skynewspolitics--2020-07-23--Triumph and tumult: The story of Boris Johnson's first year as prime minister

In the 12 months that have followed , he has taken Britain out of the European Union and masterminded an historic election victory .
But he has also had to contend with a global pandemic that has required an unprecedented government response and at one stage left him fighting for his life in intensive care .
This is the story of that first year in office .
It is his race to lose from the start - and in the end Boris Johnson easily defeats Jeremy Hunt and succeeds Theresa May .
Having blown his chance in 2016 , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of circumstances to finally get the job he has craved for so long .
Sorting out Brexit broke Mrs May , with her premiership becoming bogged down in a quagmire of deadlock and division .
Mr Johnson 's unique blend of rhetoric and optimism - which make him a darling of the Conservative grassroots - seems like the perfect tonic for a party that wants to feel good about itself again .
Addressing the nation , the new PM vows to end `` three years of indecision '' and deliver Brexit by 31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' - and without a deal if necessary .
Mr Johnson also sketches out a broader picture of what he wants his premiership to look like .
There is a pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers and `` fix the crisis in social care '' , as well as extra funding for schools and a hospital upgrade programme .
Mr Johnson declares that after three years of `` unfounded self-doubt '' it is `` time to change the record '' .
And with that he walks through the black door of Number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast himself as the knight in shining armour who would rescue Britain from Brexit paralysis , the early months of Boris Johnson 's premiership do not feel that much different to Theresa May 's .
The knife-edge votes , government defeats and mutiny in the Tory ranks continue .
Everyone in Westminster knows there will be showdowns between the government and opposition MPs over the PM 's willingness to pursue a no-deal Brexit .
And the battle begins when Mr Johnson decides to prorogue , or suspend , parliament for more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do this to set out his government 's agenda in a Queen 's Speech .
But opponents , who vow to fight it in the courts , suspect the real motivation is to frustrate their efforts to stop a no-deal Brexit .
Whatever the motivation , it means there is now a race against time .
This produces yet more drama , as Mr Johnson finds himself bedevilled by the same problems that proved ruinous for his predecessor .
The PM loses his working majority in early September when Phillip Lee defects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tories lose the party whip for backing opposition attempts to block a no-deal Brexit .
Then comes the resignation from government of the PM 's brother Jo .
Amidst this chaos , Mr Johnson comes to the conclusion that he has to push for an early election .
The high-risk masterplan is to reset the parliamentary arithmetic with a Tory majority and crack on with Brexit .
Easier said than done .
Especially given that opposition parties are not prepared to give the PM what he wants quite yet , voting against motions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit is off the table .
In the end , MPs opposed to no-deal manage to pass legislation designed to avoid such a scenario before parliament is suspended , which is derided by Mr Johnson as a `` surrender bill '' .
Having suffered numerous parliamentary defeats , the PM seems to have engineered a reprieve .
But another roadblock is looming .
'Void and of no effect' A cross-party group of MPs furious with Boris Johnson 's suspension of parliament quickly launch a legal challenge .
When the Supreme Court hands down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another setback for the PM .
The suspension is ruled unlawful and `` void and of no effect '' .
In other words , it is as if it never happened .
Opposition MPs accuse Mr Johnson of lying to the Queen and say he should resign , a demand swiftly rebuffed by Downing Street .
In a further demonstration of the febrile atmosphere in parliament , the PM comes under attack for saying the best way to honour the memory of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox is to `` get Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Number 10 for so long , it seems like the beleaguered PM can not catch a break .
Johnson tries to break the Brexit deadlock At the start of October , Mr Johnson 's opponents feel like they have him on the ropes .
But in his big speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester , the PM comes out swinging .
In an address filled with the usual Johnsonian vim and vigour , he unveils what he describes as `` constructive and reasonable '' proposals to try and agree a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the EU to respond to the UK 's `` compromise '' , with the olive branch setting the scene for a crucial summit .
As Mr Johnson prepares for his first - and he hopes last - European Council summit , he knows it could define his premiership .
If he pulls off what many regard as unthinkable and gets a revised deal , he can return from Brussels triumphant and back on the front foot .
Looming large is the legislation , the so-called Benn Act , passed by MPs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PM until 19 October to get any deal approved by MPs , otherwise he will be compelled to ask for a further Brexit delay .
Given the noises out of the EU in the early months of Mr Johnson 's premiership , the fact that the PM is able to get a revised deal is regarded as a notable achievement .
