Inside Politics: Dominic Raab set to suspend extradition treaty with Hong Kong

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Boris Johnson, a big fan of The Godfather film franchise, will know the classic line: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” The prime minister hasn’t done a good job of staying close to either friend or foe. As Brexit talks resume and the US secretary of state flies in today, Britain appears no closer to either European or transatlantic trade deals. China is set to be further infuriated by the suspension of the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong. And with the Russia report due out this week, squabbles with Moscow are set to return. Perhaps the PM could rebrand our international isolation. “Socially-distanced foreign policy”, anyone?

Inside the bubble

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:

Trade talks between UK and EU officials resume properly today. A dinner in London between Michel Barnier and David Frost kicks off three days of formal dialogue. This week’s meetings are real negotiations (Brussels in particular is keen to distinguish between these and the mere “discussions” held last week). Some insiders suspect there might be a breakthrough on one or more topic – perhaps police and judicial cooperation, which has been a sticking point – but others are sceptical.

Daily briefing

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA: Dominic Raab looks set to suspend the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong over the territory’s new security law. The foreign secretary also accused China of “gross and egregious” abuses against its Uighur population, and said sanctions couldn’t be ruled out. China’s UK ambassador Liu Xiaoming accused Britain of dancing “to the tune of Americans” during his own appearance on The Andrew Marr Show. In a remarkable piece of TV drama, the ambassador was shown drone footage which appeared to show Uighurs being led blindfolded onto trains. Mr Liu said he “did not know” what the video showed. Russia’s UK ambassador, meanwhile, rejected claims that Moscow’s spies tried to steal coronavirus vaccine research. Andrei Kelin also said the BBC drama on the Salisbury poisonings was “so dull” he couldn’t watch to the end. Bit rude?

POMPEO AND CIRCUMSTANCE: As if there wasn’t enough international intrigue going on, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in town. He is expected to sit down with 20 MPs considered China “hawks” just prior to his meeting with Boris Johnson today. One rebel Tory group source told The Telegraph the purpose of the trip is not to congratulate the PM on his Huawei 5G ban, but to hold his “feet to the fire”. Meanwhile, Harry Dunn’s mother has appealed to the government to make her son “top priority” during Pompeo’s visit (Dunn died after a crash outside RAF Croughton, following which US suspect Anne Sacoolas fled the UK). Raab didn’t sound particularly encouraging on Sunday, saying there were “no measures” to force the US to comply with an extradition request.

WITHOUT A TRACE: Fresh questions for the government to answer on test and trace after The Independent revealed that fewer than half of contacts were reached in parts of north-west England – including Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale and the Blackburn with Darwen area struggling with a rise in cases. It comes as health officials investigate a new coronavirus outbreak at an NHS test and trace centre in Motherwell. Local lockdown action is the only game in town, as far as Boris Johnson is concerned. The PM likened the option of another national lockdown to a “nuclear deterrent” in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph. Meanwhile the UK’s national statistician Sir Ian Diamond said antibody studies suggest only 6.3 per cent of the population have been exposed to the virus – around 3 million people.

PARENT TRAP: Labour leader Keir Starmer is keen to get parents onside, accusing the government of putting them in an “impossible position” by urging a return to offices but failing to provide childcare. In Scotland, meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has said the independence campaign could learn a thing or two from her own “show, not tell” handling of the coronavirus crisis. The SNP boss claimed she had taken “the traditional rules of politics out of my decision-making”. Johnson is said to want a return to traditional, face-to-face Cabinet to set an example about getting back to work. It seems the PM’s love of tradition knows no bounds. In unearthed article from the mid-naughties, Johnson said he “loved” fox-hunting in a “semi-sexual” way.

DISAPPEARING ACT: Donald Trump has said he will “eventually” get it right on the demise of the coronavirus after claiming it would simply “disappear” one day. “I will be right eventually. You know I said, ‘It’s going to disappear’. I’ll say it again. It’s going to disappear and I’ll be right.” The president also used his Fox News interview to accuse rival Joe Biden of being “mentally shot” and a hostage to left-wing radicals. “Joe doesn’t know he’s alive”. More worryingly, he refused to commit to accepting the verdict of the November election. “I’m not a good loser,” Trump said, before adding: “I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election, I really do.”

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS: Spare a thought for the bleary-eyed EU leaders who have ended all-night talks without a deal. It marked the fourth long day of haggling over a potential £1.7bn coronavirus recovery fund. Grumpy at the lack of sleep, some turned on each other. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, defending a group of countries seeking strict reform guarantees, came under fire from Italy and Hungary – whose leader Viktor Orban asked why the Dutchman had such “hate” toward him. Hey, don’t take it so personally, Rutte suggested. “We are not here because we are going to be visitors at each other’s birthday party later. We are here because we do business ... We are all pros.” EU Council president Charles Michel urged them to reach an agreement today.

On the record

“It’s like a nuclear deterrent, I certainly don’t want to use it. And nor do I think we will be in that position again.”

Boris Johnson on the prospects of another national lockdown.

From the Twitterati

“Is this how the elite imagine ordinary people dress?”

The FT’s Jim Pickard is amazed by Dominic Cummings latest outfit – a straw hat and a big stick…

“Incredible to know that this man’s eyes work fine … Sorry kid but strap in tight, daddy’s clearly going to have to check them again.”

…and comedian James Felton thinks another trip to Barnard Castle is in order.

Essential reading

James Moore, The Independent: Council lockdown powers are another way for Johnson to pass the blame

Andrew Feinberg, The Independent: Will there be a Trump crimes commission if Biden wins in November?

Clare Foges, The Times: Spare us the mess of a grand coronavirus inquiry

Jeremy Hunt, New Statesman: The new wobbly world order

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