Priti Patel: PM to announce decision on home secretary's future - BBC News

EPA

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out his decision later on the findings of an inquiry into the conduct of Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Sources familiar with the Cabinet Office report told the BBC it concluded Ms Patel broke rules on ministers' behaviour.

She has always strongly denied allegations of bullying.

Labour said the prime minister appeared to be involved in a "cover up" and called for the report to be published.

Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "If these revelations are correct, it is tantamount to condoning bullying, and in no other workplace would this be acceptable. It smacks of one rule for the government and one rule for everyone else."

• Inquiry 'found Patel broke behaviour rules'
• Patel bullying report 'with the PM' - Sedwill
• Publish Patel claims report - PM adviser

Normally if a minister breaches the code they are expected to resign. But a number of Tory MPs have rallied round Ms Patel, describing her as a determined person doing a tough job.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC she was an "excellent home secretary" who had "been nothing but courteous and kind in all the dealings I've had with her".

Mr Johnson has backed Ms Patel so far and there is little sign that will change.

The inquiry was launched after Home Office boss Sir Philip Rutnam resigned in February.

Sir Philip - who is suing for constructive dismissal - alleged staff felt that Ms Patel had "created fear".

Who is Priti Patel?

PA Media

• Born in London to Gujarati parents who left Uganda in the 1960s, she was educated at Watford Grammar School for Girls before studying at Keele and Essex universities
• Worked at Conservative Central Office, but left to run the press office of the Eurosceptic Referendum Party from 1995 to 1997
• Had a career in public relations before becoming an MP at the 2010 election
• Leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 EU referendum
• Appointed international development secretary by Theresa May
• Resigned from that role in 2017 after it emerged she had conducted unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials
• Tough stance on immigration has made her a popular figure with grassroots Conservatives
• Voted against gay marriage and has advocated bringing back the death penalty in the past but does not support it now

Profile: Priti Patel

The report, carried out by the government's independent adviser on standards, Sir Alex Allan, has not been published.

But one source said it had concluded that the "home secretary had not met the requirements of the ministerial code to treat civil servants with consideration and respect".

They added that the investigation had found evidence of bullying, even if it had not been intentional.

Another source who saw the report called it "unambiguous in stating that Priti Patel broke the ministerial code and that the prime minister buried it".

A spokesman for the home secretary said she had always denied the allegations and that there had never been any formal complaints made against her.

A different government source has suggested that the report also paints an unflattering picture of how Ms Patel was sometimes treated.

What is the ministerial code?

• Government document setting out "expected standards" of behaviour in office, which include "consideration and respect" for civil servants and other colleagues
• In the foreword, Boris Johnson says: "There must be no bullying and no harassment."
• Ministers are normally expected to resign if they are found to have broken the code
• There are no known cases of a minister staying in post following a breach
• Ministers who have stepped down include Liam Fox, over taking a friend and lobbyist on official trips, and Mark Field, who grabbed a climate protester
• The code has existed since the Second World War but was not made public until 1992

The report is understood to have looked at Ms Patel's behaviour at three different government departments - the Home Office, Work and Pensions and International Development.

The evidence gathering was completed several months ago, but Downing Street has delayed giving a decision on the findings.

The prime minister is the ultimate arbiter of the ministerial code, and there is no requirement on the government to publish Sir Alex's report.

The BBC understands there have been conversations in government this week about how to manage the situation, with suggestions that Ms Patel may be given a reprimand, or be asked to apologise, but keep her job.

'Strong and decisive'

Earlier this week former Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill suggested there could be a "wider range of sanctions", telling MPs: "I don't think it should be binary between let off or sacked."

Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA senior civil servants' union, said "thousands" of civil servants would be asking what "message" it would send if the government suggested Ms Patel did not have to resign over a "little bit of bullying".

He described the system as not "fit for purpose", adding: "We need an independent process that's not relying upon a prime minister making a political judgement rather than judging based on the evidence."

But several Conservative MPs have offered Ms Patel their support.

