Dover traffic: Port declares critical incident over long queues - BBC

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The Port of Dover has declared a "critical incident" due to six-hour queues leading to the ferry terminal.

Chief executive Doug Bannister said the port had been "badly let down" by the French border controls.

Dover's MP Natalie Elphicke claimed French border officers "didn't turn up for work", causing traffic to queue for miles.

Travellers, some with young children, say they have barely moved for hours as they approach the port.

Francesco Caputo, who is stuck in the queue with his three children, said: "Everything has gone pear shaped."

National Highways said the weekend was expected to be one of the busiest periods of the year for holidaymakers.

• Live updates: Travellers warned of six-hour delays at Dover

The Port has accused the French authorities of ruining the summer getaway for thousands of families.

It is understood only six of the 12 passport booths run by the French authorities at Dover are currently open.

The French authorities have been contacted for comment.

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The leader of Dover District Council, Trevor Bartlett, said: "Alongside the delays for tens of thousands of tourists, the local community is the biggest loser.

"Residents can't get to work, children are stranded on school buses stuck in the mayhem, and businesses are suffering. Stagecoach has suspended bus services in Dover altogether.

He added: "Serious questions need to be asked about how the emergency services would be able to respond to a major incident in Dover when it is completely gridlocked, and how this situation has been allowed to develop yet again?"

Holidaymakers booked on sailings from Dover have reported being stuck in six-hour queues to complete border checks before they can check in for their ferry.

The port said in a statement it had made "significant investment" to increase its capacity, and shared traffic volume forecasts "in granular detail with the French authorities".

Eurotunnel is not affected, but it will not have capacity to take any passengers from Dover.

With most schools in England and Wales breaking up for summer this week, the RAC said an estimated 18.8 million leisure trips were planned in the UK between Friday and Monday.

That is the most since the company began tracking summer getaway numbers in 2014.

'Everything has gone pear shaped'

Francesco Caputo

Francesco Caputo and his three children, aged 12, 11 and 7, are travelling from Southampton to Italy, via Dover, to see family.

"Everything has gone pear shaped," he said, explaining that when he left Southampton in the morning the advice was to arrive two hours before the ferry.

"The ferry we were meant to catch was 7:50am. We arrived two hours before, 1.7 miles from the ferry terminal, but we're not even there now.

"I can see the sea, which is good. But I'm still not in the terminal. I can't see the terminal.

"I've tried to keep the children busy, so far so good. They've been rather patient."

The Port said: "The Dover route remains the most popular sea route to France and France remains one of the key holiday destinations for British families.

"We know that resource is finite, but the popularity of Dover is not a surprise. Regrettably, the PAF [police aux frontieres] resource has been insufficient and has fallen far short of what is required to ensure a smooth first weekend of the peak summer getaway period."

One traveller posted on Twitter: "I'm booked onto 8am ferry from Dover and it's total gridlock. Moved 50 metres per hour.

"At this rate it'll be 34 hours before I get to the port.

"I have a screaming toddler and three-month-old."

Another person attempting to make the Channel crossing said they had been "waiting five hours and still not in the port".

They added: "Sat in lanes waiting to get to border control. Zero movement."

Ferry operator P&O Ferries has advised passengers to arrive prepared with snacks and water, adding: "Please be aware that there is heavy traffic at border control in the port of Dover.

"If you are booked to travel today please allow at least six hours to clear all security checks."

@KatStock81

The UK government has blamed French authorities for the delays at Dover.

Europe minister Graham Stewart said some disruption was inevitable because of the scale of traffic.

He said that it was not a Border Force issue - but one for French authorities.

Mr Stewart said: "It's their ability to cope and process people that is causing the backlog."

He said French authorities had added extra booths to process passengers - and that UK ministers had been in touch with French counterparts in recent days.

Ms Elphicke added there had been "weeks of preparation" for an anticipated busy week, by the port, the Department for Transport and Kent Resilience Forum, and "much work with French counterparts too".