Mr Johnson hails it as a `` great deal for our country '' .
The removal of the Irish border backstop guarantees Mr Johnson will have the backing of Conservative MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vote .
But Northern Ireland 's Democratic Unionist Party , which had an agreement to support the Tories in key votes , is not on board .
And backbench MPs from all parties fear that even though there is now a new deal , there is not enough time to pass the accompanying legislation in time for 31 October .
They worry that , in voting for the PM 's revised agreement , and in turn satisfying the terms of the Benn Act , they could set in train a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen either by accident or by design .
These MPs have an ace up their sleeve - and they play it in the first sitting of the Commons on a Saturday since the Falklands War .
For a moment , it looks like Britain 's EU exit is entering its endgame .
But `` Super Saturday '' ends up being another false dawn .
Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin tables an amendment which he says is designed to prevent an `` accidental '' no-deal exit and act as an `` insurance mechanism '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the `` meaningful vote '' needed to approve the PM 's Brexit deal will only happen once the legislation required to leave the EU - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - has been passed .
Much to the fury of Mr Johnson , MPs approve it .
This means the Benn Act comes into force .
The PM asks the EU for a three-month delay to Brexit , having previously said he would rather be `` dead in a ditch '' .
The request is sent to European Council President Donald Tusk in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describes as `` parliament 's letter '' .
The following week , there are further setbacks for the PM .
Speaker John Bercow - long a target of Eurosceptic fury because of his perceived Remain bias - denies the government a second vote on the Brexit deal .
This forces the PM to change tack , instead trying to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill .
But while MPs back the legislation in principle , they reject his three-day timetable for passing it .
Amid yet more deadlock and delay , an election seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delay Brexit until the end of January , events move quickly .
With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit pushed back , MPs finally approve an election on 12 December .
It is inevitable that Brexit will dominate .
Boris Johnson makes it the centrepiece of the Conservative campaign - `` Get Brexit done '' is the party 's slogan .
It is a simple and effective rallying cry , but one that can be criticised as disingenuous given that leaving the bloc is only the end of the first phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man on the side of people who just want Brexit sorted out , someone who has had his hands tied by out of touch MPs .
For Labour and Jeremy Corbyn , the election is a `` once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country '' by ending austerity , increasing spending and re-nationalising a number of key industries .
The Labour leader presents himself as the man for the many , the one to take on the `` corrupt system '' he says is engineered in favour of the interests of the few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not Labour 's focus .
The party has a policy of course - to renegotiate the PM 's deal and put it to a second referendum within six months of coming to power .
The battle lines are drawn and campaigning begins .
Polls suggest the Tories are on course for victory .
Mr Johnson appears aware that it is seemingly his election to lose , playing it safe with a manifesto that promises just £3bn in day-to-day spending increases .
The vow to `` get Brexit done '' is what it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this message again and again .
There are two head-to-head debates between Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn , but they do not produce any campaign-altering moments .
Still , a number of moments from the campaign trail itself stick in the memory .
Mr Corbyn produces documents which he claims show the NHS will be `` up for sale '' in a post-Brexit US trade deal under the Tories .
The documents are found on website Reddit , with it later emerging that Russian groups sought to interfere in the election by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the London Bridge terror attack that leaves two people dead .
The father of Jack Merritt , one of the victims , accuses the PM of trying to `` score election points '' in his response .
But as the PM gathers with his inner circle in Downing Street to await the results , he will be quietly confident of victory .
As the clock strikes 10pm on 12 December , the results of the broadcasters ' exit poll are revealed .
The headline is clear : Boris Johnson 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on course for a convincing victory .
As the night progresses , it becomes apparent that the tectonic plates of British politics have shifted .
The first sign that something historic is in the offing comes when Blyth Valley , Labour since its creation in the 1950s , elects a Tory MP for the first time .
It proves to be the first brick to fall from the so-called `` red wall '' , traditional Labour heartlands that have backed the party for decades .
As dawn breaks , Britain awakes to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their largest parliamentary majority since the days of Margaret Thatcher , a commanding total of 80 .
Labour , in contrast , loses more than 50 seats as it registers its worst performance at the polls since the 1930s .
But in a sign of potential trouble on the horizon , Nicola Sturgeon 's SNP wins 48 of Scotland 's 59 seats , a result the first minister hails as `` clear endorsement '' of a second independence vote .
As Jeremy Corbyn announces his intention to resign , Mr Johnson begins planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a victory rally , Mr Johnson says `` getting Brexit done is now the irrefutable , irresistible , unarguable decision of the British people '' .
