Boris Johnson news: PM abandons claim no-deal Brexit is ‘one-in-a-million’ risk, amid barrage of abuse on Facebook Q&A

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said she hopes Boris Johnson will undergo a character transformation similar to that of Shakespeare’s “young Prince Hal”.

Davidson was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival when she told the audience her favourite play was Henry V. By the end of the Henriad series, Prince Harry has changed from an irresponsible, wayward youth to a mature and disciplined King of England.

Davidson, who is an English literature graduate, said “no job in the world” can prepare somebody for being PM and wishes for a similar evolution in character for Johnson.

Describing his prospects in office, she said: “I only hope we will see that.”

Ms Davidson acknowledged she has differences of opinion with Mr Johnson – specifically over the dangers of a no-deal Brexit – but called for him to be judged by his actions.

She added: “I’m a strong believer – and was taught in the Territorial Army – you salute the rank, not the person who wears it. The country does well if the prime minister does well, so I want him to do well.”

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has increased pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to work with the Liberal Democrats to prevent an “undemocratic and disastrous” no-deal Brexit.

He spoke alongside Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, who said she would work with Watson despite her consistent criticism of the Labour leadership over his Brexit stance.

Senior figures within Labour have ruled out working in a cross-party alliance to prevent a no-deal departure. But Watson took a different line as he spoke with Swinson at an event by For Our Future’s Sake and Our Future Our Choice, two youth movements campaigning for a second referendum.

“We cannot tolerate an undemocratic and disastrous no-deal being forced on the country by Boris Johnson,” Watson said.

“To stop him, everyone who cares about democracy, our country and our future must work together because there are enough of us – from all parties in parliament – to stop him.”

“Whether you're Liberal Democrats, social democrats or democratic socialists, we are all democrats. And democrats have got to realise in this crisis that we're stronger together if we work together.”

Swinson, who has previously criticised Mr Corbyn as “indecisive” over Brexit, said: “This is no time for tribalism.

“That is why I am pleased to be here today with Tom to show that there is a desire across the political spectrum to stop Boris Johnson’s reckless no-deal Brexit plan and instead deliver a brighter future inside the EU.”

More grim economic news. Inflation in Britain accelerated to 2.1 per cent in July – confounding economists’ forecasts for a slowdown.

In inflation related news, regulated train fares are set to rise by 2.8 per cent next year, in line with the latest rate of RPI inflation.

The transport secretary Grant Shapps has said this morning he would be willing to “disengage” rail fare rises from RPI – but only if the transport unions agree.

MP Chris Williamson is suing Labour over his re-suspension for claiming the party was “too apologetic”on anti-Semitism.

The strong Corbyn supporter is preparing for court action in a bid to get readmitted to the party.

The Derby North MP said he was hoping to “overturn the unconstitutional decision” to re-impose his suspension from the “party I love”.

A source close to Williamson said the legal papers had already been filed in court. Labour is understood to be confident its rules were followed and that there will be no successful grounds for a challenge.

Williamson was originally suspended in February after he told a meeting of the Momentum campaign group that Labour was being “demonised” over the crisis.

But, in July, a panel of Labour’s NEC ruled that the suspension should be lifted following a formal warning. The suspension was re-imposed two days later after an outcry from MPs and Jewish groups.

The case is currently being considered by a new antisemitism panel.

Here’s Philip Hammond, the mild-mannered man formally known in Downing Street as “spreadsheet Phil”, going on the attack against No 10’s “wrecking” tactics.

A Lib Dem peer described a Tommy Robinson T-shirt wearing protester as “a Nazi” during a council meeting in Lancashire – causing uproar at a planning session over a local mosque.

Zamira Rahim has all the details.

First Trenitalia will operate train services on the West Coast Main Line from 8 December, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced this morning.

Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson wrote in a blog that he was “devastated” to have lost the franchise.

First Trenitalia is a joint venture between Aberdeen-based FirstGroup and Italian-owned train operator Trenitalia, with the former owning 70 per cent of the partnership.

The joint partnership was awarded the West Coast Partnership (WCP) contract, which also includes responsibility for running the first HS2 trains from 2026.

But the DfT said the government will “shortly launch a review” into the new high-speed railway, which was widely expected after Boris Johnson became PM. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said it was “positive news for passengers”.

Hugo Dixon, deputy chair of the People’s Vote campaign, says No 10 enforcer Dominic Cummings’ plan to deliver a no-deal Brexit can be defeated.

Here’s his nine-step guide.

A reminder that there will be a march for a second Brexit referendum organised jointly by the People’s Vote organisation and The Independent’s Final Say campaign on Saturday 19 October.

The ‘Let Us Be Heard’ event is a week later than originally scheduled to avoid clashing with the annual Great Ormond Street Hospital fundraiser.