PM ‘absolutely’ has confidence in Raab and govt working ‘virtually around the clock’ on Afghanistan evacuations

Boris Johnson says he “absolutely” has confidence in Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab – and insisted the government is working “virtually around the clock” to help evacuate people from Afghanistan.

PM and foreign secretary ‘missing in action’ over Afghanistan, says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab of being “missing in action” as Afghanistan collapsed to Taliban control – while the Labour leader also admitted he had been left “deeply concerned” by US President Joe Biden’s response to the crisis.

Row as PM says Thatcher gave UK ‘early start’ in climate change fight by closing coal mines

Sir Keir Starmer and Nicola Sturgeon have led criticism of Boris Johnson after he said Margaret Thatcher gave the UK a “big early start” in its battle against climate change when she closed coal mines in the 1980s.

Labour MP asked to leave the Commons after saying PM has ‘lied over and over again’ during pandemic

A Labour MP has tweeted she will “never stop speaking truth to power” after being asked to leave the House of Commons for refusing to withdraw claims that Boris Johnson had “lied” to the country “over and over again”.

‘Important everybody sticks to same rules’: PM makes U-turn on isolation and urges caution on eve of unlocking

Boris Johnson says he “did look briefly at the idea” of taking part in a daily-test pilot scheme but thinks it’s “far more important that everybody sticks to the same rules” so will be self-isolating until next Monday.

Govt to set out N Ireland plans within two weeks – as PM told trust in him at ‘all-time low’

The government will set out its plans for post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland within the next two weeks – as Labour claimed trust in Boris Johnson over the issue had fallen to “an all-time low”.

Almost all COVID rules to be ditched on 19 July – but PM says don’t get ‘demob happy’

Almost all COVID rules – including limits on the number of people who can meet together, legal requirements on wearing face masks, and social distancing in pubs and bars – will be ditched as part of the final step of the roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions in England.