Tom Tugendhat tweeted that she was popular "across" the party because she was "hardworking, determined and has been very kind to many".

Another Tory MP, Julie Marson, said the home secretary was doing a "huge job", adding: "Like many women operating in a man's world, you have to be strong and decisive."

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said it was "really important" that the report is "properly published".

He added that there may be a balance in the report "between poor behaviour of the civil servants at that stage in charge and also issues or questions over the behaviour of the minister".

Labour called on the Committee on Standards in Public Life to investigate Ms Patel, but the committee chair Lord Evans of Weardale said his body could not look into individual alleged breaches of the rules.

He added there were "weaknesses" in the current standards structures and that his committee was conducting a review into the system.

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2020-11-20 10:13:00Z
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'This is absolutely shocking!' Emily Thornberry torn apart by James Cleverly in BBC QT row - Daily Express

The Shadow International Trade Secretary insisted that while Jeremy Corbyn has "shortcomings", he would have been a "kind and radical" Prime Minister. But Tory MP James Cleverly described her comments as "absolutely shocking" in a clash on BBC Question Time. Ms Thornberry said: "I've known Jeremy for a long time, more than 15 years.

"He's a neighbouring constituency MP to me and I believe if he has been Prime Minister, he would have been radical, kind, profoundly principled.

"He had shortcomings and one of them was that he allowed his own personal feelings get in the way, he felt he was personally under attack on the issue of anti-Semitism.

"He wasn't able to step back and take an objective view or it and make proper decisions.

"That was a profound weakness and that's something he knows."

READ MORE: BBCQT: Fiona Bruce SCOFFS at Tory MP in Boris devolution row 

BBC presenter Fiona Bruce asked: "Do you think he ever will apologise for what the EHRC called the 'failures of leadership'?"

Ms Thornberry continued: "I don't know, I don't feel it's right for me to speculate.

"I certainly hope that he does and takes this opportunity to think through but we need to move on and find a solution."

Mr Cleverly interjected: "That's absolutely shocking. How much evidence do you need?

Sir Keir Starmer's decision to block Mr Corbyn from sitting as a Labour MP despite his readmission as a party member has reignited the civil war on the opposition benches.

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds said a "politicised" disciplinary process had resulted in Mr Corbyn's readmittance to the party after his suspension - imposed in the wake of a damning report into the handling of anti-Semitism in Labour - was lifted on Tuesday.

Labour leader Sir Keir said on Wednesday morning that he would not restore the whip, meaning Mr Corbyn will continue to sit as an independent MP and will not be part of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, an ally of Mr Corbyn, questioned whether Sir Keir would ever have been elected leader if members knew how he would act against his predecessor.

She said excluding Mr Corbyn was "wrong" and Sir Keir's actions were "no way to unite the party".

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2020-11-20 07:44:00Z
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Matt Hancock dampens hopes of a major loosening of rules at Christmas - Daily Mail

Matt Hancock insists he wants UK-wide coronavirus rules over the festive period 'if at all possible' as he dampens hopes of a major easing of restrictions and warns 'it won't be like a normal Christmas'

• Matt Hancock said negotiations ongoing between devolved administrations
• Health Secretary said he wants UK-wide rules at Christmas 'if at all possible'
• But he dampened hopes of a major easing of curbs and said it 'won't be normal' 

By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: 09:06 GMT, 20 November 2020 | Updated: 09:06 GMT, 20 November 2020

Matt Hancock today poured cold water on the prospect of a major loosening of coronavirus restrictions at Christmas as he said he wants a UK-wide set of rules for the festive period 'if at all possible'. 

The Health Secretary said negotiations are ongoing between the four home nations as they try to hammer out proposals which would allow people to travel to see their family. 

But there is likely to be an uphill battle to agree terms given the dramatically different lockdown approaches which have been taken by England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in recent months. 

There had been hopes of a massive easing of draconian curbs to allow people to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. 