She said: "Despite all this, French border officers didn't turn up for work at the passport controls as needed.

"More French officers are reported to be arriving. It's vital that the French passports controls are fully staffed during this peak holiday period."

A spokesman for the Port of Dover said: "We will continue to work with all Kent partners to look after those caught up in the current situation, which could and should have been avoided, and play our part in resolving it as soon as possible.

"Working with and through the UK government, we will also liaise constructively with PAF to work through the present logjam and to stress again the importance of adequate French border resource for the coming days and weeks."

Has your journey been affected by the delays in Dover? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

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2022-07-22 10:45:08Z
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Dover traffic: Port declares critical incident over long queues - BBC

@KatStock81

The Port of Dover has declared a "critical incident" due to six-hour queues leading to the ferry terminal.

Chief executive Doug Bannister said the port had been "badly let down" by the French border controls.

He told BBC Radio Kent they were "insufficiently resourced" in France and working slower than normal, causing traffic to queue for miles.

Travellers, some with young children, say they have barely moved for hours as they approach the port.

Francesco Caputo, who is stuck in the queue with his three children, said: "Everything has gone pear shaped."

National Highways said the weekend was expected to be one of the busiest periods of the year for holidaymakers.

• Live updates: Travellers warned of six-hour delays at Dover

The Port has accused the French authorities of ruining the summer getaway for thousands of families.

It is understood only six of the 12 passport booths run by the French authorities at Dover are currently open.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover, claimed French border officers "didn't turn up for work".

PA Media

The leader of Dover District Council, Trevor Bartlett, said: "Alongside the delays for tens of thousands of tourists, the local community is the biggest loser.

"Residents can't get to work, children are stranded on school buses stuck in the mayhem, and businesses are suffering. Stagecoach has suspended bus services in Dover altogether.

He added: "Serious questions need to be asked about how the emergency services would be able to respond to a major incident in Dover when it is completely gridlocked, and how this situation has been allowed to develop yet again?"

Holidaymakers booked on sailings from Dover have reported being stuck in six-hour queues to complete border checks before they can check in for their ferry.

The port said in a statement it had made "significant investment" to increase its capacity, and shared traffic volume forecasts "in granular detail with the French authorities".

Eurotunnel is not affected, but it will not have capacity to take any passengers from Dover.

With most schools in England and Wales breaking up for summer this week, the RAC said an estimated 18.8 million leisure trips were planned in the UK between Friday and Monday.

That is the most since the company began tracking summer getaway numbers in 2014.

'Everything has gone pear shaped'

Francesco Caputo

Francesco Caputo and his three children, aged 12, 11 and 7, are travelling from Southampton to Italy, via Dover, to see family.

"Everything has gone pear shaped," he said, explaining that when he left Southampton in the morning the advice was to arrive two hours before the ferry.

"The ferry we were meant to catch was 7:50am. We arrived two hours before, 1.7 miles from the ferry terminal, but we're not even there now.

"I can see the sea, which is good. But I'm still not in the terminal. I can't see the terminal.

"I've tried to keep the children busy, so far so good. They've been rather patient."

The Port said: "The Dover route remains the most popular sea route to France and France remains one of the key holiday destinations for British families.

"We know that resource is finite, but the popularity of Dover is not a surprise. Regrettably, the PAF [police aux frontieres] resource has been insufficient and has fallen far short of what is required to ensure a smooth first weekend of the peak summer getaway period."

One traveller posted on Twitter: "I'm booked onto 8am ferry from Dover and it's total gridlock. Moved 50 metres per hour.

"At this rate it'll be 34 hours before I get to the port.

"I have a screaming toddler and three-month-old."

Another person attempting to make the Channel crossing said they had been "waiting five hours and still not in the port".

They added: "Sat in lanes waiting to get to border control. Zero movement."

Ferry operator P&O Ferries has advised passengers to arrive prepared with snacks and water, adding: "Please be aware that there is heavy traffic at border control in the port of Dover.

