Inside Politics: Johnson didn’t consult police on crime plan and quarantine rules to be relaxed

Policing bodies got plan on day it was announced and fully jabbed travellers from US and EU to skip quarantine, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

Brace yourselves. Just days after roads in London were submerged by flooding, forecasters say there is more heavy rain on the way for vast swathes of the country. At Westminster, Boris Johnson is facing a deluge of criticism over his crime plan, the provocative “chain gang” language he used to promote it, and his failure to notify senior police officers about the changes in advance. Elsewhere, England is planning to ease quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travellers from the US and EU.

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Inside the bubble

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Boris Johnson is due to continue the government’s “crime week” by attending the opening of a UK police memorial and meeting the families of officers who lost their lives. Home Office statistics will reveal progress towards its target of recruiting 20,000 officers.

Later the prime minister will play host at Chequers to Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyan president. Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, will unveil the government’s long awaited national disability strategy.

Coming up shortly:

- Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner on Times Radio at 8.35am

- Work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey also on Times Radio at 8.50am

Daily Briefing

BO NO: Johnson did not consult Britain’s most senior police officers about his crime plan, it has emerged. Police, already furious over a pay freeze and angry at “gimmicks”, say they were not involved in the formulation of the “beating crime plan”, and were only sent the full details on Tuesday – a day after it had been distributed to members of the media. Neither the NPCC, the Police Federation, the Police Superintendents’ Association nor the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners were formally spoken to about the proposals.

ARROGANT: “This just goes to show how out of touch, arrogant and dismissive of policing this Conservative government are,” Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said. “To not even consult officers on a plan for policing is ridiculous – perhaps they were worried about picking up the phone after the insulting zero per cent pay award offered this week.” Downing Street did not answerThe Independent’s questions on allegations that the plan was drawn up in a matter of days and without consultation with police, which all but confirms yesterday’s performance was an attempt to regain control of the narrative on crime after Labour launched its campaign for safer communities.

BIZARRE DEFENCE: All that came after the PM visited a Surrey police station to promote the plan, amid a backlash from campaigners and critics, who said it was details thin and simply rehashed old policies. “I think that giving the police the backing that they need in law to stop someone, to search them, to relieve them of a dangerous weapon – I don’t think that’s strong-arm tactics, I think that’s a kind and a loving thing to do,” Johnson bizarrely told reporters, when asked about the extension of police stop and search powers. With the headlines never far from his mind, Johnson, using typically provocative language, also said he wanted to see more “chain gangs” of people found guilty of anti-social behaviour out cleaning the streets in high-vis jackets, comments that make the front of the Daily Express. With an angry policing community and crime likely to rise post- “freedom day”, the issue is likely to drag on for the PM.

TRAVEL HOPE: According to multiple reports, England is planning to allow fully vaccinated travellers from the US and EU to avoid quarantine. The story makes the front pages of several of this morning’s papers, includingThe Times, which says ministers are set to approve the plan later. A source told the paper Johnson is concerned that the UK is falling behind the EU in resuming international travel and is worried that Britain risks “squandering its vaccine bonus”. In other Covid-related news, Professor Neil Ferguson, dubbed “Professor Lockdown”, has struck a cautious tone of optimism on when the pandemic might subside, after cases fell for the seventh consecutive day. He reckons the worst of it might be behind us by late September or early October. Meanwhile, Michael Gove has branded those who refuse a Covid vaccine as “selfish”, insisting that those deciding not to get jabbed face being barred from mass events. In comments likely to further provoke Tory backbenchers opposed to vaccine passports or certification to enter venues, Gove added: “You’re putting other people’s health and lives at risk – you should get vaccinated.” Influential backbench Tory MP Steve Baker warned the issue could split “the Tory party irretrievably.”

LACKING DETAIL: The PM has promised disabled people in the UK a “better and fairer life” as his government unveiled 100 immediate pledges as part of a new national disability strategy. But the strategy drew a muted response from disability charities, who welcomed some measures – but said the plan lacks ambition, clear funding and falls short of providing “transformational change”.

TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS: He hadn’t a clue. Lord Kenneth Clarke, the Tory peer and former health minister, has told an inquiry he was “not responsible” for blood products during the 1980s when the infected blooded scandal emerged. Thousands of people were diagnosed with HIV/Aids and/or hepatitis after receiving blood product treatments for haemophilia. Lord Clarke, who was a health minister from 1982 to 1985, insisted the emerging scandal “hardly ever came across my desk”. He told lead counsel Jenni Richards QC he had been dealing with policies such as closing “old Victorian asylums” and getting rid of “old geriatric hospitals”. The inquiry continues.

FIGHTING FIT: Wes Streeting, the shadow child poverty secretary, has announced he is back “fighting fight” after successful treatment for kidney cancer. The Ilford North MP, a rising star in Starmer’s shadow cabinet, says he is back at work after taking some time off in May. “The sun is shining, it’s a beautiful day and I’m really pleased to let you know that I’m back at work, fighting fit and cancer-free,” he said in a video message.

On the record

“I didn’t call meetings on it. I was never the minister directly responsible for blood products. I was never asked to take a decision on blood products. I never intervened to take a decision on blood products. I did intervene or get involved in discussions a bit when I wanted to be reassured.”

Former health minister and Tory peer Lord Clarke says he was not responsible for blood products in the early days of the infected blood scandal.

From the Twitterati

“Boris Johnson ‘gets tough’ on burglars. The burglary I prosecuted this week was from 2018. The trial is Summer 2022. All because @BorisJohnson and his colleagues defunded the criminal justice system. There’s never been a better time to be a criminal.”

The Secret Barrister on PM’s crime plan.

“A superbly forensic dissection of Policing Minister Kit Malthouse by @susannareid100 on@GMB just now. That’s how to hold Government Ministers to account. As Susanna made clear there won’t be any ‘extra’ police officers until the Government replaces the 21,000 they’ve already cut.”

Lawyer and vlogger Peter Stefanovic on ITV journalist Susanna Reid’s interview with government policing minister Kit Malthouse.

Essential reading

• Vince Cable, The Independent: We must learn to live with Covid – but the government is giving the public little confidence to do so
• Marie Le Conte, The Independent: Dominic Cummings just wants to be understood – like every other powerful man sidelined in politics
• John Rentoul, The Independent: Who will win the summer battle over crime – Starmer or Johnson?
• Katy Balls, The Spectator: Why the Tories are losing support