Boris Johnson news: Government suffers fresh Brexit defeat over child refugee protections, as Jess Phillips abandons Labour leadership bid
All the latest developments as they happened
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Boris Johnson’s government has suffered a fresh Lords defeat over its decision to strip protections for refugee children from its Brexit legislation. The PM has vowed to force the bill through the Commons despite five defeats in two days by peers.
It comes as Jess Phillips pulled out of the Labour leadership contest, admitting she was not the candidate “who can bring all parts of our movement together”. But Lisa Nandy received a boost from the GMB union, which endorsed her candidacy.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is preparing to adopt a “parallel” trade strategy in 2020, opening talks with the EU and the US. Speaking at Davos, Donald Trump said the UK had a “wonderful” prime minister who “wants very much to make a deal”.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster.
Government wants terror offenders to take lie detector test
Terrorists could be made to take a lie detector test to prove they have reformed and are not planning to carry out another attack.
Plans to introduce “polygraph testing” were announced by the government as part of a wave of measures being described as a “major overhaul” in the way terrorists are punished and monitored.
It is understood there are hopes that terrorists who are going to be out on licence could be made to take the lie test in a similar way to which sex offenders are sometimes questioned to check their behaviour.
The announcement from the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) also promised to:
- Force dangerous terrorists who receive extended determinate sentences to serve the whole time behind bars.
- Ensure those convicted of serious offences such as preparing acts of terrorism or directing a terrorist organisation would have to spend a minimum of 14 years in jail.
- Scrap early release from jail for those classed as dangerous and handed extended determinate sentences - in which criminals have to spend longer on licence after prison.
Home secretary Priti Patel said: “The senseless terror attack at Fishmongers’ Hall in November confronted us with some hard truths about how we deal with terrorist offenders, which is why we immediately announced a review into sentencing and licence conditions, to do whatever is necessary to stop these sickening attacks from taking place.
“Today we are delivering on those promises.”
Home secretary Priti Patel (Getty)
Justice secretary defends lie detector tests – and claims they could help identify ‘sleeper’ terrorists
Robert Buckland defended the use of lie detectors after questions were raised over their accuracy and appropriateness in dealing with terror offenders in the criminal justice system.
“We get a lot of people who are superficially very compliant with the regime and sometimes the assessment of risk is a really difficult thing to do,” he told Sky News.
“You can get people who are, in effect, sleepers for many years and then suddenly back come the hatreds and the prejudices and we see atrocities like the one we did at Fishmongers’ Hall.
“Which is why, I think, the introduction of polygraphs, the lie-testing devices which are already being used in sex offenders, improves the tools that we have in terms of trying to assess that risk, to minimise that risk.”
Pressed on accuracy of the tests being as low as 60 per cent, he said: “I’m not pretending on their own, polygraphs, lie detectors, are the be-all-and-end-all, which is why what we are also doing is doubling the number of specialised counter-terrorism probation officers... improving training, getting more psychologists in there, specialist imams as well will be working with these people.”
Asked about the tests on BBC Breakfast, he said: “Lie detectors have already been introduced in assessing the risk posed to the public by sex offenders, they came in about seven years ago.
“This is not a new concept. I think it is a sensible measure in order to help maximise the understanding of the risks that some of these prisoners pose to society.”
Female leader would give Labour ‘advantage’ over Johnson, says Thornberry
Labour leadership candidate Emily Thornberry said having a woman at the top of the party would be an “advantage” in the contest because Boris Johnson has a “woman problem”.
The shadow foreign secretary told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “It is an advantage to be a woman leader at this time because I think Boris Johnson has a woman problem, most definitely.
“He certainly has a problem with me. I think the Labour Party should think about that.”
She pointed out that Labour now has more women MPs than male representatives in Parliament, and said she is the candidate who would “frighten the life out of” Johnson at future PMQs.
