UK politics live: Boris Johnson claims he considered raid into Holland to recover ‘kidnapped’ Covid vaccines
Boris Johnson promises ‘the unfiltered truth about Brexit, Covid and the Conservative Party’ in his new book, Unleashed
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Boris Johnson has claimed he considered sending the British Army on a daring raid to snatch Covid-19 vaccines from an EU warehouse, although he rejected the idea, saying: “The whole thing was nuts.”
The former prime minister demanded of senior military leaders whether he could launch a mission to a warehouse where the EU had stowed five million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with global supplies dwindling in the height of lockdown.
Mr Johnson Johnson’s book, Unleashed, is being serialised in the Daily Mail and as well as defending his actions during “Partygate” and writing about his experiences in hospital with Covid, he discusses his wranglings with the EU after his post-Brexit deal was put in place.
He wrote: “I was angry enough to contemplate this clandestine operation, because after two months of futile negotiation I had come to the conclusion that the EU was treating us with malice and with spite; not because we had done anything wrong – we had not, far from it; but because we were vaccinating our population much faster than they were, and the European electorate had long since noticed.”
COMMENT | What does the future of The Spectator look like with ‘arch schemer’ Gove at the helm?
If he resists the temptation to simply preach the gospel of his friend and proprietor Sir Paul Marshall, the former Tory minister may find that he thrives in the role, writes Alan Rusbridger:
What does the future of The Spectator look like with ‘arch schemer’ Gove at the helm?
If he resists the temptation to simply preach the gospel of his friend and proprietor Sir Paul Marshall, the former Tory minister may find that he thrives in the role, writes Alan Rusbridger
£10 billion earmarked for spending on UK nuclear infrastructure
Nearly £10 billion has been earmarked for spending on UK nuclear infrastructure and the nuclear industry since the formation of the Aukus partnership with Australia and the United States in 2021, the defence secretary said.
John Healey said the agreement helped the three countries’ economies as well as their security.
He also announced that the UK has agreed to add UK-made Stingray torpedoes to the P8 submarine hunting aircraft. He said it would counter deep diving and conventional submarines.
Mr Healey said: “Our investment in this partnership helps our industries to prosper and breaks down barriers to trade. Secondly, the skills and experience that we share boosts jobs and boosts growth across our nations.
“And third the investment in our future technologies helps drive innovation and will help develop new warfighting capabilities.”
Chancellor could be willing to alter non-dom plans, report suggests
Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be willing to change the plans for Labour’s crackdown on non-doms, according to reports.
The Financial Times reported on Thursday evening that Government officials had said Ms Reeves could change the policy if the numbers are not satisfactory.
A Treasury spokesperson called the report “speculation, not Government policy” and pledged to remove “the outdated non-dom tax regime”.
It comes after a report in the Guardian suggested Treasury officials fear estimates due to be issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility will forecast that the policy will raise no money because of the risk of people who are super-rich leaving the UK.
UK unveils £5m aid package for Lebanon amid deadly air strikes and rocket fire
Development minister Anneliese Dodds has unveiled a £5 million aid package for Unicef in Lebanon.
The announcement late on Wednesday follows deadly air strikes and rocket fire which Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged since the start of the week.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed the aid will go towards medical supplies, hygiene kits, fuel for water stations, and emergency teams working in the health and nutrition fields.
The government department also confirmed that Royal Air Force aircraft and helicopters are on standby, with a UK presence at RAF Akrotiri near Limassol in Cyprus, and in the eastern Mediterranean with two ships – RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan.
Border Force and Foreign Office officials, and 700 troops, were deployed to Cyprus on Tuesday.
“The situation in Lebanon is deeply concerning,” Ms Dodds said.
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