Brexit news: Boris Johnson expected to scrap foreign aid department and extend hostile environment, as BBC faces backlash over role in Tory election win
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Boris Johnson has addressed his new intake of 109 new Conservative MPs after his landslide victory, and was expected to urge them to vote for his Brexit deal so the UK can leave the EU by the end of January.
Mr Johnson’s reported plans to create a new immigration system, separate from the Home Office, has experts fearing an expansion of the “hostile environment” policy. It comes as senior Tories and more than 100 charities attack the PM’s plan to axe the department delivering Britain’s foreign aid.
The prime minister has also launched a mini-reshuffle of his cabinet, with Simon Hart appointed Welsh secretary and Nicky Morgan - who stepped down as an MP at the election - handed a life peerage to enable her to continue as culture secretary.
With Labour figures jockeying over who should succeed Jeremy Corbyn, shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald accused the BBC of “playing a part” in the party’s defeat. Emily Thornberry said she is taking legal action against Caroline Flint over the claim she called Leave voters “stupid”.
Here's how we covered the day's development as they happened:
Trump's economic adviser to visit Britain for trade talks
Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said he will visit the UK early next month January for trade talks with Boris Johnson's government.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Kudlow said he and US deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger would travel to Britain "to talk about a lot of things, including trade".
Referring to the US-UK trade deal, he said: "We'll probably get started on that very soon."
Trump and Johnson spoke over the phone earlier today and, according to Downing Street, both said they looked forward to negotiating and "ambitious free trade agreement" following the prime minister's re-election.
More than 100 charities join senior Tories in urging Johnson not to axe foreign aid department
Leading charities and senior Conservatives have joined forces to urge Boris Johnson to abandon plans to axe the UK’s £14bn foreign aid department, warning it would be “turning our backs on the world’s poorest people”.
An alliance of more than 100 aid groups spoke out as officials began work that is expected to see the Department for International Development swallowed up by the Foreign Office, reports Independent deputy political editor Rob Merrick:
Morgan to remain as culture secretary despite stepping down as MP
Here's my colleague Ashley Cowburn's full story on Nicky Morgan being handed a life peerage by Boris Johnson.
As he notes, the surprise move comes after Morgan repeatedly championed the Tories during the election campaign - including during one excruciating TV interview - despite having stepped down as an MP.
Morgan appointment rewards 'sycophancy', says Lib Dem MP
The Lib Dem culture spokeswoman is not impressed with Nicky Morgan's life peerage:
Female MPs more outspoken in debates led by women, study finds
Women MPs are significantly more outspoken and exert greater influence in parliamentary debates where the cabinet minister leading it is also a woman, according to a study.
Researchers at University College London found the gender of the cabinet minister has no bearing on male politicians' input, reports Independent women's correspondent Maya Oppenheim:
Khan: 'Ludicrous' to say Labour won the argument
Jeremy Corbyn's claim that Labour "won the arguments" despite losing the general election is "ludicrous", the mayor of London has said.
Writing in the i newspaper, Sadiq Khan said: "No amount of spin can even begin to deflect from the disaster of losing the fourth election in a row following a decade of damaging austerity by the governing party.
"[W]e lost. Shifting the dial on the debate around austerity is no consolation to those most affected by Tory rule.
"What faces our country over the next five years as a result of our failure is heartbreaking."
Khan conceded that some of Labour's policies were popular with the public but said the party had not convinced voters it could be trusted to run the country.
"Labour simply did not put forward a credible candidate for prime minister or a believable set of priorities for governing," he wrote, adding that Brexit and the party's failure to tackle antisemitism within its ranks had also been damaging.
Morgan 'delighted' to remain in cabinet
The culture secretary has tweeted about the announcement she will stay on in Boris Johnson's cabinet despite stepping down as MP:
Far-right Brexiteer who was ‘obsessed’ with ex-MP Soubry jailed for harassment
A far-right Brexiteer who ran against Anna Soubry in the general election has been jailed for harassing the former MP.
Amy Dalla Mura was sentenced to 28 days in prison and handed a three-year restraining order after a court was told of her “obsession” with the pro-Remain politician, reports The Independent's home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden:
Banks could withstand worst-case Brexit, says Carney
All of Britain's top lenders could weather the worst-case scenario in the event of a no-deal Brexit, or a financial crisis worse than the 2008 crash, the Bank of England (BoE) has said,
The banking sector is "resilient to and prepared for the wide range of UK economic and financial shocks that could be associated with a worst-case disorderly Brexit," the BoE added.
It comes following an annual stress test which simulates a scenario worse than the financial crisis.
The test modelled a perfect storm in which world gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 2.6%, UK GDP dropped by 4.7%, Bank rates rose to 4%, and unemployment jumped to 9.2%
It found banks could keep on lending throughout a potential financial crisis, although some might have to cut spending to stay afloat.
"All seven major banks and building socs in the test not only withstood the shocks, but were able to continue lending," said Bank governor Mark Carney.
Labour 'has to reconnect with the public', says Mandelson
The public must be engaged and "persuaded make this their fight to recreate a progressive majority," former Labour minister Peter Mandelson has said in this this piece written as part of The Independent's What Next for the Centre? series.
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