabis Tory group is funded by cannabis manufacturers
The Daily Mail reports that a new pro-cannabis legalisation group, the Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group, is to launch today, chaired by the MP Crispin Blunt. The group, which is not affiliated to the party, has received £400,000 from firms which sell cannabis for recreational and medicinal use in Canada and the USA.

Johnson plans to turn on the ‘spending taps’ with Javid as Chancellor
The Financial Times says that Sajid Javid is emerging as Boris Johnson’s ‘favoured choice’ of Chancellor, as he has worked at the Treasury before and has links to the City. A source close to the Johnson campaign told the paper that Johnson ‘really is planning to turn on the spending taps’.

Hunt pledges to protect pensioners’ free TV licence
The Daily Mirror claims that a new poll shows that 85% of senior citizens would refuse to pay for a TV licence if they lose their entitlement to a free one. Jeremy Hunt has said that he would protect the benefit if he is elected, expressing concern that failing to do so ‘would be against our manifesto’.

Williamson readmitted by Labour
The Guardian says the Labour Party has readmitted the MP Chris Williamson, who had been suspended after he claimed that it was ‘too apologetic’ about antisemitism. Other MPs have expressed their displeasure, with Ruth Smeeth saying that she was ‘horrified’ while Jess Phillips claimed to be ‘disgusted’. Party investigators had recommended tougher sanctions, but were over-ruled by a panel which included MPs Keith Vaz and George Howarth.

Party conference recess may be scrapped
According to The Sun, talks are underway to axe the parliamentary recess for the party conferences in late September and early October. A Eurosceptic claimed that the move would to give ‘MPs more time to stop us leaving’, but a senior Tory told the paper that the new Prime Minister would need more time to get a deal through Parliament.

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Today’s political headlines includes Johnson defending his right to privacy, Hunt promising £15bn defence spending, Labour MPs given a fortnight to decide if they want to stand again and financial reporting on Johnson’s proposed tax cuts. 

Johnson defends right to privacy as donor demands explanation
The Daily Telegraph says that Boris Johnson has defended his right to privacy saying that it was ‘unfair’ to drag his ‘loved ones’ into things, but has been accused of hypocrisy after photos of him holding hands with his girlfriend were passed to the press. He used a BBC interview last night to relaunch his campaign for the leadership and will attend a series of events in Surrey and South London today, after criticism from a number of sources including leading party donor John Griffin, who said that members ‘deserve an explanation’.

Hunt promises £15bn defence spending
The Times reports that Jeremy Hunt is to announce that he will increase defence spending by £15bn if he becomes Prime Minister, ensuring that it reaches 2.5% of GDP in the next five years. However, he has not given a detailed explanation of how this will be funded. The money would be used to increase the UK’s presence in the North Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions and to expand the UK’s cyber-security defences.

Labour MPs given a fortnight to decide if they want to stand again
The Guardian reports that the Labour Party has given its MPs a fortnight to decide if they wish to stand again at the next general election. Following a rule change last year, those who wish to restand will need to secure the support of two-thirds of local branches and local trade union branches; if they don’t, they can be challenged by other candidates.

Johnson tax cuts could cost £20bn and would mostly benefit the rich
The Financial Times carries details of new analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which says that Boris Johnson’s proposed tax cuts could cost up to £20bn a year and would mostly benefit richer households. Tom Waters from the thinktank said it was ‘not clear that spending such sums on tax cuts is compatible with both ending austerity in public spending and prudent management of the public finances’.

Top jobs disproportionately held by private school pupils
The Guardian says that a new study by the Sutton Trust and the Social Mobility Commission shows that members of the UK’s elite, who hold top jobs in politics, the judiciary, the media and business are five times more likely to have attended a private school than the population as a whole. Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said that Labour would give ‘every child the chance to flourish, not just a lucky few’.

Ireland under pressure from other EU countries over no-deal Brexit plans
The Daily Telegraph claims that Ireland is coming under pressure from six other EU countries, including France and Germany, to detail how it would manage a no-deal Brexit as they are concerned that this may now be unavoidable. The countries are said to fear that Ireland could pose a threat to the integrity of the single market.

May to make everyone eligible for sick pay
The Sun reports that Theresa May is to announce that sick pay will be extended to everyone. Companies that treat their staff well will be given a ‘conditional rebate’. The measure forms part of May’s attempt to establish a legacy, with the Government also considering higher accessibility standards for new homes and increased support for disability benefit recipients.

Davies reselected despite recall petition
The Times reports that the Conservatives have selected Chris Davies as their candidate for the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, despite it having been caused by a recall petition triggered after he admitted submitting two false expenses invoices. He said that he was ‘the right person’, despite almost one in five constituents having backed the petition.

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Today’s political headlines includes Hunt accusing Johnson of cowardice, Johnson and Symonds have been driven out of their flat, and Johnson’s Brexit stance while being contradicted over no-deal tariff claims. 

Hunt accuses Johnson of cowardice
Writing in The Times, Jeremy Hunt accuses Boris Johnson of being a ‘coward’ who is willing to ‘slink through the back door’ of 10 Downing Street while avoiding being questioned, telling him to ‘man up’. He has been refusing to provide an explanation of the incident at the flat he shares with his partner, Carrie Symonds, which led to police being called after neighbours heard screaming. Johnson has also only agreed to participate in two broadcast debates, both of which will only take place after ballot papers are sent to members.