But Mr Hancock dampened hopes of a major lifting of restrictions as he said 'it of course won't be like a normal Christmas' and 'there will have to be rules in place'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock today dampened hopes of a major loosening of coronavirus rules over the festive period as he warned 'it of course won't be like a normal Christmas'

Boris Johnson is under pressure from Tory MPs to loosen rules over the festive period but the Prime Minister's scientific advisers are warning that could result in a drastic spike in infections and deaths. 

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has predicted that for every day of rules being eased there would have to be five days of tough restrictions. 

But ministers are now distancing themselves from the SAGE modelling, with Department of Health sources telling The Telegraph that 'preliminary Sage modelling should not be taken as guidance for possible decisions not taken yet'. 

The England-wide lockdown is due to end on December 2 and the PM is expected to set out his post-shutdown plans next week. 

Mr Hancock today warned against any expectations of a significant easing of rules at Christmas. 

Asked on Sky News what the rules over the festive period could look like, he said: 'Again, on this we don't know yet. I know how much, how important Christmas is, it is important to my family, it is important to people right across the country.

'We want to have a set of rules, if at all possible, that is UK-wide, not least because so many people travel between different parts of the UK.

'So we are working with the devolved authorities to try to get an agreed set of rules for Christmas.

'It of course won't be like a normal Christmas. There will have to be rules in place. But we hope that they'll allow for a bit more of that normal Christmas that people really look forward to.'

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hancock also dismissed calls for families to be allowed to make their own decisions on gathering at Christmas. 

He said: 'I believe in people having as much freedom as possible, subject to not harming others and the problem is that you can harm others even though you don't know you are doing it because this disease passes on asymptomatically.' 

Despite the gloomy forecast by the Health Secretary he did raise hopes of a mass coronavirus vaccination programme being rolled out potentially within weeks.  

He said: 'That is the hope. Nothing is guaranteed yet. Actually the big numbers in terms of if it comes through are more likely to be in the new year rather than before Christmas because we are absolutely determined that any vaccination programme will be safe.

'But nevertheless we have had really encouraging news over the last two weeks on the main vaccinations.

'In the meantime it is so important that people keep following those rules and the social distancing rules.

'There are encouraging signs that the number of cases is starting to flatten and the lockdown that we brought in earlier this month is working.

'But in the meantime everybody has got to keep following the rules. However, we have all been looking for the way out, the exit strategy, of the difficult circumstances this pandemic has necessitated and with the increasingly encouraging news on the vaccine, we can start to see that but we are not there yet.' 

Boris Johnson is expected to set out his post-lockdown plans for England next week. The national shutdown is due to end on December 2

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford today said he hoped the four home nations would at the very least be able to agree to one set of travel rules for Christmas

Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford this morning said he hoped the four nations would at the very least be able to agree one set of travel rules for the festive period.  

He said he had held discussions with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and the other first ministers of the devolved administrations on Wednesday about a UK-wide approach to Christmas restrictions, with another meeting planned for next week.

He told the BBC: 'We agreed some broad parameters on Wednesday and remitted officials of all four administrations to work now on the detail, so I remain hopeful that it will be possible to reach a four-nation approach to Christmas.

'I certainly think that is the right thing to do – if it is achievable – and certainly Wales will be at the table next week looking to find an agreement.'

Mr Drakeford said an agreement on permitting travel across the UK during the Christmas season was 'top of the list of things to agree', even if a wider agreement was not possible.

'I really do hope we can have a common approach to travel,' he added.

'It is very important for people in Wales, so many families here will have families in England and elsewhere and will be hoping to have visits from family members who live outside Wales. On travel, I am more hopeful than I was even on other aspects of our discussion.'

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2020-11-20 09:06:00Z
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Northern Ireland faces tough new lockdown measures from next Friday | ITV News - ITV News

The Executive has agreed much tougher Covid-19 restrictions that will come into place on November 27th for two weeks.

All hospitality, close contact services, non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment facilities, and churches will have to close during that period.

Government advice will be to stay at home and there will also be a strict work from home message.

Schools and child care centres can remain open and universities will practice distanced learning.

The announcement comes as cafes and close contact services across Northern Ireland prepare to reopen on Friday morning.

