Boris Johnson says tax on milkshakes will hurt the poor, as he faces attack by 'despairing' MP over plans - as it happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson faced an angry backlash over his plan to freeze levies on unhealthy food and drink products pending a review into whether they are effective.
The Tory leadership frontrunner was condemned by health groups, doctors and MPs after announcing the proposal on so-called "sin taxes". Tory MP Steve Brine, who was public health minister when the tax was introduced, said he "totally despair[ed]" and accused Mr Johnson of "transparent dog whistle politics dressed up as something thinking."
The former foreign secretary hit back, claiming that extending the tax to milkshakes would be "paid disproportionately by poorer families".
It came as Penny Mordaunt, the defence secretary and equalities minister, put pressure on the Tory leadership candidates to agree to change abortion laws in Northern Ireland, saying the impact they were having on women in the region was "really shocking".
Later, Jeremy Hunt was criticised by the Chinese ambassador to the UK over his comments about the unrest in Hong Kong.
Liu Xiaoming said: "I think it is totally wrong for Jeremy Hunt to talk about the freedom - this is not a matter about the freedom, it's a matter about breaking laws in Hong Kong."
But Mr Hunt hit back, tweeting: "Message to [the] Chinese government: good relations between countries are based on mutual respect and honouring the legally binding agreements between them. That is the best way to preserve the great relationship between the UK and China."
As it happened...
Penny Mordaunt has challenged the Tory leadership candidates to agree to lift the ban on abortion in Northern Ireland.
The defence secretary and equalities minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the impact of the law was "really shocking".
She said:
"Parliament has been very vocal on this issue and if a government didn't act, parliament would and there would clearly be a free vote on that.
"I think this needs to be resolved. The paucity of care that women have endured in Northern Ireland is the most appalling thing and it must change, that is my view.
"If we have this ruling by the court, I think government will act.
"Certainly that has been indication of the Northern Ireland Office which leads on these issues, but if government did not, parliament would and clearly all members of parliament, including prime ministers, would have a free vote."
Tory MPs have criticised Boris Johnson's plans to freeze taxes on unhealthy food and drink products and launch a review into whether they are effective.
Steve Brine, the minister who helped introduce the "sugar tax", tweets:
Former Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who now sits as an independent, has also criticised Boris Johnson's "sin tax" policy. The MP, who chairs the House of Commons health committee, tweets:
Full story: Westminster will act to overturn 'appalling' Northern Ireland abortion ban if human rights breached, says Penny Mordaunt
More criticism of Boris Johnson's policy on "sin taxes", this time from Jon Ashworth, Labour's shadow health secretary. He says:
“This is extraordinary even by Boris Johnson’s standards. On the same day that Cancer Research UK is warning of the rising cancer threat of obesity, and with his own cheerleader Matt Hancock supporting a plan to strengthen the obesity strategy, Johnson wants to water down the plan to tackle it.
“He has serious questions to answer about the role of corporate lobbyists for the soft drinks and tobacco industries in his campaign.
“Boris Johnson has shown that his priority is representing the interests of his wealthy supporters, with no concern for the health and wellbeing of the general public.”
Boris Johnson has been referred to the data watchdog over claims his campaign emails are "not kosher".
Harriet Baldwin, a Foreign Office minister, who is supporting Jeremy Hunt in the leadership race, told Sky News that her email address was "dug out of a very old email list" by the Johnson campaign. She suggested this could be a breach of GDPR laws.
She said:
"It struck me as being really off. It's obviously just some spam from some old database.
"Just proactively emailing in that way is not kosher these days."
Canada is refusing to extend its trade deal with the EU to the UK if there is no Brexit agreement, according to reports.
The Canadian government is reportedly refusing to roll over the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) deal it has with the EU if the British government opts for a no-deal Brexit.
A spokesperson for Canada's global affairs department told BuzzFeed News
"In case of a no-deal Brexit, Canada and the UK had been discussing a transitional agreement based on CETA while recognising the UK’s lack of jurisdiction to negotiate a free trade agreement as long as it remains an EU member state.
"In the event that the UK leaves the EU without an agreement, it has proposed to provide all WTO partners, including Canada, with duty-free access for 95% of tariff lines.
“Post-Brexit, any future trade arrangement between Canada and the UK would be influenced by the terms of the withdrawal agreed between the UK and the EU, as well as any unilateral UK approaches.”
↵This is interesting. Former Conservative MP Nick Boles, who now sits as an independent, is suggesting that many of the policies being promised by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt would never be approved by parliament...
Yet more criticism of Boris Johnson's plan to freeze "sin taxes" - this time from public health organisations.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, says her organisation is "seriously disappointed" by the pledge.
She says:
"One of the successes of the last Conservative government was the introduction of the sugar levy for soft drinks. The evidence shows that the sugar levy has worked.
"We should be building on the success of the sugar levy, not turning back the clock on the progress that has been made so far."
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said of so-called "sin taxes":
"They have been highly effective in bringing down smoking rates to record lows, including within deprived communities.
"Physical activity is one way to lose weight but the government also has a big role to play if we are to significantly reduce obesity levels."
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