Addressing the nation later in Downing Street , the PM acknowledges that many people will have voted Tory for the first time and promises to `` work round the clock to repay your trust '' .
From division and chaos to an eerie calm Having experienced three years of almost permanent crisis since the 2016 referendum , British politics in the wake of Boris Johnson 's election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The PM takes the first step to delivering on his election promise to `` get Brexit done '' , seeing the Withdrawal Agreement Bill approved by MPs at its second reading just before Christmas .
When MPs return to Westminster at the start of 2020 , the legislation continues its progress through parliament and gets royal assent .
Ratification of the deal by the European Parliament swiftly follows .
After years of rancour and division , it is a sign of Westminster 's new political reality that the last few weeks of Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devoid of drama .
Everything is set for 31 January .
Celebration and regret as curtain comes down on EU membership Given the divisions caused by the Brexit vote , it is no surprise that the day Britain finally leaves the bloc provokes contrasting reactions .
There are celebrations and protests , with a light show illuminating Downing Street when the clock strikes 11pm and Brexit becomes official .
Boris Johnson , who will go down in history as the PM who plotted a course out of the Brexit maze , acknowledges these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit represents an `` astonishing moment of hope '' for many , there are others who `` feel a sense of anxiety and loss '' .
Although it has now formally left the bloc , Britain will continue to follow EU rules and regulations during an 11-month transition period .
The PM now has to prepare for talks on a future trade deal with the EU , with a deadline of 31 December for an agreement .
As the first phase of Brexit enters its final days , Boris Johnson begins to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these first few weeks after Brexit demonstrate that an 80-seat majority is not an impenetrable firewall against dissent and crisis .
At the end of January , he allows Chinese telecoms firm Huawei a limited role in Britain 's 5G network .
The PM 's move comes in the face of fierce opposition from the US and a number of Tory backbenchers , who make it abundantly clear that his decision is not the end of the matter .
Mr Johnson also decides to allow construction of the HS2 high-speed rail link to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fervent opposition from some Tory MPs .
Soon after , the PM turns his attention to a major cabinet reshuffle .
But his plans to put his majority to good effect and radically reshape his top team are about to be unexpectedly blown off course . '
I do n't believe any self-respecting minister would accept such conditions' The resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor shocks Westminster .
He walks away from one of the most high profile roles in government after Boris Johnson orders him to sack his aides and replace them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rishi Sunak , who only became an MP five years ago , is his replacement .
Mr Javid 's surprise departure is the culmination of weeks of reported tensions between him and Dominic Cummings , the PM 's controversial chief adviser .
The row is a preview of a criticism of the PM that will gain traction in the months to come - that he is too reliant on Mr Cummings and can not handle dissent .
The first few months of the PM 's majority government have seen Britain finally leave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to plan .
Little does he know that the course of his premiership is about to be changed forever .
On 23 March , Boris Johnson announces the toughest restrictions on everyday life in Britain since the Second World War to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus .
For the foreseeable future , Britons will - with some exceptions - only be allowed to leave the house to buy food or medicine , to exercise and to travel to and from work if it is `` absolutely necessary '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ - the announcement that the government will pay the wages of millions of employees unable to work during the pandemic .
But could - and should - the PM have acted sooner ?
The picture that has emerged so far suggests that in the early days there is a reluctance to order an unprecedented national shutdown .
Throughout the crisis , ministers have spoken about being `` guided '' by the science , but some scientists insist an earlier shutdown would have saved lives .
As the PM grapples with how to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase `` herd immunity '' enters the national conversation .
Downing Street insists it was never official government policy .
But a newspaper report claims Dominic Cummings told a private engagement in February that achieving it is the government 's aim , something denied by Number 10 .
As Britain adapts to the reality of life in lockdown , the PM knows he is about to be tested in ways he never imagined .
'The NHS saved my life , no question' For a few worrying days in April , Boris Johnson is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 himself .
The PM confirms he has the virus on 27 March and is admitted to St Thomas ' Hospital a week later , spending three nights in intensive care .
On Easter Sunday , he is released from hospital to continue his recovery .
In a video message , the PM reveals `` things could have gone either way '' and declares : `` The NHS has saved my life , no question . ''
A little more than two weeks later , Boris Johnson is back in hospital again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happier circumstances .
His fiancee Carrie Symonds gives birth to a baby boy , Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson .
The name Nicholas is chosen in a nod to the two doctors who saved the PM 's life .