"If you are booked to travel today please allow at least six hours to clear all security checks."

PA Media

The UK government has blamed French authorities for the delays at Dover.

Europe minister Graham Stewart said some disruption was inevitable because of the scale of traffic.

He said that it was not a Border Force issue - but one for French authorities.

Mr Stewart said: "It's their ability to cope and process people that is causing the backlog."

He said French authorities had added extra booths to process passengers - and that UK ministers had been in touch with French counterparts in recent days.

Ms Elphicke added there had been "weeks of preparation" for an anticipated busy week, by the port, the Department for Transport and Kent Resilience Forum, and "much work with French counterparts too".

She said: "Despite all this, French border officers didn't turn up for work at the passport controls as needed.

"More French officers are reported to be arriving. It's vital that the French passports controls are fully staffed during this peak holiday period."

A spokesman for the Port of Dover said: "We will continue to work with all Kent partners to look after those caught up in the current situation, which could and should have been avoided, and play our part in resolving it as soon as possible.

"Working with and through the UK government, we will also liaise constructively with PAF to work through the present logjam and to stress again the importance of adequate French border resource for the coming days and weeks."

Has your journey been affected by the delays in Dover? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Upload your pictures/video here
• Or fill out the form below
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

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2022-07-22 09:47:00Z
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BBC to pay damages to former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke - BBC

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The BBC is paying damages to the ex-nanny to Princes William and Harry over false claims made about her to obtain a 1995 Princess Diana interview.

Alexandra Pettifer, known as Tiggy, was given an apology at the High Court over unfounded allegations she had an affair with Prince Charles and an abortion.

Her solicitor said the false claims had caused "serious personal consequences".

A probe has already found Panorama's Martin Bashir used fake documents to gain access to Diana.

The BBC said it was "extremely sorry for the serious and prolonged harm" caused to Mrs Pettifer and her family.

In an agreed statement read out in court, Mrs Pettifer's solicitor Louise Prince said the claims had included "the very serious and totally unfounded allegations that the claimant was having an affair with HRH Prince of Wales, resulting in a pregnancy which was aborted".

"These allegations were fabricated."

She said Mrs Pettifer had not known the source of the claims over the last 25 years, but it was "likely that these false and malicious allegations arose as a result and in the context of BBC Panorama's efforts to procure an exclusive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales".

Ms Prince said the former nanny was "relieved that the BBC accepts that the allegations are completely untrue and without any foundation whatsoever".

The corporation will pay Mrs Pettifer a substantial, undisclosed sum and her legal costs.

As part of the statement, the BBC said it fully accepted the claims against Mrs Pettifer "were wholly baseless, should never have been made, and that the BBC did not, at the time, adequately investigate serious concerns" over how it had secured the Panorama interview.

It said that had it done so earlier, it could have corrected the false statements and "this may well have diminished the harm" caused to Mrs Pettifer and her family over many years.

Following the hearing, Ms Pettifer said she was disappointed "that it needed legal action for the BBC to recognise the serious harm I have been subject to", in a statement reported by the Sunday Times.

She said she was "one of many people whose lives have been scarred by the deceitful way in which the BBC Panorama was made and the BBC's subsequent failure to properly investigate the making of the programme".

Mrs Pettifer went on to say the distress caused to the Royal Family was "a source of great upset to me", adding: "I know first-hand how much they were affected at the time, and how the programme and the false narrative it created have haunted the family in the years since".

"Especially because, still today, so much about the making of the programme is yet to be adequately explained."

BBC director-general Tim Davie said the corporation apologised to Mrs Pettifer, the Prince of Wales, and Princes William and Harry "for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived and the subsequent impact on all their lives".

He added: "Now we know about the shocking way that the interview was obtained, I have decided that the BBC will never show the programme again; nor will we license it in whole or part to other broadcasters."

There have been other payouts relating to the 1995 programme - watched by 22.8m in the UK - to Princess Diana's former private secretary, and a former producer.

