Boris Johnson news: PM’s ‘ludicrous’ plan for bridge to Northern Ireland attacked, as backlash builds over ‘mansion tax’ and HS2

Brexit briefing: How long until the end of the transition period?

Boris Johnson’s spokesman said government officials have begun a “proper piece of work” examining the potential for a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland. The proposal was immediately criticised as “ludicrous”, “crazy” and “a vanity project” by opposition politicians.

The prime minister is also facing a backlash from Conservative MPs as he prepares to give the go-ahead to the controversial HS2 rail project, and mulls over a possible “mansion tax” on the owners of expensive homes to help fund a public spending boost.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer’s team claimed “factional” dirty tricks were behind allegations of membership database hacking after the Labour Party reported his campaign. Up to 40 MPs are thought to be considering quitting the party if Rebecca Long-Bailey succeeds Jeremy Corbyn.

This liveblog has now closed

Key Points

• PM considers mansion tax despite criticism over 'half-baked' move
• Starmer's team reject hackling claims as 'factional attack'
• Up to 40 Labour MPs 'considering quitting' if Long-Bailey wins
• Tory minister defends 'reasonable' forced deportation flight to Jamaica
• PM steps up 'bonkers' plan for £20bn bridge

[10 February 2020 14:43 · Adam Forrest]

Has time come for a four-day working week?

Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell set out the aspiration of a shorter working week in the run-up to the general election campaign – but the party ran into trouble when the shadow health secretary said it wouldn’t really work for the NHS.

One region in Spain has drawn up a more detailed plan to move to a four-day working week that would see working time gradually cut across the economy with no loss of pay.

Our Europe correspondent John Stone has taken a look at the government of Valencia’s “road map” towards a shorter working week.

[10 February 2020 14:59 · Adam Forrest]

Sinn Fein will demand Irish unity referendum

Sinn Fein’s deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill, has said her party will demand a poll on the reunification of Ireland as part of the price of going into coalition with one the traditional big two parties.

“We have said there should be an indyref within five years. That’s the position we have taken going into the negotiations,” she told the BBC.

[10 February 2020 15:25 · Adam Forrest]

Mansion tax would be ‘socialism-lite’, says right-wing pundit

The BBC Politics Live panel has been discussing the idea mansion tax on owners of expensive properties – something reportedly mooted by Boris Johnson for next month’s Budget.

“If you think of the wealth taxes we’ve got in this country – they are some of the highest in the western world,” said Leave campaigner and Institute for Economic Affairs’ Darren Grimes.

“The government has been talking a lot about levelling up – really exciting stuff. This would be Britain levelling down. This would be sending a message our economy will not be one that is low tax and open for business.”

He dismissed the idea as “socialist-lite”.

[10 February 2020 15:40 · Ashley Cowburn]

Patel leaves Commons as urgent question on deportations begins

Priti Patel, the home secretary, has just left the Commons chamber as an urgent question started on a deportation flight scheduled for tomorrow. 

It comes after the government has said it will push ahead with a charter flight removing around 50 people to Jamaica despite widespread demands for the mass deportation to be called off.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak insisted that those set to be forcibly removed on Tuesday – on the second charter flight to the country since the Windrush scandal – had committed “very serious offences” such as rape and murder, and their deportations were “reasonable”.

 

[10 February 2020 16:00 · Ashley Cowburn]

The sacking of female ministers would be a step in the wrong direction - Editorial 

"The joke among Westminster journalists is that Boris Johnson’s imminent cabinet reshuffle gets smaller every time they write about it. With hindsight, it would have been better for the prime minister’s aides to downplay rather than raise expectations. Talk of wide-ranging changes in personnel and a radical shake-up of Whitehall departments has been replaced by speculation about a more modest affair.

"What will matter most is not the number of sackings or new nameplates in Whitehall, which can be a costly distraction for both ministers and civil servants. Theresa May’s decision to create the now abolished Department for Exiting the EU in 2016 was a mistake. Brexit negotiations were always going to be run from No 10, and the move owed more to keeping Mr Johnson out of Brexit decisions while he was foreign secretary."

[10 February 2020 16:30 · Ashley Cowburn]

Up to 40 MPs 'considering quitting' party if Rebecca Long-Bailey wins race

Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey could face a walk out by dozens of MPs if she wins the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

Up to 40 MPs are understood to be considering their futures in the party if Ms Long-Bailey is named as the next leader, which could see some sit as independents or some leave politics.

Ms Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, is one of the favourites to win the leadership contest, with her shadow cabinet colleague Sir Keir Starmer emerging as her main rival.

[10 February 2020 17:01 · Ashley Cowburn]

Britain ‘reasonably confident’ of US trade deal despite Huawei concerns

Downing Street is “reasonably confident” it can strike a trade deal with the US despite concerns over the decision to grant Huawei access to the UK’s 5G mobile network, the foreign secretary has said.

Dominic Raab insisted Boris Johnson’s government had taken seriously Washington's protests over the Chinese firm’s role, which the American government regards as a security risk, but did not envisage the dispute being a fatal stumbling block to a trade agreement.

[10 February 2020 17:06 · Ashley Cowburn]

High Court refuses legal challenge over deportations 

The High Court has rejected a legal challenge that sought to halt a flight deporting 50 people to Jamaica. 

Duncan Lewis Solicitors, which is representing 15 people due to be on the flight, filed the papers at the High Court on Monday and have called for an urgent oral hearing on Monday afternoon to discuss the matter.

The move comes after the government insisted it would be pressing ahead with the flight, which is thought to be leaving the UK at 6.30am on Tuesday.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak said earlier those being forcibly removed had committed "very serious offences" and their deportations were "reasonable".

[10 February 2020 17:30 · Ashley Cowburn]

Starmer's team urge party bosses to intervene over 'unfair' hacking probe

Keir Starmer's leadership campaign has urged Labour bosses to intervene over "unfair" allegations of a data breach by members of his team.

The race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn descended into acrimony after Labour informed the data watchdog of allegations that Sir Keir's team had breached strict rules by hacking into the party's membership database.

Ex-Labour MP Jenny Chapman, the chair of Sir Keir's campaign, said the accusations were "utter nonsense" and called on Labour's general secretary, Jennie Formby, to withdraw the complaint.

[10 February 2020 18:00 · Ashley Cowburn]

Long-Bailey secures support of train drivers' union

Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey has secured the support of the train drivers' union, Aslef. 

"I am honoured to be endorsed by Aslef, and am committed to opposing Boris Johnson's plan to ban strikes on our railways," she said.

"As Labour leader I will stand shoulder to shoulder with trade unionists as we renew the labour movement and build support for a green, publicly owned transport system. This will be integral in Labour forging a path to power."