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Trade secretary Truss takes swipe at Washington, saying US can't decide UK tax policy on tech giants – live news Trade secretary Truss takes swipe at Washington, saying US can't decide UK tax policy on tech giants – live news
(31 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenRolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
The likely battle lines between SNP and Scotish Tories in advance of next year’s Holyrood election are becoming clearer every week. At this lunchtime’s FMQs (first minister’s questions), interim Tory leader Jackson Carlaw - who launched his leadership campaign last week with proposals to reverse SNP tax rises for high earners - raised a pretty shocking story that was highlighted by the Courier this morning: the roof of a police station in Broughty Ferry collapsing just hours after the justice secretary dismissed concerns about the crumbling police estate as “hyperbole”.
Carlaw condemned “years of missed opportunities from a distracted government”, noting that the FM would be returning to “her favourite topic” next week when she has promised to update parliament on her next steps after Boris Johnson ruled out granting her the legal powers to hold a second independence referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, shot back that it was Carlaw himself who was planning to strip public services, quoting an analysis of his tax proposals which she said proved they would “take £270m out of public services and give it back to the richest”. With the Scottish draft budget due on February 6, we can expect plenty more of this.
Emily Thornberry has also tweeted a message of support to her fellow Labour leadership candidate Keir Starmer. (See 1.19pm.)
Zac Goldsmith, the environment minister, came up with a particularly unflattering description of himself in his maiden speech in the House of Lords a few minutes ago, Sky’s Aubrey Allegretti reports.
Sir Keir Starmer, the favourite in the Labour leadership contest, has been forced to cancel campaign events as his mother-in-law is critically ill in hospital. A spokesman for Starmer said:
In response, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Starmer’s main rival in the contest, posted this on Twitter.
The police watchdog is facing accusations that it is dragging its feet on a decision about whether to investigate Boris Johnson for possible criminal misconduct over his friendship with the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri when he was London mayor, my colleague Matthew Weaver reports.The police watchdog is facing accusations that it is dragging its feet on a decision about whether to investigate Boris Johnson for possible criminal misconduct over his friendship with the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri when he was London mayor, my colleague Matthew Weaver reports.
Sajid Javid, the chancellor, is speaking at a CBI lunch in Davis. He has just sought to reassure business that the UK won’t abandon all EU regulations after Brexit, saying:Sajid Javid, the chancellor, is speaking at a CBI lunch in Davis. He has just sought to reassure business that the UK won’t abandon all EU regulations after Brexit, saying:
There is full coverage of the speech on my colleague Graeme Wearden’s Davos live blog.There is full coverage of the speech on my colleague Graeme Wearden’s Davos live blog.
From Bloomberg’s Ian WishartFrom Bloomberg’s Ian Wishart
Ratcliffe says the recent weeks, since the killing of Qassem Suleimani, have been terrifying.Ratcliffe says the recent weeks, since the killing of Qassem Suleimani, have been terrifying.
Q: Did Johnson apologise for his own comments about Nazanin (about her being in Iran to teach journalism - a false statement that was used by Iran to justify her ongoing detention.)Q: Did Johnson apologise for his own comments about Nazanin (about her being in Iran to teach journalism - a false statement that was used by Iran to justify her ongoing detention.)
Ratcliffe says they did not talk about the past.Ratcliffe says they did not talk about the past.
But he says he was satisfied that Johnson was committed to getting this case resolved.But he says he was satisfied that Johnson was committed to getting this case resolved.
He says he presented Johnson with a wallet made by Nazanin in prison.He says he presented Johnson with a wallet made by Nazanin in prison.
He says Johnson offered five-year-old Gabriella apple juice. And she was given a toy cat. During the meeting, she did some colouring, he says.He says Johnson offered five-year-old Gabriella apple juice. And she was given a toy cat. During the meeting, she did some colouring, he says.
Richard Ratcliffe is speaking to journalists now after his meeting with Boris Johnson.Richard Ratcliffe is speaking to journalists now after his meeting with Boris Johnson.
He says he did not come away thinking that his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, will be released very soon.He says he did not come away thinking that his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, will be released very soon.
He says he still thinks the government should be tougher on Iran.He says he still thinks the government should be tougher on Iran.
But it was a gracious visit, he says.But it was a gracious visit, he says.
Q: How could the government be tougher?Q: How could the government be tougher?
He says in his opinion Nazanin is being held hostage by Iran.He says in his opinion Nazanin is being held hostage by Iran.
He says he spoke to Johnson about Magnitsky-style sanctions on Iran. He says after the UK leaves the EU it would be easier to impose those.He says he spoke to Johnson about Magnitsky-style sanctions on Iran. He says after the UK leaves the EU it would be easier to impose those.
He says hostage taking should not be allowed. That should be a universal value that should be upheld.He says hostage taking should not be allowed. That should be a universal value that should be upheld.
He says it is important for their to be progress in the court case. (See 11.12am.)He says it is important for their to be progress in the court case. (See 11.12am.)
But he was told the government was doing all it could, he says.But he was told the government was doing all it could, he says.
Richard Ratcliffe has arrived at Downing Street for his talks with Boris Johnson about his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is detained in Iran. (See 11.12am.) He has brought their daughter, Gabriella, and his own mother Barbara (to help look after Gabriella if she gets distracted during the meeting, he explained on the Today programme this morning).Richard Ratcliffe has arrived at Downing Street for his talks with Boris Johnson about his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is detained in Iran. (See 11.12am.) He has brought their daughter, Gabriella, and his own mother Barbara (to help look after Gabriella if she gets distracted during the meeting, he explained on the Today programme this morning).