Getty Images

An inquiry last year led by retired judge Lord Dyson found the interview was obtained using fake documents and that the BBC fell short of "high standards of integrity and transparency".

The report said Mr Bashir had lied repeatedly to several people, including at the BBC.

Mr Bashir, who received an industry award for the Diana programme and went on to work for ITV and in the United States, has previously apologised.

The journalist returned to BBC News in 2016 and became its religion editor - but no longer works for the corporation.

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2022-07-21 11:37:07Z
1509058671

Rishi Sunak has a body language problem, says expert - and Liz Truss needs to fix one key issue - Sky News

Body language expert Judi James has offered a fascinating insight into the mannerisms of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss - and the issues they need to address in order to convince people they should be the next prime minister.

She said Mr Sunak is "smart, slick, always using Tony Blair's gesticulation, we get the thumb of power all the time" - but that this looks better next to Boris Johnson.

"Stand alone, it's not working quite as effectively," she said, before outlining a number of issues facing the former chancellor.

Image: Mr Sunak uses similar gesticulations to Tony Blair, while Ms Truss can be 'quite brittle'. Pic: Jonathan Hordle/ITV

"He has a huge disadvantage as a politician, which is large, expressive eyes. And I think in the other debates, you could see those moments when a point hurts him. You could see when he was looking annoyed. So a big tell with Rishi will come with this.

"He also forgets at the end that you should hold the smile. You can actually see his expression change. And watch out for too much of the thumb of power.

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"He needs to watch out for sounding a bit patronising to the public."

Ms Truss has issues of her own if she wants to present herself as prime ministerial, the body language expert said.

More on Boris Johnson

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"She tends to be what I would call incongruent. She wants to sound and look tough," said Ms James, before adding that accelerated blinking can give the foreign secretary away.

Ms James sees attempts to "channel Thatcher" but it's not always convincing.

"She looks and sounds, beneath the toughness, quite brittle. Her body language and her vocal tone have got a kind of a brittleness to them. And I think it would be quite good for her to bring it down a notch. It needs to lose some of the brittleness and it could be way more effective."

Ms James also analysed Boris Johnson's final PMQs yesterday - and while we'll get to her thoughts on the outgoing prime minister, her view of Nadine Dorries is worth mentioning first.

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The Johnson loyalist was a "pure romantic heroine" as her boss said his farewell on Wednesday, with a "hand up to her neck"

"It was a real violin moment going on there as far she was concerned."

Image: Nadine Dorries (right) was a 'pure romantic heroine' as her boss left

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0:58

Boris Johnson thanks everybody in the House of Commons - including his 'right honourable friend opposite'.

On Mr Johnson, this was "the most painful moment of goodbye for Boris... I saw signs of emotion beneath the bluster".

These included:

• Leaning heavily on the despatch box
• "Self comfort, self soothing"
• "He was constantly tucking his shirt into the back of his trousers, which he does normally. But this was pretty much an overkill ritual"
• "Fist on the heart gesticulation... way too exaggerated"

Image: Mr Johnson showed 'signs of emotion beneath the bluster'

Image: Boris Johnson leaves to applause during 'the most painful moment of goodbye'

Ms James concluded: "We can see the moment the Tom Brown School Days turned into Goodbye, Mr Chips. And he looks distraught. He looked genuinely upset at that exit point, I have to say."

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2022-07-21 09:16:49Z
1507457879

BBC to pay damages to former nanny of William and Harry over Martin Bashir's Charles affair claims - Sky News

The BBC has agreed to pay "substantial" damages to William and Harry's former nanny over "false and malicious" claims that she had an affair with Prince Charles and terminated a pregnancy - allegations made by the disgraced journalist Martin Bashir.

Last year, a report found Mr Bashir "deceived and induced" Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, to secure a bombshell Panorama interview with her in 1995.

As part of that process, Mr Bashir is alleged to have lied about Tiggy Legge-Bourke - who looked after the princes when they young - telling Earl Spencer she had an affair with Prince Charles.