Close-contact services and cafes can still open this Friday as planned but will have to close again next Friday, while other hospitality sectors like pubs and licensed restaurants will remain closed throughout.

Takeaway hospitality services will be allowed.

The Stormont Executive also decided sporting events will only be allowed for elite athletes, with no spectators.

Rules around household gatherings will be unchanged.

Ministers are expected to develop a financial support package in the coming days.

---

The full list of measures agreed by the Executive:

• Closure of close contact services, and driving instruction (not motorcycles), except close contact for Film and TV production; those ancillary to medical, health and social care services; and elite-sports therapeutic services.

• Closure of all hospitality (except for accommodation for essential travel).  Takeaway and delivery, and food and drink in motorway services, airports and harbour terminals remain open.

• Closure of all leisure and entertainment (to include all soft play areas, gyms, swimming pools etc).

• No household gatherings of more than one household, other than current arrangements for linked households (bubbles), with current exceptions for caring, maintenance, house moves, etc.

• Closure of places of worship, except for weddings, civil partnerships and funerals.  Remain with 25 max for weddings and funerals.

• Stay at home, work from home if at all possible, otherwise only leave for essential purposes such as education, healthcare needs, to care for others or outdoor exercise.

The list of businesses that can remain open during the two week lockdown can be found here.

---

Ministers were told on Thursday that the R number was sitting at around 1, and that while the current restrictions have had some positive impact, hospital inpatients numbers are still at a higher level than the first wave and are declining slowly.First Minister Arlene Foster said: “The Executive has been presented today with the sobering prospect of our hospitals becoming overwhelmed within weeks.“It is clear that a tough, carefully timed, intervention is required to give us the best chance to have a safe and happy Christmas and further into the new year period.“We all need to work together to save our hospitals, to save Christmas, to save lives.”

Ministers had been told two weeks of further coronavirus restrictions were needed before Christmas in order to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

The Health minister, Robin Swann, warned colleagues if no new measures are introduced by the end of November even a full lockdown in mid-December would not be enough to prevent the health service being swamped by Covid-19 cases.

Proposals in a paper circulated by Mr Swann said restrictions beginning on November 27 appeared to be the most effective option in reducing virus transmission.

Top health officials said it is highly likely any relaxations over the next two weeks will result in the virus' reproductive rate rising well above one, with a subsequent increase in hospital intensive care admissions in December.

Mr Swann's department believes a two-week period of restriction starting on November 27 will offer the best prospect of avoiding the need for further intervention before January.

Mr Swann also asked fellow ministers to consider local travel restrictions which were legally enforceable.

So far they have only advised against "unnecessary travel".

A reopening date is now irrelevant, it’s now about a rescue package.

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster

Speaking after the announcement Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: “65,000 people in the hospitality industry are now looking to the Executive tonight to save their jobs and livelihoods.

“All trust in the Executive by the hospitality sector has been wiped away. We were told that Christmas trading would be saved, that is now gone. There is a huge amount of anger right across the hospitality industry.

"We have been left with left with no trade, no hope and a huge amount of redundancies on our hands.”

Reacting to the announcement Aodhán Connolly, director of Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said it is a huge blow to retailers, adding: "The closure of non-essential retail during what is our golden quarter is a huge blow to retailers already feeling the squeeze of decreased footfall and increased costs.

"The retail industry has invested well over £10 million in Northern Ireland to make stores safe and SAGE’s advice is that the impact on covid transmission of closing ‘non-essential’ retail is low."

He however acknowledged the decision had been made been in order to restrict activity and movement by members of the public adding: "We recognise retail has a part to play in that and we accept that ‘non-essential’ retail has to close for a short period.”

---

Businesses which can remain open include:

• Food retailers (food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops)

• Off licences and licensed shops selling alcohol (including breweries)

• Pharmacies (including non-dispensing pharmacies) and chemists

• Newsagents

• Homeware, building supplies and hardware stores

• Petrol stations

• Motor vehicle repair and MOT services

• Bicycle shops

• Taxi or vehicle hire businesses

• Banks, building societies, credit unions, short term loan providers and cash points savings clubs and undertakings which by way of business operate currency exchange offices, transmit money (or any representation of money) by any means or cash cheques which are made payable to customers.

