Boris Johnson news: PM under attack for 'schmoozing Tory donors while ignoring flood victims', as Sajid Javid issues public warning to leader

All the latest developments as they happened

Corbyn accuses Johnson of being a 'part-time PM'

Boris Johnson has been attacked by Jeremy Corbyn over his week-long absence from public view, as the Labour leader accused the “part-time PM” of “schmoozing Tory party donors” instead of visiting flood-hit communities in the north and Midlands.

The row comes as Labour demanded an investigation into the true scale of homelessness across the UK after figures showed more than 28,000 people are sleeping rough in a year – five times higher than the government admits.

Elsewhere, the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies said chancellor Rishi Sunak will have to hike taxes – or entrench austerity – to pay for a “giveaway” budget, while Sajid Javid warned his successor not to go on a spending splurge.

To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below

Key Points

• Corbyn tackles PM on failure to visit flood-hit communities
• Starmer set for decisive victory in Labour leadership race, poll finds
• DWP reviews into claimants’ deaths kept ‘hush-hush’, says Labour
• Corporate witnesses in Grenfell Tower inquiry given immunity from prosecution
• Small towns in north and Midlands 'will suffer most' under PM's Brexit deal

[26 February 2020 17:05 · Lizzy Buchan]

Move over, Jeremy Corbyn, there’s a new opposition in the house 

'Despite a damning NHS report on life expectancy, the only scrutiny Boris Johnson faced at this week’s PMQs was when Javid rose from the backbenches to give his customary post-resignation statement,' says Tom Peck, The Independent's sketchwriter.

Read his piece here:

[26 February 2020 17:20 · Lizzy Buchan]

Corporate witnesses in Grenfell Tower inquiry given immunity from prosecution

Witnesses from firms called to the Grenfell inquiry have won their fight for immunity from prosecution for their evidence, despite a lawyer for the victims describing the idea as “abhorrent”.

Suella Braverman, the new attorney general, has accepted a request from the inquiry’s chairman after architects and builders behind the tower’s refurbishment threatened to withhold testimonies.

The move will also cover the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), the client for the project, which had also claimed it was at risk of “self-incrimination”.

[26 February 2020 17:35 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May reacts to Sajid Javid's resignation speech

[26 February 2020 17:48 · Lizzy Buchan]

Keir Starmer set for victory in Labour leadership race, new poll shows

A new YouGov poll for Sky News has put Keir Starmer way out ahead in the Labour leadership race - with enough support to win on first preference votes.

It also gives Angela Rayner a whopping lead in the deputy race, although not enough to squeak over the line with first preferences.

[26 February 2020 18:00 · Lizzy Buchan]

Fresh demand for Harvey Weinstein to be stripped of CBE

Labour MP Chi Onwurah has written to the Cabinet Office calling for the honour to be removed following the Hollywood producer's rape conviction.

A New York City jury found Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual assault on Monday, leaving him facing the prospect of decades behind bars.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Central MP has been calling for the CBE to be removed from Weinstein since 2017 but said it was "implied that until a conviction was obtained" he would be allowed to "enjoy his honour".

In a letter to Helen Ewen, head of the honours and appointments secretariat in the Cabinet Office, Ms Onwurah said: "In light of the guilty verdict, will the Secretariat finally strip Mr Weinstein of his CBE as I first requested on 11 October 2017?

"Or will they continue to honour Mr Weinstein at the expense of all those who have experienced sexual violence and especially his victims?"

It is possible to remove an honour on the advice of the forfeiture committee and with the approval of the Queen. The committee will consider whether the holder of an honour has brought the system into disrepute.

Downing Street said Weinstein's honour was a matter for the independent panel but added that Boris Johnson's government was "crystal clear" in its condemnation of sexual abuse.

[26 February 2020 18:10 · Lizzy Buchan]

Keir Starmer on course for clear victory in race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, according to new poll

Keir Starmer is on course to be Labour’s next leader according to a new poll putting him comfortably ahead of his rivals in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. 

It comes as the party started sending ballots to its half a million members, registered supporters and affiliates on Monday before the next leader is unveiled at a special conference on 4 April. 

According the survey by YouGov, the shadow Brexit secretary has a convincing lead over his rivals Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy and could win the support of 53 per cent of members’ first preference votes.

[26 February 2020 18:16 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it for The Independent's politics liveblog for the day. Thanks for following!