Louise Prince, her lawyer, said the assertions included the "very serious and totally unfounded allegations that the claimant was having an affair with HRH Prince of Wales, resulting in a pregnancy which was aborted".

Ms Prince added: "The allegations were fabricated. They also appeared to exploit some prior false speculation in the media about the claimant and HRH The Prince of Wales."

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The lawyer went on: "The claimant did not have an affair with HRH The Prince of Wales, did not become pregnant with his child, and did not have an abortion."

Princess Diana was affected by the fabrications, Ms Prince said, becoming "aware of (them) in late 1995".

William and Harry's late mother became "upset with (Ms Legge-Bourke) without apparent justification".

These events cause Ms Legge-Bourke, whose married name is Alexandra Pettifer, to become "extremely upset and confused", Mr Prince told the High Court.

She added: "She felt she had to prove to others that the allegations were untrue by revealing highly sensitive matters, including private medical information.

"Sadly Diana, Princess of Wales could not be convinced, even when incontrovertible evidence was presented."

There was widespread publicity, causing Mrs Pettifer considerable anguish, Ms Prince said.

"To the Claimant's great distress the falsehoods were published very prominently in the national press at the time and repeated over the intervening 25 years.

"Both she and her family have until the present day continued to face suspicion and disbelief. A long shadow has been cast over relationships with those close and dear to her."

Ms Prince said the allegations appeared to have arisen "in the context of BBC Panorama's efforts to to procure an exclusive interview with Diana, Princess of Wales".

Image: Mrs Pettifer's lawyer said the allegations were 'totally unfounded'

In court this morning, representatives for the BBC apologised to Mrs Pettifer and agreed to pay damages.

They said: "The BBC accepts that the allegations made against the claimant were wholly baseless, should never have been made, and that the BBC did not, at the time, adequately investigate serious concerns over the circumstance in which the BBC secured the Panorama interview with Diana, the Princess of Wales."

Earlier this year, the BBC apologised "unreservedly" to the Princess of Wales's private secretary, Patrick Jephson, and paid him a "substantial sum" in damages - again over the way Martin Bashir obtained his 1995 Panorama interview.

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: "The BBC has agreed to pay substantial damages to Mrs Pettifer and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise publicly to her, to the Prince of Wales, and to the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, for the way in which Princess Diana was deceived and the subsequent impact on all their lives.

"It is a matter of great regret that the BBC did not get to the facts in the immediate aftermath of the programme when there were warning signs that the interview might have been obtained improperly.

"Instead, as the Duke of Cambridge himself put it, the BBC failed to ask the tough questions.

"Had we done our job properly Princess Diana would have known the truth during her lifetime. We let her, the royal family and our audiences down."

Mr Davie added: "Now we know about the shocking way that the interview was obtained I have decided that the BBC will never show the programme again; nor will we licence it in whole or part to other broadcasters.

"It does of course remain part of the historical record and there may be occasions in the future when it will be justified for the BBC to use short extracts for journalistic purposes, but these will be few and far between and will need to be agreed at executive committee level and set in the full context of what we now know about the way the interview was obtained.

"I would urge others to exercise similar restraint."

Louise Prince, Ms Pettifer's lawyer, said: "Had the BBC not fallen short the Claimant and her family could have been spared 25 years of lies, suspicion and upset."

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2022-07-21 09:00:03Z
1509058671

Tory leadership race: Blow for Penny Mordaunt as ally Tobias Ellwood is suspended — follow live - The Times

The chairman of the Commons defence committee has been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party after abstaining in last night’s confidence vote in the government.

The decision, taken by party whips, means that Tobias Ellwood will not be allowed to vote in the latest round of the leadership contest today.

Ellwood had been backing Penny Mordaunt and was one of the first Conservatives to call for Boris Johnson to quit. It is understood that Ellwood was in Moldova yesterday meeting the country’s leader, Maia Sandu, and also did not vote in last night’s leadership round — possibly the reason why Mordaunt lost a vote in yesterday’s round.