• Post offices

• Funeral directors

• Laundrettes and dry cleaners

• Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health

• Veterinary surgeons and pet shops

• Agricultural supplies shops

• Storage and distribution facilities, including delivery drop off or collection points, where the facilities are in the premises of a business included in this list

• Car parks

• Public toilets

• Garden centres and ornamental plant nurseries (but not cafes or restaurants in such premises)

• Livestock markets.

---

It comes as the Department of Health revealed another 487 people have tested positive for Covid-19.

Another 12 deaths were reported.

A total of 3,401 cases have been diagnosed over the last seven days.

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2020-11-19 23:14:00Z
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Coronavirus: NI to face new lockdown measures from next Friday - BBC News

Pacemaker

Northern Ireland is set to face a two-week period of tougher Covid-19 lockdown measures from next Friday.

Non-essential retail will have to shut, and the hospitality sector will have to remain closed.

The measures were agreed by the executive on Thursday. Schools will be allowed to stay open.

Close contact services can reopen this Friday, but will have to close again on 27 November.

• Read the guidance from the executive on the new restrictions

The executive met on Thursday after Health Minister Robin Swann warned more restrictions were necessary by the end of November.

He said otherwise, a full lockdown in mid-December would not be enough to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

The measures agreed by ministers are extensive and will include:

• Closure of all non-essential retail
• Closure of close contact services such as hair and beauty salons and driving instructors; exemptions for those in film and TV production, those involved in health and social care services and elite sport services
• Hospitality will only be permitted to offer takeaway services - food and drink in motorway services, airports and harbour terminals remain open
• Closure of all leisure and entertainment to include soft play areas, gyms, golf courses, tennis courts, fitness studios and swimming pools
• Sporting events only permitted at elite level and to be played without spectators
• Closure of places of worship with exceptions for weddings, civil partnerships and funerals - the maximum number present will remain at 25

It is understood that close contact services and coffee shops that are due to reopen on Friday can still do so - but only for one week.

If they do not want to, it's believed they will be able to access financial support for staying closed.

The executive is set to develop more financial support packages in the next few days.

Pacemaker

Off licences will be allowed to remain open, but will have to close at 20:00.

No household gatherings of more than one household, other than current bubbling arrangements, will be permitted with exceptions for caring, maintenance, house moves.

Schools and childcare will remain open.

Public parks and outdoor play areas will also be permitted to stay open.

These restrictions are much tougher than the ones the DUP rejected just one week ago.

Then they vetoed the health minister's plans using the controversial cross-community vote - not once, but twice.

Now from next Friday, Northern Ireland will revert back to similar measures introduced in March, with the exception of schools remaining open.

None of the parties appeared for interview this evening to explain the move, but naturally it's a huge blow to those who hoped they had the green light to reopen.

Health officials will be relieved ministers have taken their advice on board, but this move only takes Stormont to the middle of December.

Further restrictions after that haven't been been ruled out, but the executive says what it's doing now represents the best chance of getting us to Christmas.

The executive took the decision to introduce the circuit breaker from next Friday, after modelling showed it was the "best time to introduce restrictions and avoid the likelihood" of further measures before Christmas.

Ministers were told on Thursday that the R-number - or transmission level of the virus - has settled at around one, but that hospital inpatient numbers are still sitting at a higher level than the first wave.

The stay at home message will remain as strong guidance.

It is understood a potential proposal to put travel restrictions into legal force did not get much support around the executive table and it was felt it would be too difficult to enforce.

The executive has said liaisons with the PSNI on visibility will continue.

What has the executive said?

First Minister Arlene Foster, whose party the DUP had blocked proposals to extend some restrictions last week, said it was not a position the executive "had hoped to be in", with the regulations due to end next week.