Turning back to Huawei, Gerard Baker has an interesting column on this topic here in the Times (paywall) today. Here’s an extract.Turning back to Huawei, Gerard Baker has an interesting column on this topic here in the Times (paywall) today. Here’s an extract.
Baker says the key question is whether Washington would use talks on a UK-US trade deal to try to influence Britain’s policy on Huawei. He quotes an adviser to President Trump as saying that the US is not planning to link the two issues “at this point”.Baker says the key question is whether Washington would use talks on a UK-US trade deal to try to influence Britain’s policy on Huawei. He quotes an adviser to President Trump as saying that the US is not planning to link the two issues “at this point”.
A Welsh Conservative candidate accused of deliberately sabotaging a rape trial has been deselected by his party, PA Media reports. Ross England was giving evidence as a witness in the trial of a male friend when it was halted after he referred to the female victim’s previous sexual history against the directions of the judge. Today the Conservative party said England’s nomination to contest the Vale of Glamorgan seat in the 2021 Welsh assembly election had been withdrawn.A Welsh Conservative candidate accused of deliberately sabotaging a rape trial has been deselected by his party, PA Media reports. Ross England was giving evidence as a witness in the trial of a male friend when it was halted after he referred to the female victim’s previous sexual history against the directions of the judge. Today the Conservative party said England’s nomination to contest the Vale of Glamorgan seat in the 2021 Welsh assembly election had been withdrawn.
The proportion of recorded crimes in England and Wales that resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed to court has fallen again, fresh figures reveal, as knife crime surges to a record high, my colleague Jamie Grierson reports.The proportion of recorded crimes in England and Wales that resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed to court has fallen again, fresh figures reveal, as knife crime surges to a record high, my colleague Jamie Grierson reports.
Sharon Hodgson, the shadow health secretary, is responding to Matt Hancock’s statement. She has some questions.Sharon Hodgson, the shadow health secretary, is responding to Matt Hancock’s statement. She has some questions.
Will flights from other Chinese cities be monitored?Will flights from other Chinese cities be monitored?
What advice is being given to other people flying to China?What advice is being given to other people flying to China?
Are contingency plans in place in case the disease does reach the UK?Are contingency plans in place in case the disease does reach the UK?
Hancock is replying now. He says it is important to get enhanced monitoring right. He says symptoms from coronavirus take five to seven days to appear, and can take up to 14 days. So monitoring people on aircraft is of limited value, he suggests. But he says there will be no further flights out of Wuhan anyway.Hancock is replying now. He says it is important to get enhanced monitoring right. He says symptoms from coronavirus take five to seven days to appear, and can take up to 14 days. So monitoring people on aircraft is of limited value, he suggests. But he says there will be no further flights out of Wuhan anyway.
In the Commons Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is making a statement about the coronavirus outbreak.In the Commons Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is making a statement about the coronavirus outbreak.
He says there have been 571 cases, and 17 reported fatalities.He says there have been 571 cases, and 17 reported fatalities.
Most cases of this new virus have been non-fatal, he says. But some cases have been fatal.Most cases of this new virus have been non-fatal, he says. But some cases have been fatal.
There are no cases of this new infection in the UK so far, he says.There are no cases of this new infection in the UK so far, he says.
He says the government is closely monitoring the situation.He says the government is closely monitoring the situation.
Since yesterday health officials have been monitoring people on flights from Wuhan. And people on flights from China are receiving information about this, he says.Since yesterday health officials have been monitoring people on flights from Wuhan. And people on flights from China are receiving information about this, he says.
He says the chief medical officer has changed the risk level to the UK from very low to low.He says the chief medical officer has changed the risk level to the UK from very low to low.
But the UK is prepared to deal with any outbreak, he says.But the UK is prepared to deal with any outbreak, he says.
He says travel advice has been updated, and the government is now advising against all but essential travel to Wuhan.He says travel advice has been updated, and the government is now advising against all but essential travel to Wuhan.
In her Sky News interview this morning Andrea Leadsom, the business secretary, hinted that the government is minded to allow the Chinese firm Huawei to play a role in constructing the UK’s 5G network. The US government has been strongly urging London not to use Huawei, claiming that it poses a security risk and threatening to limit intelligence cooperation if Huawei does get the go-ahead.In her Sky News interview this morning Andrea Leadsom, the business secretary, hinted that the government is minded to allow the Chinese firm Huawei to play a role in constructing the UK’s 5G network. The US government has been strongly urging London not to use Huawei, claiming that it poses a security risk and threatening to limit intelligence cooperation if Huawei does get the go-ahead.
Leadsom said the government would take a decision on this soon. But, as Reuters reports, she highlighted difficulties with not using Huawei. She said:Leadsom said the government would take a decision on this soon. But, as Reuters reports, she highlighted difficulties with not using Huawei. She said:
But she also said she shared concerns about protecting national security.But she also said she shared concerns about protecting national security.
Speaking ahead of his meeting with Boris Johnson later, Richard Ratcliffe said that he hoped the PM would “take responsibility” for the detention of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran. Ratcliffe told the Today programme:Speaking ahead of his meeting with Boris Johnson later, Richard Ratcliffe said that he hoped the PM would “take responsibility” for the detention of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran. Ratcliffe told the Today programme:
Ratcliffe also urged Johnson to be “brave” in resolving a long-running trade dispute with Iran over the settlement of a £400m debt. He said:Ratcliffe also urged Johnson to be “brave” in resolving a long-running trade dispute with Iran over the settlement of a £400m debt. He said:
My colleague Patrick Wintour has more on this in his overnight story previewing the meeting.My colleague Patrick Wintour has more on this in his overnight story previewing the meeting.