Boris Johnson news – live: PM condemns Wiley’s ‘abhorrent’ antisemitic remarks, as No 10 announces crackdown on junk food
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has said he was “too fat” before his illness with coronavirus, as the prime minister announced moves to ban junk food ads before 9pm, end buy-one-get-one-free deals and put calorie numbers on restaurant menus.
Health experts have welcomed the campaign, but warned that chancellor Rishi Sunak’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ initiative – which sees fast food outlets giving the public 50 per cent off meals during August – will undermine the weight loss drive.
It came as Mr Johnson's spokesperson said the prime minister believes rapper Wiley’s string of antisemitic tweets were “abhorrent” and thinks Twitter’s response was “not good enough”.
Foreign Office toughens warning on travel to Spain's Balaeric and Canary Islands
The Foreign Office has issued a warning against all non-essential travel by UK nationals to the Balearic and Canary Islands in another blow to Spain’s tourism industry.
The move comes after British tourists were warned against non-essential travel to mainland Spain on Saturday, with a 14-day quarantine introduced for all travellers returning from anywhere in the country.
Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more on this breaking story below:
Feature: ‘I’ve been overweight since childhood. Boris Johnson’s obesity strategy won’t work’
Our deputy lifestyle editor, Sophie Gallagher, has spoken to people living with obesity to ask whether the government’s new "Better Health" campaign will make a difference to their lives.
The government has announced plans to ban buy-one-get-one-free deals on unhealthy food and limit adverts on junk food to after the 9pm watershed as part of a bid to improve the nation’s health.
You can find the full piece below:
That’s all from our live coverage of UK politics today - we’ll be back with more updates tomorrow.
Today’s key points are below:
- Boris Johnson has admitted he was too overweight when he caught coronavirus as he announced plans to ban junk food ads before 9pm and end buy-one-get-one-free deals in a bid to reduce the level of obesity in the UK.
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a new tax on goods sold online as part of plans to raise income and protect the high street during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Boris Johnson condemns grime artist Wiley’s string of antisemitic tweets and believes Twitter’s response to the situation was “not good enough”, according to the PM’s spokesperson.
- Transport secretary Grant Shapps is understood to be returning to the UK from his holiday in Spain early following the introduction of a 14-day quarantine for all travellers coming back from the country.
- Experts have warned the government’s Eat Out to Help Out discounts will undermine its messaging on obesity and health.
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