"The R rate has unfortunately not dropped as far, or for as long, as had been estimated. We have taken some time today to look at the reasons for this. Sadly it is clear that a careless minority have significantly undermined the sacrifices of the many," she said.

"So I want to take this opportunity to say to those who feel it's acceptable to flout public health advice, think again.

"We all need to work together to save our hospitals, to save Christmas, to save lives."

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the interventions agreed on Thursday night were "difficult but necessary" to avoid hospitals being overwhelmed in the run-up to Christmas.

In a video on social media, she said the impact of the virus had been "brought home" to her, after a relative of hers had died with Covid-19 overnight.

Health Minister Robin Swann, who had been urging the executive to agree to tighter measures, said he wanted to thank his colleagues for supporting the recommendations.

This virus has tested us all across society in ways we have never been tested before," he said.

"Nowhere has the pressure been more severe than in our health and social care system.

"All of us now have to work really hard to achieve a happier festive season. Please follow the public health advice and stay at home. Let's all redouble our efforts and look after each other."

How have business leaders reacted?

Simon Hamilton, chief executive of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, said trust in the executive was now at "rock bottom", as a result of the decision taken to close non-essential retail again.

Many businesses have said to me that they feel they’d have been far better off being told they’d have to remain closed for this long weeks ago rather than being repeatedly given reopening dates that haven’t been realised. Their trust in this Executive is now at rock bottom 2/5

— Simon Hamilton (@SimonHamilton) November 19, 2020

He said: "The decision to close retail is probably the biggest boost to online shopping in Northern Ireland since the invention of the internet.

"It cannot be understated what damage a decision to close shops at this time will do to jobs."

While Glyn Roberts of Retail NI warned the decision would "kill small businesses, rather than the virus".

"In the next week, we will see a huge rush of shoppers to our high streets, which clearly will not help with social distancing," he said.

Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said he accepted the executive's decision but said the timing could not be worse.

"November and December are peak trading months and millions of pounds per week will be lost in sales during what should be our busiest period," he said.

"We are asking the executive urgently to provide clarity about the criteria for reopening and to ensure that affected businesses are adequately supported in the coming months."

Hospitality representatives have also criticised the decision to keep their sector closed for another two weeks from next Friday.

Colin Neill of Hospitality Ulster said ministers should not underestimate the "huge amount of anger" across his industry.

"We now expect to meet with the health minister, chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser tomorrow for an urgent meeting with the hospitality industry steering group to start the process of working a way out of this awful situation," he added.

The decisions to extend the restrictions, which go much further than what had been anticipated, will now expire on 11 December.

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2020-11-19 22:50:00Z
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PM's £16bn defence splurge will make UK 'greatest naval power in Europe' once more - Daily Mail

Britannia rules the waves again: Boris Johnson's £16bn defence splurge will make UK 'greatest naval power in Europe' once more

• Billions of pounds of extra cash will go towards the next generation of warships  
• The Prime Minister said he would 'restore Britain's position' as ruler of the waves 
• PM says the warships will carry lasers which will make ammunition redundant

By Larisa Brown Defence And Security Editor For The Daily Mail

Published: 22:24 GMT, 19 November 2020 | Updated: 22:56 GMT, 19 November 2020

Britain will become Europe's greatest naval power again after a £16.5billion boost to defence spending, Boris Johnson vowed yesterday.

The Prime Minister said he would 'restore Britain's position' as the ruler of the waves rather than allow the UK to 'curl up in our island and leave the task to our friends'.

Billions of pounds of the extra defence cash would go towards the next generation of warships, including advanced new Type 32 frigates which will be armed with lasers. 

France has 23 warships, comprising 11 destroyers, 11 frigates and its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle – currently more than the UK.

Billions of pounds of the extra defence cash would go towards the next generation of warships, including advanced new Type 32 frigates which will be armed with lasers

But Royal Navy sources were keen to point out that many of its ships are 'old' and small, adding that with the addition of approximately five new Type 32 frigates, the UK will have 26 warships by the 2030s.

A Navy source said: 'If you look at the list of the French ships, some of those are getting on for 20 years old. This is going to be the most modern fleet in Europe.'