Anarchists drive Johnson and Symonds out of flat
According to the Daily Mail, Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have been forced to go into hiding after anarchists from the group Class War staged a protest outside their flat, with a friend of the couple telling the paper that the couple have ‘a very loving and stable relationship’ and have ‘spent the weekend together’. The Daily Mirror says that Johnson’s friends claim that he is ‘yearning’ to be with his estranged wife, while The Sun claims that the row followed a series of four over the last six weeks in what a friend described as ‘an incredibly volatile relationship’, including the couple nearly splitting up earlier this month.

Johnson says he won’t ‘bottle’ Brexit
Boris Johnson has used his column in The Daily Telegraph to promise that he won’t ‘bottle’ Brexit and that ‘we can, we must and we will leave’ the European Union on 31 October. He also claims that once Brexit has been completed, the focus should be to ‘turbocharge’ the economy, promising higher pay not higher taxes.

Cox and Fox contradict Johnson over no-deal tariff claims
The Financial Times claims Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox has told the Government that, despite claims by Boris Johnson, the UK would probably not be able to maintain its existing tariff-free trade with the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit, even for a time-limited period. Cox’s stance has also been backed by International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.

Hunt says UK would consider joining US attack on Iran
In an exclusive, the Daily Mail reports that Foreign Secretary and leadership contender Jeremy Hunt has said that the UK would consider joining a US-led military attack on Iran, but that it would do so ‘on a case-by-case basis’. He added that Iran should ‘stop its destabilising activity throughout the Middle East’ and said that it was ‘almost certainly’ responsible for recent sabotage to oil tankers.

NHS boss raises prospect of compulsory tax on gambling firms
The Times says that Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England, has said that the voluntary levy on the gambling industry wasn’t raising enough to pay for the treatment of addicts and ‘the possibility of a mandatory levy’ should be left open. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said he was ‘determined to do everything I can to help anyone affected’.

Most types of Brexit to worsen UK’s finances
The Guardian reports that a new report by the UK in a Changing Europe thinktank finds that most types of Brexit would lead to the UK’s finances becoming worse, giving the country less capacity to tackle issues such as child poverty, social care and left-behind communities.

Report claims current technology could make backstop obsolete
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a new report by the thinktank Prosperity UK, which claims that a hard border on the island of Ireland could be prevented using existing technology to deliver ‘invisible’ customs checks, making the backstop ‘obsolete’ within three years. The report was led by Nicky Morgan and Greg Hands and is supported by Brexiteers such as Iain Duncan Smith, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker.

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Today’s political headlines includes rivals raising the heat on Johnson, Corbyn to set out Labour’s Brexit stance, Raab’s campaign manager accuses Tory MPs of pretending to support him and Farage says he could do a deal with Johnson. 

Rivals raise heat on Johnson
The Times says rival leadership candidates used last night’s debate to raise the heat on Boris Johnson, who softened his stance on Brexit, moved away from his suggested tax cuts on high earners and refused to commit to blocking Heathrow expansion. Rory Stewart also came under scrutiny, later agreeing that his performance was ‘lacklustre’. In the second round of voting, Johnson got 126 votes while Dominic Raab was eliminated. Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid all grew support marginally, but Stewart’s votes nearly doubled.

Corbyn to set out Labour’s Brexit stance
The Guardian reports that in the ‘coming days’ Jeremy Corbyn will set out Labour’s latest Brexit stance in a speech, but is unlikely to back deputy leader Tom Watson’s calls for the party to adopt a more pro-remain approach. Instead he will develop his existing position of a public vote on any Brexit deal, although some shadow cabinet members are concerned about the impact this would have in their constituencies.

Raab’s campaign manager accuses Tory MPs of pretending to support him
The Times says that Sr Hugo Swire, Dominic Raab’s campaign manager, has said that his elimination was ‘a surprise and a big disappointment’, accusing MPs of pretending to support Raab. He said that most of Raab’s backers were now likely to transfer their support to Boris Johnson as it was ‘difficult to see them not backing’ a hard-Brexiteer.

Farage says he could do deal with Johnson
Speaking at an event organised by The Daily Telegraph, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has indicated that he could form an election pact with Boris Johnson, saying that if Johnson chose to fight an election backing a no-deal Brexit there ‘is a deal that could be done’ which would lead to ‘a massive, massive majority’.

Hammond threatens to resign over school funding plan
The Sun says that Chancellor Philip Hammond openly threatened his resignation yesterday over a dispute with Theresa May about plans to boost school funding by £27bn. Asked if he had quit, he said ‘no, not yet’. Cabinet ministers have indicated to the paper they are backing Hammond and believe the decision on the plans should be left to May’s successor.

Johnson rebuilds links with business leaders
The Financial Times says Boris Johnson held a private breakfast with business leaders yesterday, accompanied by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss, in an attempt to rebuild his relationship with them after his ‘fuck business’ remarks last year. He told attendees these had been taken out of context and pointed to his record as Mayor of London.

Khan accuses Tory candidates of adopting far right language
The Guardian says Sadiq Khan is to accuse Tory leadership contenders of adopting the language of the far right, warning that it could lead to events such as the massacre at the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. He will describe the Conservatives’ approach to Islamophobia as ‘utterly shameful’. The paper adds that during yesterday’s debate Sajid Javid got the other candidates to commit to an investigation into Islamophobia in the party.

Labour to announce plans for warnings on alcohol
The Sun reports that Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth is to announce plans to make alcohol carry warnings about the dangers of drinking too much, with details of calories and national drinking guidelines. He will warn that ‘the current voluntary approach is simply not fit for purpose’, but Chris Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs claimed that ‘the nanny statists are at it again’.

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