Mr Johnson is present throughout the birth and is seen beaming on his return to Number 10 .
The pair announced in February that they got engaged at the end of last year , shortly after the PM 's divorce from wife Marina Wheeler was confirmed .
During the lockdown the government 's message is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS , save lives .
But that message is undermined from within Downing Street in one of the defining moments of Boris Johnson 's first year in Number 10 .
In May , it emerges Dominic Cummings drove 260 miles to his parents in Durham for childcare support after his wife displayed coronavirus symptoms at the height of lockdown .
It is also revealed that the PM 's chief adviser went for a `` test drive '' to Barnard Castle 30 minutes away to check if he was well enough to travel home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Johnson 's own MPs - demand the sacking of Mr Cummings .
Polls show that a majority the public thinks Mr Cummings broke the rules and should resign .
But the PM sticks by his trusted lieutenant and tries to ride the crisis out .
In an unprecedented Downing Street news conference , Mr Cummings says he does not `` regret '' his actions and believes he acted `` reasonably '' .
Durham Police later say Mr Cummings may have committed a `` minor breach '' by driving to Barnard Castle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offence '' by travelling from London to Durham .
The PM makes it clear that he considers the matter closed and tries to move on .
But as one looks back on an extraordinary 12 months , it seems this is a controversy that will fester .
For his critics , it reinforces his unhealthy reliance on Mr Cummings and shows there is one rule for those in power and another for everyone else .
After setting out a roadmap to ease the COVID-19 restrictions , Boris Johnson begins taking the country down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
A phased reopening of schools begins on 1 June , with non-essential retail allowed to reopen two weeks later .
In the most significant easing , pubs , restaurants , barbers and hairdressers welcome customers again on 4 July .
The two-metre social distancing rule is also relaxed , becoming `` one-metre plus '' .
With the delicate process of easing lockdown and getting the economy moving again under way , questions over the PM 's handling of the pandemic persist .
Ministers insist that international comparisons are not helpful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in the world can not be easily dismissed .
Was the government too slow to increase coronavirus testing ?
Did ministers do enough to protect care homes from the virus ?
Why were there problems with the supply of vital protective equipment for those on the frontline ?
These are just a few of the multitude of questions directed at the government .
There is also scrutiny and criticism of the COVID-19 travel quarantine , the stalled efforts to develop a functioning contact-tracing app and a failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in class before the summer break .
Mr Johnson 's promise of a `` world beating '' system to trace those who catch the disease is another facet of the government 's response that comes under the spotlight .
Ministers also face accusations of being too slow to advocate the use of face masks and then offering mixed messages on when and where people should wear them .
The `` mixed messages '' charge is also laid at the PM when he sets out the route out of lockdown and encourages those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , there is a much-publicised U-turn on free school meals following a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford .
The lack of a unified `` four nations '' approach to easing lockdown is also noteworthy , with the devolved administrations of Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland diverging in a number of areas .
All this takes a toll on the PM 's personal approval ratings , which hit a high at the start of lockdown but fall off after that .
As he approaches his first anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to get on with his `` levelling up '' vision .
Coronavirus is still on the agenda , but it is not the PM 's sole focus .
This is exemplified by the ending of the daily Downing Street COVID-19 briefing , for months a feature of lockdown life .
The PM talks of a `` more significant return to normality '' by Christmas .
Talks on the UK 's future relationship with the EU continue , but a breakthrough proves elusive .
Having promised not to extend the transition beyond December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and formally tells the EU the UK will not be asking for a further delay .
The PM presses on with plans for a new post-Brexit immigration system and performs a major U-turn on Huawei 's role in Britain 's 5G network .
There is a hardline response to the targeting of statues and violence in the wake of the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd , amid suggestions Mr Johnson wants to stoke a culture war .
In a set piece speech detailing his coronavirus recovery plan , the PM promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and oversee an `` infrastructure revolution '' to see Britain through the pandemic .
Despite a once-in-a-lifetime crisis , he is determined not to be blown off course .
David Cameron will be remembered as the prime minister who gambled on settling the question of Britain 's place in the EU once and for all and lost .
Theresa May will go down in history as the leader who was unable to escape from the Brexit morass .
The stories of Boris Johnson 's two immediate predecessors show that leaders do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in power .
He will always be remembered as the PM who took Britain out of the EU .
But the coronavirus pandemic - and his government 's response to it - could define his time in Downing Street .