In a speech to the Commons yesterday, Mr Johnson said: 'We shall use our extra defence spending to restore Britain's position as the foremost naval power in Europe, taking forward our plans for eight Type 26 and five Type 31 frigates, and support ships to supply our carriers.

'We are going to develop the next generation of warships, including multi-role research vessels and Type 32 frigates.

Britain will become Europe's greatest naval power again after a £16.5billion boost to defence spending, Boris Johnson vowed yesterday

'And this will spur a renaissance of British shipbuilding across the UK – in Glasgow and Rosyth, Belfast, Appledore and Birkenhead – guaranteeing jobs and illuminating the benefits of the Union in the white light of the arc welder's torch.'

He added: 'If there was one policy which strengthens the UK in every possible sense, it is building more ships for the Royal Navy.'

Defence spending is to increase by £16.5billion above the Tories' manifesto commitment over four years. 

The Government had already pledged to raise spending by 0.5 per cent above inflation for every year of this parliament. The total amounts to £24.1billion more.

Mr Johnson said both Britain's new aircraft carriers, which cost £6.2billion in total, will be operational in 2023, with HMS Queen Elizabeth heading to the Indian Ocean and East Asia next year.

£1.5bn cyber force that will hack into terrorists’ mobiles

By Defence and Security Editor 

A new British ‘cyber force’ will take down enemy computer systems and hack into enemy air defences to protect our warplanes.

Made up of both military personnel and spies from MI6 and GCHQ, the National Cyber Force will eventually be 3,000-strong.

It will also have teams hacking into terrorists’ mobile phones to stop their plots and into paedophiles’ online chat rooms to destroy their ‘vile material’.

Experts say the force will ‘help to prevent the internet from being used as a global platform for serious crimes, including sexual abuse of children and fraud’.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said its budget of £1.5billion over the next four years ‘will give us the capability to launch offensive cyber operations against our adversaries’ in ways not seen before.

Instead of using electromagnetic jamming to protect UK warplanes, Britain would hack into enemy air defences to stop them deploying missiles. Mr Wallace said the force would also combat organised criminals linked to the Russian state. ‘We need sometimes our ability to deal with that problem,’ he added.

GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming said the force ‘brings together intelligence and defence capabilities to transform the UK’s ability to contest adversaries in cyber space, to protect the country, its people and our way of life’.

And Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab predicted it would become a ‘world-leading force for good, capable of conducting targeted, responsible cyber operations to protect our national security’.

 

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'We shall forward deploy more of our naval assets in the world's most important regions, protecting the shipping lanes that supply our nation,' he told MPs.

Outlining a futuristic vision for the Armed Forces, the PM also said the warships will carry lasers which will make ammunition redundant.

He said: 'Our warships and combat vehicles will carry 'directed energy weapons', destroying targets with inexhaustible lasers and for them the phrase 'out of ammunition' will become redundant.'

Billions of pounds will be poured into a space centre amid soaring threats from Russia and China and also a new cyber centre made up of troops and spies. 

The new RAF Space Command will launch British satellites and the country's first rocket from Scotland in 2022.

General Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the Defence Staff, welcomed the cash injection, saying it would be 'madness' if the UK did not spend more on space.

Asked why there had been a renewed focus on the Navy, Sir Nick suggested that the UK, which is set to be free of European Union rules next year, could play an increased part in policing global trade routes.

'We are a maritime power, we are an island,' he said.

'And we also depend to a huge degree on the global economy and the global economy moves by sea, the majority of it, when we are talking of fixed goods.

Mr Johnson said both Britain's new aircraft carriers, which cost £6.2billion in total, will be operational in 2023, with HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) heading to the Indian Ocean and East Asia next year.

'And of course the global economy has to move through some narrow straits and we have seen over the last 15 to 20 years the challenge of piracy but what we don't want to see is our ability to move on those 'global commons' [oceans] being limited.'

Andy Smith, director of pressure group Defence UK, said that although the extra investment was welcome, it must not be 'soaked up' by space and cyber demands.

