Boris Johnson news: More than 50 Labour MPs ‘ready to back new Brexit deal’, amid fears PM ready to cut Northern Ireland loose

Half of Conservative voters would like to see Boris Johnson flout the law by refusing to request a Brexit extension, according to a new poll. 

The survey by the pollsters YouGov follows the prime minister reiterating in the Commons he would under no circumstances request a Brexit delay beyond 31 October.

Dominic Cummings has been accused of wrongly carrying out work for the Conservative party when he is paid by the taxpayer, in a new controversy to hit Boris Johnson’s chief aide.

Chuka Umunna protested that reports that Mr Cummings was conducting focus groups – to road-test slogans for an autumn general election – suggested he had broken the rules.

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MPs are gearing up in the race to replace John Bercow as speaker of the House of Commons, as former Labour minister Harriet Harman became the latest to announce her candidacy. 

It comes after Mr Bercow made his surprise statement to step down by the 31 October Brexit deadline after more than a decade in the chair.

It means an election for the new speaker is now likely to take place ahead of any general election – scuppering any plans of installing a Brexiteer to the position in the event of Boris Johnson winning a healthy majority.

Each candidate vying to replace Mr Bercow must submit their nominations of between 12 and 15 cross-party MPs by the morning of the election when scheduled by the Commons authorities.

Here The Independent looks at the runners and riders for the next custodian of the Commons.

The UK will host major United Nations climate talks in Glasgow in late 2020, the Scottish government has announced.

The "Cop 26" meeting, due to be held in November next year, is the most important round of talks since the global Paris Agreement to tackle climate change was secured in two weeks of negotiations in the French capital in 2015.

Next year's talks mark the full adoption of the Paris Agreement and the date by which countries are expected to come forward with stronger emissions cuts to meet the goals of the deal.

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has welcomed the news that the UK had received international backing to host the talks, with the formal confirmation the meeting will be in Glasgow expected at this year's round of talks in Chile in December.

"The UK has just received a huge vote of confidence from our international partners," he said. "We're poised to host the next major global climate negotiations, in partnership with Italy.

"Over 30,000 delegates from around the world will come together to commit to ambitious action to tackle climate change.

"We're ready to bring the world together to make sure we leave our precious environment in a better state for our children."

Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, has emerged from Number 10 after more than an hour inside.

The party's Westminster leader, Nigel Dodds, told reporters: "It was a very good meeting as always."

He added: "We'll be updating colleagues and making some statements in the future.

"A very good meeting, a very good meeting."

Boris Johnson was meeting with Ms Foster and Mr Dodds to discuss "a range of subjects including Brexit," the prime minister's official spokesman said earlier.

He said: "I imagine they will discuss a full range of issues including the discussions which are taking place on Brexit and I am sure they will also discuss a range of matters relating specifically to Northern Ireland as well."

The spokesman later ruled out suggestions the government was seeking a Northern Ireland-only backstop - as opposed to a UK-wide backstop - in discussions with the EU.

He said: "We are not seeking a Northern Ireland-only backstop."

Boris Johnson's controversial adviser, Dominic Cummings, has been accused of wrongly carrying out work for the Tory party while being paid by the taxpayer. Rob Merrick, our deputy political editor, has the story:

DUP leader Arlene Foster has said Mr Johnson had shown his commitment to securing a Brexit deal which "works for the entire United Kingdom" as well as the Republic of Ireland.

In a statement released after the meeting, Mrs Foster said: "We want to see the referendum result implemented. Those blocking Brexit are causing uncertainty but more worrying they are damaging democracy by ignoring the United Kingdom's decision.

"A sensible deal, between the United Kingdom and European Union which respects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom, is the best way forward for everyone. We were encouraged by the tone and language in Dublin on Monday.

"History teaches us that any deal relating to Northern Ireland which cannot command cross-community support is doomed to failure. That is why the Northern Ireland backstop is flawed. Not one single unionist MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly supports it.

"The prime minister rejected a Northern Ireland only backstop in a letter to Donald Tusk on 19 August. It is undemocratic and unconstitutional and would place a tariff border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. That would be unacceptable.

"During today's meeting, the prime minister confirmed his rejection of the Northern Ireland only backstop and his commitment to securing a deal which works for the entire United Kingdom as well as our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland."

Boris Johnson has conducted a mini reshuffle of his ministerial team.

Downing Street said Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, has been appointed minister for women and equalities, replacing Amber Rudd after she resigned from the cabinet at the weekend.

Zac Goldsmith would now be a joint environment and international development minister who attends cabinet while Chris Skidmore was moving from his health brief back to a joint education and business role.

Edward Argar moves from the Ministry of Justice to the Department of Health and Social Care, and Rebecca Pow switches from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Backbench Tory MPs Chris Philp and Helen Whately, both first elected in 2015, receive their first ministerial jobs.

Mr Philp is now a justice minister and Ms Whately a culture minister.

Here's Tom Peck's sketch on how we should prorogue... everything:

The Home Office has confirmed primary school-age children of EU citizens will be checked for criminal records, sparking controversy, May Bulman writes: