Boris Johnson news: Care home workers excluded from ‘shambolic’ new NHS visa, as Brexit ad blitz warns of higher travel cost

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Public should 'get ready' for end of transition period says Johnson

Downing Street has confirmed social care workers would not be able to take advantage of the new NHS visa, as home secretary Priti Patel sets out the government’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system.

The GMB trade union said the exclusion was an “embarrassing shambles” and accused the government of making “no acknowledgement of the vital job care workers have been doing” during the coronavirus crisis.

It comes as the government launches an ad campaign, warning of higher travel costs at the end of the Brexit transition period. Boris Johnson said people should “get ready” for new “opportunities”, but the European Movement group said the rhetoric was “what Orwell called Newspeak”.

Key Points

• New health visa condemned as 'embarrassing shambles'
• Social care workers won’t be eligible for new NHS visa, says No 10
• New Brexit ad campaign likened to Orwell’s 1984
• Ministers warned of outages if Huawei removed too fast
• PM will make announcement on mandatory face coverings in ‘next few days’
• Covid-19 puts questions about Brexit cost ‘in perspective’, says Johnson

[13 July 2020 19:49 · Samuel Osborne]

Brexit challenges compared to fighting Tyson Fury after Anthony Joshua

The challenges facing the UK as it exits the European Union have been compared to fighting Tyson Fury having already battled Anthony Joshua.

Labour MP Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) said: "My view is we're heading for a disaster.

"And what does (Michael Gove) say to a leading businessman in my constituency (who) said we're staggering because of coronavirus, like coming out of the ring having gone 15 rounds with Anthony Joshua only to find, as we leave this chaos of leaving Europe, we've got Tyson Fury for another 15.

"Is it fair to do this to our great British public?"

Mr Gove responded: "Seconds out, round one, I'm tempted to reply."

He added: "I think it's important of course to be aware of the challenges, but also the opportunities."

[13 July 2020 20:21 · Peter Stubley]

Former chancellor to advise Saudi Arabian government

Philip Hammond is taking a part-time job as adviser to the Saudi government "exclusively on G20 matters", according to documents published today.

The former chancellor asked for the advice of the Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) before beginning the role.

The committee responded by ruling that Mr Hammond "should not become personally involved in lobbying the government on behalf of those you advise" for two years from his last day as a minister in the UK government.

You can read more about their decision on the government website.

[13 July 2020 20:32 · Peter Stubley]

  ↵That's it for the live politics coverage for today. You can follow the coronavirus-related developments at the link below.