A Conservative source defended the decision to remove the whip saying that confidence votes were “amongst the most important votes an MP might cast and failure to vote appropriately could bring down a government”.

Boris Johnson takes his seat for the official photograph of his new cabinet today

ANDREW PARSONS /NO10 DOWNING STREET

The prime minister was presented with first editions of Winston Churchill’s books on the Second World War

ANDREW PARSONS/NO10 DOWNING STREET

They added that Ellwood was given prior warning of the debate taking place and his “slip” allowing to go abroad being rescinded.

The source said: “Other Conservative MPs cancelled foreign trips, left poorly relatives and one MP’s mother died on the morning of the vote and still attended and voted. Thus these matters are taken extremely seriously by all members of parliament.”

PM holds his final cabinet meeting

The decision to suspend the whip could be problematic for Mordaunt’s leadership campaign, which is fighting for second place behind Rishi Sunak.

It will mean he is unable to participate in today’s vote or tomorrow’s run-off to determine the final two candidates.

1 hour ago

11.20am

Taxing issue for candidates

Tax policy has dominated the Tory leadership election with a divide between candidates demanding tax cuts and Rishi Sunak, who has accused them of “fairytale” economics (Chris Smyth writes).

One of Penny Mordaunt’s leading backers has argued that her proposed £16 billion of tax cuts would be “self-funding” because they would allow people to spend more on treats or meals out.

George Freeman laid into “Liz Truss’s big tax giveaways to the rich” this morning, branding her plan to scrap a national insurance rise and her promise of further cuts “reckless and unfair”.

Rishi Sunak in Westminster this morning

BEN CAWTHRA/LNP

Echoing Sunak, Freeman said that “our position in the autumn budget is that it is irresponsible to be doing huge unfunded tax giveaways”. He added: “If we go too far we’ll drive up inflation further and risk interest rates rises.”

However, he argued that Mordaunt’s plans to halve fuel duty, raise income tax thresholds and offer tax breaks to small businesses would pay for themselves.

• Analysis: Sensible stimulus or fantasy economics?

Freeman told the BBC that Sunak and the Treasury had “made clear that the tax cuts they’ve made and the money that they’ve put out in support will drive growth”. He added: “We’re on the edge of a recession and we’ve got to put money in people’s pockets ... Penny’s 50 per cent fuel tax cut is significant. It means when you fill up next time, it’ll be about £10 off. And what are people going to do with that £10? Spend it in the economy ... That’s why they’re self funding.”

Challenged by Victoria Derbyshire that the claim did not make sense, Freeman said: “I put it to you that £10 in every fill-up will be re-spent back in the economy driving growth, supporting businesses and driving tax revenues. That’s the difference between the Penny Mordaunt plan for growth and the Liz Truss tax giveaway and the Treasury plan of just wait and it will all come right.”

2 hours ago

10.10am

Will tactical voting come into play today?

The race is on this morning to win over the 31 votes of Tom Tugendhat in the fourth round of the Tory leadership race. How those votes divide will be critical in determining who makes it into the final two (Oliver Wright writes).

While Tugendhat’s platform is perhaps closest to that of Penny Mordaunt’s, some believe his backers could vote tactically for Kemi Badenoch to keep Liz Truss out of the final two.

Kemi Badenoch this morning. She gained nine new backers in yesterday’s vote

PETER MACDIARMID/LNP

In an interview this morning Damian Green, Theresa May’s former deputy prime minister and an early backer of Tugendhat, said this was entirely possible.

“I’m absolutely sure that there are colleagues doing that because we all know how the system works,” he told Today on BBC Radio 4.

• Analysis: Horse-trading shows chasing pack in flux

Green also appeared to criticise the tax policies of Truss, and to a lesser extent Mordaunt.

“Some of the simplistic analysis I’ve heard — which is that Margaret Thatcher cut taxes, therefore that’s the way to promote growth — suggests people need to go back and read the history books,” he said.