More than 40,000 people have lost their lives to COVID-19 , while tens of thousands have been made unemployed .
The personal and economic effects will be felt for years to come .
It will be the PM 's job to chart as smooth a course as he can out of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak will need to be examined thoroughly , with questions asked and lessons learnt .
If the epilogue to Britain 's coronavirus crisis makes for difficult reading and reaches uncomfortable conclusions , the public may blame Mr Johnson .
After all , the buck stops with him .
However , they may give the PM the benefit of the doubt for doing his best during a crisis that took the country by surprise .
In his first year in Downing Street , Mr Johnson has run a gamut of emotions : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , relief , excitement and joy .
Little is certain in politics , but the next 12 months promises more of the same .

Just over a year ago, Boris Johnson became prime minister.
In the 12 months that have followed, he has taken Britain out of the European Union and masterminded an historic election victory.
But he has also had to contend with a global pandemic that has required an unprecedented government response and at one stage left him fighting for his life in intensive care.
Image: Boris Johnson enters Downing Street for the first time as PM
This is the story of that first year in office.
Johnson seizes his second chance
It is his race to lose from the start - and in the end Boris Johnson easily defeats Jeremy Hunt and succeeds Theresa May.
Having blown his chance in 2016, Mr Johnson takes advantage of a propitious set of circumstances to finally get the job he has craved for so long.
Sorting out Brexit broke Mrs May, with her premiership becoming bogged down in a quagmire of deadlock and division.
Mr Johnson's unique blend of rhetoric and optimism - which make him a darling of the Conservative grassroots - seems like the perfect tonic for a party that wants to feel good about itself again.
Advertisement
Image: Jeremy Hunt congratulates Boris Johnson
Addressing the nation, the new PM vows to end "three years of indecision" and deliver Brexit by 31 October, "no ifs or buts" - and without a deal if necessary.
Mr Johnson also sketches out a broader picture of what he wants his premiership to look like.
There is a pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers and "fix the crisis in social care", as well as extra funding for schools and a hospital upgrade programme.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:32 Johnson enters Number 10
Mr Johnson declares that after three years of "unfounded self-doubt" it is "time to change the record".
And with that he walks through the black door of Number 10 and gets to work.
The Brexit stalemate continues
Having cast himself as the knight in shining armour who would rescue Britain from Brexit paralysis, the early months of Boris Johnson's premiership do not feel that much different to Theresa May's.
The knife-edge votes, government defeats and mutiny in the Tory ranks continue.
Everyone in Westminster knows there will be showdowns between the government and opposition MPs over the PM's willingness to pursue a no-deal Brexit.
And the battle begins when Mr Johnson decides to prorogue, or suspend, parliament for more than a month.
Image: Boris Johnson in the House of Commons Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
The PM insists he wants to do this to set out his government's agenda in a Queen's Speech.
But opponents, who vow to fight it in the courts, suspect the real motivation is to frustrate their efforts to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Whatever the motivation, it means there is now a race against time.
This produces yet more drama, as Mr Johnson finds himself bedevilled by the same problems that proved ruinous for his predecessor.
The PM loses his working majority in early September when Phillip Lee defects to the Liberal Democrats, while 21 Tories lose the party whip for backing opposition attempts to block a no-deal Brexit.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:31 Tory MP defects to Lib Dems as PM speaks
Then comes the resignation from government of the PM's brother Jo.
Amidst this chaos, Mr Johnson comes to the conclusion that he has to push for an early election.
The high-risk masterplan is to reset the parliamentary arithmetic with a Tory majority and crack on with Brexit.
Easier said than done.
Especially given that opposition parties are not prepared to give the PM what he wants quite yet, voting against motions for an early election until a no-deal Brexit is off the table.
In the end, MPs opposed to no-deal manage to pass legislation designed to avoid such a scenario before parliament is suspended, which is derided by Mr Johnson as a "surrender bill".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:00 PM's day of defeat in six minutes
Having suffered numerous parliamentary defeats, the PM seems to have engineered a reprieve.
But another roadblock is looming.
'Void and of no effect'
A cross-party group of MPs furious with Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament quickly launch a legal challenge.
When the Supreme Court hands down its verdict in late September, it is another setback for the PM.
The suspension is ruled unlawful and "void and of no effect".
In other words, it is as if it never happened.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:25 How judgement day for Johnson unfolded
Opposition MPs accuse Mr Johnson of lying to the Queen and say he should resign, a demand swiftly rebuffed by Downing Street.
