Boris Johnson news: Keir Starmer condemns top civil servant’s exit as PM dismisses claims replacement must be Brexiteer
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Boris Johnson for “focusing on reshuffles” in the midst of the coronavirus crisis following the announcement Sir Mark Sedwill will step aside as cabinet secretary.
Mr Johnson was said to be keen on a Brexiteer as Sir Mark’s replacement – but he dismissed those reports on Monday and hailed Britain’s “impartial” civil service as the best in the world. It follows a call from Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove for government to be “closer to the 52 per cent who voted to Leave”.
Mr Johnson said he wanted a “Rooseveltian” rebuilding of the economy as he set out plans for an infrastructure spending blitz. It comes as the mayor of Leicester said the government wants to extend lockdown in the city for two weeks beyond 4 July to deal with a spike in Covid-19 cases.
PM plays down reports of ‘Brexiteer’ replacement for Sedwill on school site visit
Keir Starmer may have jokingly challenged Boris Johnson to a push-up battle, but it’s a day for the high-vis vests and hard hats rather than gym equipment.
The PM has paid a visit the construction site of Ealing Fields High School in west London as he outlines his 10-year, £1bn school building plan.
Johnson played down the prospect that he would insist on a Brexiteer replacing Sir Mark Sedwill at the top of the civil service.
“The great thing about the civil service is that nobody should know, least of all me. We have a wonderful civil service, they are impartial, they are the best in the world. Who knows what his or her views will be?”
Johnson also said the government was “concerned about Leicester” where there has been a flare-up of coronavirus.
He said the local “whack-a-mole” strategy had worked in Weston-super-Mare and where there had been outbreaks around GP surgeries in London. “That’s the same approach that we will bring to bear in Leicester as well.”
Boris Johnson visits Ealing school construction site (PA)
Who would make the best PM? Public says Starmer
A reminder of the weekend’s big poll story – an Opinium survey showing more people think Keir Starmer would make a better prime minister than Boris Johnson (the first time we’ve seen the Labour leader out in front in such a poll). Our friends at Statista have broken down the results.
Opinium survey showing Starmer narrowly ahead (Independent / Statista)
Johnson claims Sedwill ‘wanted to move on’
Speaking at his visit to a construction site in Ealing, Boris Johnson insisted that his top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill “wanted to move on” amid claims that the senior mandarin was forced out as part of an effort to shake up Whitehall.
Johnson insisted it was a “very logical” time for Sir Mark to move on despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis and economic fallout.
And he dismissed claims he was planning to install a Brexiteer as head of the civil service following tensions between former Vote Leave officials in Downing Street and the more cautious Whitehall machine.
“I think we have a wonderful civil service. They are impartial, they are the best in the world, and who knows what his or her views will be.”
‘Intensified’ trade deal talks back under way
Negotiators from the UK and EU have begun face to face talks in an effort to intensify negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal.
European Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said: “Our overall message this week, but also for the coming weeks and coming months, is to intensify our negotiations in order to make progress in order to get a deal.”
Ferrie said he had “no particular comments to make” about Frost being given a second job (as national security adviser) while the negotiations continued.
He added: “From our side at least we are fully concentrated on the negotiations.”
Ahead of the latest round of talks, Frost said the EU’s “unrealistic positions” would need to change if there is to be any progress.
David Frost at talks in Brussels on Monday (AP)
New coronavirus data dashboard
The government has launched a new dashboard for all its coronavirus data, including deaths, number of cases and amount of testing going on.
Now that the daily Downing Street press briefings are a thing of the past, this is supposed to replace the slides shown at the conferences at the end of each afternoon.
Today in the Commons
There will be two urgent questions in the House of Commons this afternoon – on support for asylum seekers and China’s treatment of Uyghurs, which will be followed by a statement from health secretary Matt Hancock.
Boris Johnson acknowledged on Monday the coronavirus pandemic has been a "disaster" for Britain, as he announced a spending splurge designed to get the country — and his faltering Conservative government — back on track.
As the UK emerges from a three-month lockdown, Mr Johnson has lined up big-money pledges on schools, housing and infrastructure, in an attempt to move on from an outbreak that has left more than 43,000 Britons dead — the worst confirmed death toll in Europe.
"This has been a disaster," Mr Johnson acknowledged on Monday. "Let's not mince our words. I mean, this has been an absolute nightmare for the country and the country's gone through a profound shock.
"But in those moments, you have the opportunity to change and to do things better," he told Times Radio. "This is a moment now to give our country the skills, the infrastructure, the long-term investment that we need."
Downing Street has defended the appointment of the UK's chief EU negotiator David Frost as the next national security adviser (NSA) after the departure of Sir Mark Sedwill.
The Prime Minister has faced criticism for appointing a political special adviser to a position previously filled by permanent civil servants.
However the PM's official spokesman said that such appointments were not unusual in other countries.
"The appointment of the NSA is always a decision for the Prime Minister," the spokesman said.
"It is not unusual in other countries for ambassadors to serve as national security advisers and ambassadors can be political appointees. David Frost has the status of an ambassador.
"The First Civil Service Commissioner has agreed the appointment. That is consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act."
No 10 can't say how many test results are coming back within 24 hours
Downing Street cannot say how many coronavirus test results are coming back within 24 hours – one day before Boris Johnson’s deadline for all to be returned that quickly.
The prime minister vowed that all tests in hospitals and drive-through centres would be processed within a day by the end of June, after criticism that delays are undermining the test-and-trace system.
Asked if the target would be met, his spokesman said only: “That is what we are working to do” – suggesting no figures on the progress made so far were available.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details:
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