“Margaret Thatcher cut taxes in her later years after she got the public finances under control.”

Liz Truss attended the cabinet meeting at No 10 this morning

STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA

Green praised Mordaunt’s work as a junior minister in his department and said he had no reason to question her record in government.

“I’ve heard obviously the criticisms from other people, but all I can say is from my own experience, that’s not true.”

But he also revealed that he was meeting with Badenoch before this afternoon’s vote to decide who he would finally support.

With just a few hours to go before the voting begins there is still much to play for.

3 hours ago

9.10am

Truss interview: Why I would lower taxes and cut regulation

Is the foreign secretary, as Sunak implied, a socialist? “No, I’m quite surprised you had to ask that,” she said in an interview with The Times’s Steven Swinford.

“I’m a low-tax Conservative, I believe the way we get to greater economic growth is through lower taxes, less regulation, investing in skills and attracting business to this country. You can’t tax your way to growth.”

The ideological divide between Sunak and Truss over tax has been at the heart of one of the most brutal Tory leadership contests in history.

The two candidates have fundamentally different visions of Britain. Truss has outlined a huge package of tax cuts in a move to get Britain growing.

Now, as she faces an existential battle with Penny Mordaunt, a trade minister, for the second spot in the leadership contest, she believes her tax pledges will set her apart.

On her first day as prime minister she would reverse Sunak’s 2.5 per cent increase in national insurance, axe plans to raise corporation tax and scrap green levies on energy bills.

Read the full interview here

3 hours ago

9.10am

Another day, another candidate gone

Tom Tugendhat eliminated from the Tory leadership race

Good morning and welcome to The Times’s live politics coverage on a day when the Tory leadership race will be whittled down from four to three candidates.

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2022-07-19 11:35:00Z
1498227804

Tory leadership race: Blow for Penny Mordaunt as ally Tobias Ellwood is suspended — follow live - The Times

The chairman of the Commons defence committee has been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party after abstaining in last night’s confidence vote in the government.

The decision, taken by party whips, means that Tobias Ellwood will not be allowed to vote in the latest round of the leadership contest tonight.

Ellwood had been backing Penny Mordaunt and was one of the first Conservatives to call for Boris Johnson to quit. It is understood that Ellwood was in Moldova yesterday meeting the country’s leader, Maia Sandu, and also did not vote in last night’s leadership round — possibly the reason why Mordaunt lost a vote in yesterday’s round.

A Conservative source defended the decision to remove the whip saying that confidence votes were “amongst the most important votes an MP might cast and failure to vote appropriately could bring down a government”.

Boris Johnson takes his seat for the official photograph of his new cabinet today

ANDREW PARSONS /NO10 DOWNING STREET

They added that Ellwood was given prior warning of the debate taking place and his “slip” allowing to go abroad being rescinded.

The source said: “Other Conservative MPs cancelled foreign trips, left poorly relatives and one MP’s mother died on the morning of the vote and still attended and voted. Thus these matters are taken extremely seriously by all members of parliament.”

PM holds his final cabinet meeting

The decision to suspend the whip could be problematic for Mordaunt’s leadership campaign, which is fighting for second place behind Rishi Sunak.

It will mean he is unable to participate in tonight’s vote or tomorrow’s run-off to determine the final two candidates.

1 hour ago

11.20am

Taxing issue for candidates

Tax policy has dominated the Tory leadership election with a divide between candidates demanding tax cuts and Rishi Sunak, who has accused them of “fairytale” economics (Chris Smyth writes).

One of Penny Mordaunt’s leading backers has argued that her proposed £16 billion of tax cuts would be “self-funding” because they would allow people to spend more on treats or meals out.

George Freeman laid into “Liz Truss’s big tax giveaways to the rich” this morning, branding her plan to scrap a national insurance rise and her promise of further cuts “reckless and unfair”.

Rishi Sunak in Westminster this morning

BEN CAWTHRA/LNP

Echoing Sunak, Freeman said that “our position in the autumn budget is that it is irresponsible to be doing huge unfunded tax giveaways”. He added: “If we go too far we’ll drive up inflation further and risk interest rates rises.”

