UK politics news: Bullying probe ‘finds Priti Patel broke rules’ as Brexit talks paused after EU official catches Covid
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson is being urged to publish the findings of an inquiry into allegations of bullying by Priti Patel amid reports the investigation concluded she had breached the ministerial code.
A draft report last summer is said to have found the home secretary breached the requirements to treat civil servants with consideration and respect.
Meanwhile, Brexit talks have been suspended following an agreement between the two sides after a member of Michel Barnier’s negotiation team tested positive for the coronavirus.
In Westminster, Boris Johnson has announced he will plunge £16.5bn into the Ministry of Defence while pledging support for the creation of “inexhaustible laser” weaponry, and a “space command” capable of launching the UK’s first rocket by 2022.
‘End era of retreat’: Boris Johnson pledges laser guns as he pumps extra £16.5bn into military
Boris Johnson has pledged to develop laser weapons for the UK military as he announces a £16.5 billion cash injection into the defence budget.
More below:
Boris Johnson pledges laser guns as he pumps £16.5bn into military
Boris Johnson has pledged to develop laser weapons for the UK military as he announces a £16.5 billion cash injection into the defence budget.
Dfid you or Dfid-n’t you?
Boris Johnson has announced the Department for International Development will remain based in East Kilbride.
Just one problem there, as the Mail’s John Stevens points out:
Brand Rishi taking a hit
A bit of anger being expressed toward brand Rishi according to reports - with the Chancellor having put his name on the government’s defence spending graphics while others are left to tweet out that of the party.
Mr Sunak has become well known for his glossy digital graphics since taking on the job - although apparently some are less than keen for him to do so in this instance.
Here is Times Radio’s Tom Newton-Dunn:
Johnson’s laser focus
Boris Johnson said a "once-in-a-generation modernisation" of the armed forces is required to extend British influence, adding emerging technologies "visible on the horizon" will make the returns from defence investment "infinitely greater".
The prime minister told MPs: "The latest advances will multiply the fighting power of every warship, aircraft and infantry unit many times over, and the prizes will go to the swiftest and most agile nations - not necessarily the biggest."
Mr Johnson sought to explain the plan to forge the UK's military assets into a single network.
He said: "A solider in hostile territory will be alerted to a distant ambush by sensors or satellites or drones, instantly transmitting a warning using artificial intelligence to devise the optimal response and offering an array of options - from summoning an airstrike to ordering a swarm attack by drones, or by paralysing the enemy with cyber weapons."
The prime minister also said UK warships and combat vehicles will carry "directed energy weapons" to destroy targets with "inexhaustible lasers".
PA
Starmer welcomes spending, questions strategy
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said while he welcomes the additional defence funding, it is "a spending announcement without a strategy".
Responding to the Prime Minister's statement, he told the Commons: "Under my leadership, national security will always be Labour's top priority.
"Britain must once again show global leadership and be a moral force for good in the world - both in how we tackle present and emerging security threats, but also in how we build a fairer, greener and more secure world.
"So we welcome this additional funding for our defence and security forces and we agree that it is vital to end what the Prime Minister calls - I have to say, with complete lack of self-awareness - an era of retreat.
"But this is a spending announcement without a strategy. The Government has yet again pushed back vital parts of the Integrated Review and there is no clarity over the Government's strategic priorities."
‘Spending announcement without strategy’
Echoing the Labour leader’s comments, here’s the shadow foreign secretary on the defence funding boost:
Free school meals
“Boris Johnson’s government can’t find £20m to feed poor British children over their school holidays, but it seems that there’s £16bn available to pour into the Ministry of Defence’s vast black hole," columnist James Moore writes.
Read his piece in light of the funding boost announced today:
Boris Johnson is giving the military £16bn. What about feeding hungry kids? | James Moore
The MoD’s mismanagement of its accounts seems to elicit little more than a shrug from the government, yet the money it wastes could be used to pay for free school meals over multiple holidays
Aid v defence
Jeremy Hunt, a former Tory foreign secretary, urged Boris Johnson not to listen to those who might suggest cutting the UK's aid commitment in order to fund defence spending.
He told the Commons: "Prime Minister, this is a fantastic announcement. He will remember last year that in the leadership campaign I said we should be moving towards 3 per cent of our GDP on our defence, so we think exactly the same on this.
"But could I urge him not to listen to any voices in his ear that say the way to fund this may be a temporary cut in the 0.7% aid commitment.
"We spent a decade winning the argument for that, and even a temporary cut will create an enormous clamour of people who say we should not go back to it.
PA
‘We’re practically bust’
A Tory peer says the defence review was “great” - but said the question of whether the government could afford it was “a massive one”.
“From what I can see, we can hardly afford anything at the moment. We’re practically bust," Ed Vaizey said.
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