He warned of 'serious conventional capability gaps across our Armed Forces, the result of decades of under-resourcing as well as poor procurement decisions'.

Admiral Lord West, former head of the Navy, said: 'We will all be safer because of [this spending]. A strong navy is good for stability and hence our wealth and security.'

But sources warned that the Ministry of Defence was not in a 'utopia' and there will still be cuts to come. 

Could the Army still face troop cuts?

A cut to Army numbers has not been ruled out in a shake-up of military operations.

Defence sources said ‘tough decisions have to be made’ despite the £16.5billion defence splurge. Options include slashing Army troop numbers below the current 74,000 or ending a recruitment drive intended to boost the figure to 82,000.

Details will be revealed in the new year. A defence source said: ‘There still needs to be rebalancing, we are not in some sort of defence utopia. The Armed Forces will not look the same at the end.’ 

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is said to have been observing the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, where drones have been used on tanks to devastating effect. High-tech weaponry is likely to be favoured over heavy armour in future. 

The source added: ‘Why invest in loads of tanks when you can have drones that can wipe out tanks?’

Despite the defence cash boost, the MoD must still fill a £13billion black hole in its equipment budget.

The MoD has denied reports that Scotland’s historic Black Watch regiment would be scrapped.

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2020-11-19 22:24:00Z
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COVID-19: Northern Ireland's coronavirus 'circuit breaker' lockdown extended - Sky News

Northern Ireland's devolved government has again extended its "circuit breaker" lockdown and significantly increased restrictions.

The hospitality sector and close-contact services such as hairdressers have already been closed for five weeks.

Under new restrictions, to take effect for two weeks from Friday 27 November, non-essential retail and churches will also shut.

It means cafes and close-contact services, which are permitted to re-open this weekend, will be closed again one week later.

Image: Pubs will remain closed for another two weeks from 27 November

Pubs and licensed restaurants, which were due to re-open on Friday 27 November, will remain closed for another two weeks.

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Schools will remain open but there is speculation about an extended Christmas break and some principals are urging Northern Ireland's education minister to follow his Scottish and Welsh counterparts and scrap exams.

Northern Ireland's new restrictions include:

More from Covid-19

• Closure of all non-essential retail
• Closure of close-contact services
• Closure of places of worship (except for weddings and funerals - restricted to 25 in number)
• Closure of all leisure and entertainment venues
• Hospitality permitted to offer takeaway service only
• Off-licences to close from 8pm

Stormont's Health Minister Robin Swann had urged the power-sharing executive to impose further restrictions now.

He told ministers he feared a coronavirus lockdown in mid-December would not be enough to prevent hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

Image: The updated lockdown rules for Northern Ireland

First Minister Arlene Foster said: "The executive has been presented today with the sobering prospect of our hospitals becoming overwhelmed within weeks.

"It is clear that a tough, carefully timed, intervention is required to give us the best chance to have a safe and happy Christmas and further into the new year period."

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "Seventy six people have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the last week alone.

"Hospital occupancy currently stands at 100%. Our hospitals remain under extreme pressure, as do the staff we depend on to deliver care.

"To do nothing would inevitably lead to the entire system becoming completely overwhelmed."

The 'R' number, indicating the transmission level of the virus, is sitting at around 1 in Northern Ireland but hospitals are recording more in-patients than during the first wave.

The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said the decision to shut non-essential shops could not come at a worse time for them.

Director Aodhan Connolly said: "The closure of non-essential retail during what is our golden quarter is a huge blow to retailers already feeling the squeeze of decreased footfall and increased costs.

"November and December are peak trading months and million of pounds per week will be lost in sales during what should be our busiest period."

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said: "The executive has made a decision which will kill small business, rather than the virus. Christmas has come early for Amazon.

"This appalling decision will be a hammer blow to our already struggling high streets and for thousands of independent retailers forced to close at the most important trading time for the year.

"Tens of thousands of jobs and small businesses are now at risk with this ill-considered move."

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2020-11-19 22:03:59Z
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