However, he argued that Mordaunt’s plans to halve fuel duty, raise income tax thresholds and offer tax breaks to small businesses would pay for themselves.

• Analysis: Sensible stimulus or fantasy economics?

Freeman told the BBC that Sunak and the Treasury had “made clear that the tax cuts they’ve made and the money that they’ve put out in support will drive growth”. He added: “We’re on the edge of a recession and we’ve got to put money in people’s pockets ... Penny’s 50 per cent fuel tax cut is significant. It means when you fill up next time, it’ll be about £10 off. And what are people going to do with that £10? Spend it in the economy ... That’s why they’re self funding.”

Challenged by Victoria Derbyshire that the claim did not make sense, Freeman said: “I put it to you that £10 in every fill-up will be re-spent back in the economy driving growth, supporting businesses and driving tax revenues. That’s the difference between the Penny Mordaunt plan for growth and the Liz Truss tax giveaway and the Treasury plan of just wait and it will all come right.”

2 hours ago

10.10am

Will tactical voting come into play today?

The race is on this morning to win over the 31 votes of Tom Tugendhat in the fourth round of the Tory leadership race. How those votes divide will be critical in determining who makes it into the final two (Oliver Wright writes).

While Tugendhat’s platform is perhaps closest to that of Penny Mordaunt’s, some believe his backers could vote tactically for Kemi Badenoch to keep Liz Truss out of the final two.

Kemi Badenoch this morning. She gained nine new backers in yesterday’s vote

PETER MACDIARMID/LNP

In an interview this morning Damian Green, Theresa May’s former deputy prime minister and an early backer of Tugendhat, said this was entirely possible.

“I’m absolutely sure that there are colleagues doing that because we all know how the system works,” he told Today on BBC Radio 4.

• Analysis: Horse-trading shows chasing pack in flux

Green also appeared to criticise the tax policies of Truss, and to a lesser extent Mordaunt.

“Some of the simplistic analysis I’ve heard — which is that Margaret Thatcher cut taxes, therefore that’s the way to promote growth — suggests people need to go back and read the history books,” he said.

“Margaret Thatcher cut taxes in her later years after she got the public finances under control.”

Liz Truss attended the cabinet meeting at No 10 this morning

STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA

Green praised Mordaunt’s work as a junior minister in his department and said he had no reason to question her record in government.

“I’ve heard obviously the criticisms from other people, but all I can say is from my own experience, that’s not true.”

But he also revealed that he was meeting with Badenoch before this afternoon’s vote to decide who he would finally support.

With just a few hours to go before the voting begins there is still much to play for.

3 hours ago

9.10am

Truss interview: Why I would lower taxes and cut regulation

Is the foreign secretary, as Sunak implied, a socialist? “No, I’m quite surprised you had to ask that,” she said in an interview with The Times’s Steven Swinford.

“I’m a low-tax Conservative, I believe the way we get to greater economic growth is through lower taxes, less regulation, investing in skills and attracting business to this country. You can’t tax your way to growth.”

The ideological divide between Sunak and Truss over tax has been at the heart of one of the most brutal Tory leadership contests in history.

The two candidates have fundamentally different visions of Britain. Truss has outlined a huge package of tax cuts in a move to get Britain growing.

Now, as she faces an existential battle with Penny Mordaunt, a trade minister, for the second spot in the leadership contest, she believes her tax pledges will set her apart.

On her first day as prime minister she would reverse Sunak’s 2.5 per cent increase in national insurance, axe plans to raise corporation tax and scrap green levies on energy bills.

Read the full interview here

3 hours ago

9.10am

Another day, another candidate gone

Tom Tugendhat eliminated from the Tory leadership race

Good morning and welcome to The Times’s live politics coverage on a day when the Tory leadership race will be whittled down from four to three candidates.

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2022-07-19 10:20:00Z
1498227804