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

By our political sketch writer Tom Peck’s watch, it took less than 10 seconds for Boris Johnson to start lying during his Facebook “People’s PMQs” session.

"Like Boris Johnson, I was institutionalised by the age of eight, but here the similarities between us end," writes our opinion columnist Mark Capleton.

"Rather than Ashdown House and Eton College, my institution was the care system, followed by prison.

"Finally released from HMP custody in 2019, I am precisely the type of profile criminal that Johnson and Priti Patel intended to evoke “terror” with, in their pre-election-conceived hard line on crime and tougher, longer custodial sentences.

"Angry, rather than terrified, I urge a reality check for this government engaged in a cynical hard-right charm offensive.

"I want the government to commit the suddenly available millions of pounds it has reserved for Johnson’s reactionary announcements to the National Probation Trust and voluntary sector organisations like St Giles Trust and Leather Inside Out."

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 An activist who wanted to prosecute Boris Johnson over his claim that the UK would be £350m a week better off outside the EU has lost his bid to proceed with the case.

Marcus Ball, 29, wanted to bring the crowdfunded private prosecution against the prime minister for alleged misconduct in public office.

In May, a magistrate agreed that Mr Johnson should be summoned to court to face the charges.

But that decision was overturned by the High Court in June after judges agreed with the prime minister's lawyer that the magistrate's decision was flawed.

Mr Ball said he was now considering taking his case to European courts, appealing directly to the Supreme Court or launching another prosecution case against Johnson.

Philip Hammond's comments in The Times earlier today will be seen as "as an attack on Dominic Cummings, [Boris] Johnson's top policy adviser," writes Benjamin Kentish, The Independent's political correspondent.

"Mr Hammond, one of the most senior MPs working to block a no-deal Brexit, also criticised Dominic Raab, saying the foreign secretary's claim that the public had voted for such an outcome was "a total travesty of the truth".

"The intervention represents a stepping up of Tory backbench efforts to stop Mr Johnson taking Britain out of the EU without a deal.

"Rebels have been plotting across party lines to try to come up with a plan to block no-deal when MPs return from their summer break in early September."

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ING, one of Europe's banks, said a no-deal Brexit will send the pound down to parity with the euro and push it down to $1.10 against the U.S. dollar.

"We think the most likely scenario is one where parliament back a no-confidence motion and force an Article 50 extension at some point in October, setting the scene for a general election in late November or December," the bank reportedly said in a note to clients.

"We'd put a 40% probability on a general election taking place, coupled with a further Brexit delay."

Sterling has plummeted in recent weeks as speculation about a no-deal Brexit mounts.

Chris Williamson is to take Labour to court over his suspension from the party for comments about antisemitism.

He is understood to have lodged papers with the High Court arguing that his suspension is unlawful.

Mr Williamson was first suspended by Labour in February after being recorded claiming that the party had been "too apologetic" and "given to much ground" on antisemitism.

He was readmitted in June following a disciplinary hearing but was swiftly suspended again after a furious backlash from Labour MPs.

The case has now been referred to Labour's main disciplinary body, the National Constitutional Committee (NCC).

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"University offers based on predicted A-level grades would be scrapped under a Labour government," reports Eleanor Busby, The Independent's education correspondent.

"Labour would introduce a "fairer" system of post-qualification admissions (PQA) where sixth-formers would apply for a degree course only after receiving their A-level results or other qualifications.

"The plans for “radical action”, announced ahead of A-level results day on Thursday, hopes to curb the surge in unconditional offers across the higher education sector and bring an end to clearing.

"The Labour Party argues that the current system of relying on predicted grades unfairly penalises disadvantaged students and those from minority backgrounds.

"Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said the higher education admissions system “isn’t working” for students and “radical action is needed” to change it."

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Mind, the mental health charity, has criticised Boris Johnson's comments on the topic.

The prime minister was asked what he would do to protect mental health services during his live Facebook Q&A.

“I’ve been doing a lot… about crime, trying to tackle crime," the prime minister said. 

“But so many of the problems of youth crime and youth violence and indeed crime of all kinds – are associated with mental health problems.

“And I am absolutely certain that what you need to do to help tackle mental health issues is that every aspect of the state that has a care for mental health patients of all kinds....they all need to get together.

“You need to have wraparound care.”

Mind urged caution when considering the link between crime and mental health.

“We welcome the prime minister’s recognition that in order to improve society’s mental health we need a more joined up approach between all different services – social care, education, housing, welfare, policing and health," said Louise Rubin, the charity's parliamentary manager.

“The first step to providing ‘wrap around care’ is to establish a cross-government strategy, which puts mental health at the heart of every department’s agenda.

"This strategy must sit alongside previous commitments to improve mental health services as outlined in the NHS Long Term plan.

"With so many of us still being let down by the services meant to help us, urgent action is needed to improve people’s day-to-day lives.

“However, when it comes to comments made on the relationship between crime, violence and mental health, we would urge caution. The vast majority of us experiencing mental health problems are unlikely to ever pose a risk to others.

"We are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. Greater understanding on these issues is crucial if we are to continue to tackle the stigma and discrimination long attached to mental health problems.”

"A few days ago, EU nationals in the UK were dealt another blow as Iain Duncan Smith, co-founder of the Centre for Social Justice, urged Priti Patel, the home secretary, to raise the minimum salary threshold for immigrants from £30,000 to £36,700 per year," writes our opinion columnist Almara Abgarian.

"As an EU national from Sweden who has lived and worked in the UK for nine years, I am outraged.

"But first, let’s consider how this new proposal, if approved, will cripple several industries in the country that rely on an EU workforce, such as the NHS and the hospitality industry."

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The Home Office has launched a campaign to tackle knife crime, by partnering with fried chicken shops.

Warnings about the risks of knife crime will be put on more than 300,000 boxes in shops across the country.

"The boxes will replace the standard packaging in both independent and branch owned chicken shops, including Morley’s, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken," a Home Office spokesperson said.

Tottenham MP David Lammy has criticised the plan.

"Is this some kind of joke?!" Mr Lammy said on Twitter.

"Why have you chosen chicken shops? What's next, #KnifeFree watermelons?"

The Labour MP appeared to be referencing racial stereotypes which link watermelons and fried chicken to black communities in a derogatory manner.