Boris Johnson news – live: UK to offer new route to citizenship for Hong Kongers, as Keir Starmer says PM ‘flippant’ on lockdown easing
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The UK will offer some Hong Kong residents a new route to British citizenship after Beijing imposed a draconian new “national security” law, Boris Johnson has confirmed. He and, earlier, Dominic Raab, said the new law violated the city’s autonomy which had been agreed when the UK handed control to China in 1997.
Mr Johnson faced a grilling at PMQs as Keir Starmer said he was “blind to the risks” of easing lockdown. Sir Keir blamed the prime minister for scenes of crowded beaches last week and suggested the impending reopening of pubs – on a Saturday – was cause for concern.
Earlier, the PM issued a plea for Israel to abandon plans to annex more Palestinian territory in the West Bank, warning it will risk the country’s security in the long run and that the UK will regard expansion as against international law.
A Labour amendment asking for a review of the impact of the Finance Bill on the environment has been defeated by 246 votes to 342 (a majority of 96).
Wes Streeting, shadow exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said on Wednesday there was “no room for complacency” on the issue.
He said Labour’s amendment asked that the chancellor “conduct an assessment of the impact of this Act on the environment within six months of royal assent, including the impact of the act on the UK's ability to achieve the 2050 target for net zero carbon emissions, the UK's ability to comply with its third, fourth and fifth carbon budgets, the impact on air quality standards and the impact on biodiversity.”
He added: “In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it has brought about, there can be no return to business as usual.
“Climate justice and social justice go hand in hand.”
Opinion: ‘Keir Starmer’s dismissal of defunding the police has lost him black support. The problem is, I don’t know if he cares?’
Sir Keir Starmer’s dismissal of demands to “defund the police” in the wake of anti-racism protests around the world has provoked anger and frustration from some groups.
The Labour leader said earlier this week that he believed such claims from the organisation Black Lives Matter in the UK were “nonsense” and he would not support them.
Our columnist, Kuba Shand-Baptiste, says his choice to dismiss the demands is telling of his leadership.
She writes:
“Few would expect Starmer to emerge as a police abolitionist. But his choice to roundly dismiss the concept of defunding the police as pure fantasy – rather than a) something with a history of academia around it or b) the concept involving issues around police being involved in situations that might be better left to counsellors or healthcare professionals – is telling.”
You can read her full column below:
Foreign Office head tells Chinese ambassador about UK concerns over Hong Kong law
Sir Simon McDonald, the Foreign Office’s permanent secretary, has told the Chinese ambassador that the imposition of new national security legislation on Hong Kong breaches the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Liu Xiaoming was summoned to the FCO on Wednesday after the controversial legislation was passed by Beijing.
It is understood Sir Simon made clear the UK's concern about the law during the meeting.
Downing Street to hold first press conference in more than one week
Downing Street will hold a coronavirus press conference for the first time in more than a week on Thursday and has invited members of the public to submit questions on education.
It comes as details on the return of schools are expected to be announced this week.
Corbyn accuses government of ‘rushing’ to re-open economy
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the government of “rushing” to re-open the economy and putting people’s health and safety at risk.
“The government was too slow to lockdown,” Mr Corbyn wrote on Twitter.
“Now they are rushing re-opening sectors of the economy, risking people's health and safety.
“People and health must come before private profit.”
Home Office increases support for trafficking victims after lawyers argue rates are 'discriminatory'
The Home Office has increased support for suspected modern slavery victims after facing a legal challenge which claimed the current levels were discriminatory and left vulnerable mothers unable to afford basic essentials.
Lawyers brought a judicial review against the department over the level of financial support provided to victims of trafficking who are pregnant or have children and do not claim asylum.
Our social affairs correspondent, May Bulman, has the full story below:
That's all from our live coverage of UK politics today - we'll be back with more updates tomorrow.
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