Thornberry declined to say who she would vote for out of rivals Sir Keir Starmer or Rebecca Long-Bailey if she does not make the final shortlist.
“I’m not getting into this,” she told GMB. “I’m in this to win it.”
Setting out her policy on taxation, Thornberry said those with the “broadest shoulders” should pay the most. “Of course, if you have broader shoulders, then you should be paying more,” said the shadow cabinet member.
Labour leadership hopeful Emily Thornberry (PA)
PM to publish plans for ‘parallel’ trade talks with EU and US
Boris Johnson is to give a major speech in the days after Brexit to set out the UK’s hopes for future relations with the EU and the rest of the world.
The speech will be followed by a series of documents formally detailing the UK’s negotiating objectives for trade talks with the EU – and the US.
The prime minister reportedly wants parallel talks to “maximise his leverage” in the negotiations.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “We are free to begin discussions with countries around the world from February 1.”
It follows confirmation from the European Commission that it might take Brussels’ officials until March to draw up a mandate for negotiating a trade deal with the UK.
Boris Johnson at UK-Africa Investment Summit (Reuters)
‘Children are not negotiating chips’: PM braced for another defeat in the Lords over child refugees
No 10 will be preparing for further defeats in the House of Lords on Tuesday, as peers prepare to debate the government’s decision to strip support for child refugees from the Brexit bill.
The upper house will vote on Lord Dubs’ amendment to restore the rights of refugee children to be reunited with family in the UK after Brexit.
The Labour peer said “children should not be used as negotiating chips ... We must not let the issue of child refugees go away – it would be an ill-service to some of the most vulnerable people there are, and a betrayal of our humanity.”
It follows three consecutive defeats in the Lords in a matter of hours on Monday evening.
Peers voted for two amendments related to government plans to allow British judges at lower courts to overturn European Court of Justice rulings, and one that would ensure EU nationals get given a physical document as proof they have the right to live in the UK after Brexit.
Is it all for naught? Boasting that big majority of 80 in the Commons, Johnson will be confident of reversing the amendments when the bill comes back to the Commons.
Keir Starmer books his place in next round of Labour leadership contest
The shadow Brexit secretary has become the first candidate to secure his place on the ballot paper in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, after winning the nomination of the Usdaw union.
The decision by the shopworkers’ union represents a major blow to the campaign of Jess Phillips, as it was the only one of the “big five” unions thought to be considering offering her its endorsement for the Labour leadership.
Phillips and fellow contender Emily Thornberry now have to win the nominations of 33 constituency Labour parties if they are to claim a place in the final line-up for a members’ vote.
Usdaw also nominated runaway favourite Angela Rayner for deputy leader.
Could Gibraltar join the Schengen area?
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo has said the headland in the Mediterranean could join the EU’s borderless Schengen area after Brexit – arguing that it does not “make sense” for them to be cut off.
Our Europe correspondent Jon Stone has had a look at whether it’s possible for the British overseas territory to forge its own path in the months ahead.
Jess Phillips will not appear at Labour hustings event
We have another Labour hustings event today, with the leadership candidates auditioning for the endorsement of the GMB union.
But Jess Phillips is not actually attending the big event. The Independent understands the outsider had a prior engagement in her campaign to succeed Jeremy Corbyn – and she will send a written statement instead.
Lisa Nandy is thought to be in with a chance of winning the huge union’s backing. But if the GMB decides to back rival Keir Starmer instead, Nandy could be facing an uphill battle to get on the ballot.
Like Phillips and Emily Thornberry, she would face the prospect of needing nominations of 33 constituency Labour parties.
We’re expecting an announcement from GMB on who it it’s endorsing towards the end of the afternoon.
Leadership hopeful Jess Phillips (Getty)
Labour hopefuls face live grilling on Channel 4
Channel 4 has announced it will host an hour-long Labour leadership debate next month. Krishnan Guru-Murthy will host the five candidates on 17 February, just a few days before the ballot is finalised and sent out to members to vote.
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