Boris Johnson latest news: Britain will provide military aid to Sweden and Finland under a new agreement
Related video: ‘Frustrating’ lack of EU flexibility over protocols, says Northern Ireland secretary
A new British security agreement with Sweden and Finland could mean that Britain provides military aid if one of the two Nordic countries is attacked, Boris Johnson has said.
The deal was sealed by the prime minister during a 24-hour visit to the two countries, where fears are growing that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over into aggression directed by Moscow against its neighbors across the Baltic Sea.
The visit comes days before expected announcements from Stockholm and Helsinki on whether they will drop a decades-old policy of neutrality and apply to join NATO’s defense alliance.
At a press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at her refuge in Harpsund, Johnson said: “What we are saying and doing now is in no way more than a statement of the obvious that two liberal democracies are facing. An attack on one or the other others would like to come to each other’s support, whether in the event of a disaster or a military attack. ”
Minister refuses to rule out the possibility that Ukrainian refugees may be deported to Rwanda
In a speech to MPs on Wednesday, Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove said that decisions to send asylum seekers to the East African country would be considered on a case-by-case basis – and did not deny that people who had fled Ukraine could be among them.
During a hearing with the Home Affairs Committee, he also declined to rule out the possibility of deporting Afghan citizens working with the British Army under the policy.
Our social correspondent Maj Bulman have more:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:38
The Prime Minister says that the NI Protocol fails to order support across the communities
Boris Johnson has said that the Northern Ireland Protocol fails to order support for the communities in Northern Ireland and that “we must sort it out”.
At a press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at her village in Harpsund, Johnson said: “The most important agreement is the 25-year-old Good Friday agreement in Belfast.
“It is crucial for the stability of our country Great Britain, Northern Ireland.
“And that must be what means that things must be supported by the communities.
“It is clear that the Northern Ireland Protocol is not succeeding and we need to sort it out.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:25
Cost of living: Sturgeon tells Prime Minister to “stop talking and start acting”
Boris Johnson must “stop talking” and “let’s see the action” to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, Scotland’s prime minister has said.
Nicola Sturgeon said it was “not enough” for the prime minister to say that Tuesday’s keynote speech was about helping people mitigate rising costs “when there was nothing in the speech that would actually deliver it”.
On Wednesday, Sturgeon said that the measures taken so far by the British government to help households “will be far from what is needed”.
She added: “It’s urgent here. People are struggling right now to feed their children, to heat their homes, and we know it will get worse.”
Johnson has come under fire due to the lack of short-term measures in the Queen’s speech to help people facing soaring costs.
In response, he warned that the government can not “completely protect” people from the rising cost of living.
But Sturgeon suggested measures such as removing VAT from energy bills, increasing social security benefits and offering direct support to low-income households could be taken by the British government.
She added: “We have seen other governments across Europe take much more action, and of course at the beginning of the pandemic we saw a range of responses needed to help people at that time.
“That is the extent of the response we need to see from Boris Johnson and (Chancellor) Rishi Sunak now.
“Stop talking about it, stop letting us hear the words about it and let’s see the action.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:15
Breaking: The UK could provide military aid to Sweden and Finland under a new agreement, says Boris Johnson
A new British security agreement with Sweden and Finland could mean that Britain provides military aid if one of the two Nordic countries is attacked, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
The deal was sealed by the prime minister during a 24-hour visit to the two countries, where fears are growing that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spill over into aggression directed by Moscow against its neighbors across the Baltic Sea.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:09
Boris Johnson said that the security agreement with Sweden is more important than ever in the “gloomy circumstances” with Russia
Boris Johnson said that the security agreement with Sweden is more important than ever in the “gloomy circumstances” with Russia.
At a press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at her refuge in Harpsund, Johnson said: “What we are saying and doing now is in no way more than a statement of the obvious that two liberal democracies are facing. An attack on one or the other others would like to come to each other’s support, whether in the event of a disaster or military attack.
“I am very pleased to sign this declaration on mutual security insurance today. It is an agreement that brings our two countries even closer together.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:08
Historical security declaration between Great Britain and Sweden “anchors values” for both countries
Boris Johnson has said that the historic declaration of security with Sweden would enable the countries to “share more intelligence, both for our military exercises and to promote our joint development of technology”.
Speaking with Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at her retreat in Harpsund, Johnson said: “This week, many of us have paid tribute to the brave men and women who secured victory and peace in Europe 77 years ago.
“So, it’s a sad irony that we’ve been forced to discuss how we can best strengthen our common defense against the empty conceit of a tyrant from the 21st century.”
He added: “The most important thing is that this is an agreement that consolidates the values that both Sweden and the United Kingdom value, and which we will not hesitate to defend.”
Andersson said she was “very happy” to sign the bilateral political declaration of solidarity.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 13:04
“Do not touch this”: EU regrets Britain’s threat to override Northern Ireland’s protocol
EU leaders have lamented the UK Government’s intentions to take unilateral action and disregard the Northern Ireland Protocol, with a warning: “Do not touch this”.
The Prime Minister said she preferred a negotiated solution, but added: “We will not hesitate to take steps to stabilize the situation in Northern Ireland if solutions cannot be found”.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 12:55
Watch live as MPs debate Queen’s Speech in Commons
Watch live as MPs debate Queens’ speech in the Commons
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 12:50
The Prime Minister urges ministers to “go faster” to deal with the cost of living crisis
Boris Johnson has urged ministers to be “as creative as possible” when devising cost-cutting measures, Downing Street said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed that the government’s new cost of living committee met for the first time on Tuesday after the Queen’s speech.
“You can expect more work to be done behind that discussion. The Prime Minister urged the ministers to go faster and be as creative as possible to ensure that the government does everything in this important matter,” the spokesman said.
“You can expect the committee to meet fairly regularly to move forward with the work as soon as possible.
“In the coming days, you will hear more from the Prime Minister about this. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister are working extremely closely on this and will continue to do so.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 12:45
The government is still committed to building 300,000 new homes a year
Downing Street has said the government remains committed to its goal of building 300,000 new homes a year.
Former Home Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged that the goal would not be reached this year, saying that although “arithmetic is important”, he was not “bound by a single criterion”.
Asked if the goal had been abandoned, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Our goal of delivering 300,000 per year is central to our equalization mission.
“These homes must be of good quality, they must be well-designed and have the infrastructure that new development needs. It’s just as important.
“We are really making progress towards that goal. We are currently at 244,000 a year. Some of the measures in this bill are designed to remove some of the obstacles that can weaken planning applications and cause more resistance among local communities.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain11 May 2022 12:35