In a further demonstration of the febrile atmosphere in parliament, the PM comes under attack for saying the best way to honour the memory of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox is to "get Brexit done".
Having coveted the keys to Number 10 for so long, it seems like the beleaguered PM cannot catch a break.
Johnson tries to break the Brexit deadlock
At the start of October, Mr Johnson's opponents feel like they have him on the ropes.
But in his big speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the PM comes out swinging.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:42 'No checks at or near the border in Northern Ireland'
In an address filled with the usual Johnsonian vim and vigour, he unveils what he describes as "constructive and reasonable" proposals to try and agree a renegotiated Brexit deal.
Mr Johnson calls on the EU to respond to the UK's "compromise", with the olive branch setting the scene for a crucial summit.
Johnson confounds the sceptics
As Mr Johnson prepares for his first - and he hopes last - European Council summit, he knows it could define his premiership.
If he pulls off what many regard as unthinkable and gets a revised deal, he can return from Brussels triumphant and back on the front foot.
Looming large is the legislation, the so-called Benn Act, passed by MPs to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
Image: Boris Johnson at his first EU summit alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
This gives the PM until 19 October to get any deal approved by MPs, otherwise he will be compelled to ask for a further Brexit delay.
Given the noises out of the EU in the early months of Mr Johnson's premiership, the fact that the PM is able to get a revised deal is regarded as a notable achievement.
Mr Johnson hails it as a "great deal for our country".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:43 'It's a very good deal for the EU and UK'
The removal of the Irish border backstop guarantees Mr Johnson will have the backing of Conservative MPs when his new deal is put to a vote.
But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which had an agreement to support the Tories in key votes, is not on board.
And backbench MPs from all parties fear that even though there is now a new deal, there is not enough time to pass the accompanying legislation in time for 31 October.
They worry that, in voting for the PM's revised agreement, and in turn satisfying the terms of the Benn Act, they could set in train a series of events that would see a no-deal Brexit happen either by accident or by design.
These MPs have an ace up their sleeve - and they play it in the first sitting of the Commons on a Saturday since the Falklands War.
'Super Saturday'
For a moment, it looks like Britain's EU exit is entering its endgame.
But "Super Saturday" ends up being another false dawn.
Image: EU supporters march at parliament on 'Super Saturday'
Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin tables an amendment which he says is designed to prevent an "accidental" no-deal exit and act as an "insurance mechanism".
If passed, it will mean that the "meaningful vote" needed to approve the PM's Brexit deal will only happen once the legislation required to leave the EU - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - has been passed.
Much to the fury of Mr Johnson, MPs approve it. This means the Benn Act comes into force.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:34 'Super Saturday' cut short as MPs delay PM's Brexit plans
The PM asks the EU for a three-month delay to Brexit, having previously said he would rather be "dead in a ditch".
The request is sent to European Council President Donald Tusk in an unsigned letter, which Mr Johnson describes as "parliament's letter".
The following week, there are further setbacks for the PM.
Speaker John Bercow - long a target of Eurosceptic fury because of his perceived Remain bias - denies the government a second vote on the Brexit deal.
This forces the PM to change tack, instead trying to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
But while MPs back the legislation in principle, they reject his three-day timetable for passing it.
Amid yet more deadlock and delay, an election seems a certainty.
'Get Brexit done'
After the EU agrees to delay Brexit until the end of January, events move quickly.
With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit pushed back, MPs finally approve an election on 12 December.
It is inevitable that Brexit will dominate.
Boris Johnson makes it the centrepiece of the Conservative campaign - "Get Brexit done" is the party's slogan.
Image: Brexit is the centrepiece of the Tory campaign
It is a simple and effective rallying cry, but one that can be criticised as disingenuous given that leaving the bloc is only the end of the first phase of Brexit.
The PM portrays himself as the man on the side of people who just want Brexit sorted out, someone who has had his hands tied by out of touch MPs.
For Labour and Jeremy Corbyn, the election is a "once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country" by ending austerity, increasing spending and re-nationalising a number of key industries.
The Labour leader presents himself as the man for the many, the one to take on the "corrupt system" he says is engineered in favour of the interests of the few.
Unlike the Tories, Brexit is not Labour's focus. The party has a policy of course - to renegotiate the PM's deal and put it to a second referendum within six months of coming to power.
The battle lines are drawn and campaigning begins.
Image: Boris Johnson carries a crate of milk at Greenside Farm on the final day of campaigning before the general election
Polls suggest the Tories are on course for victory.
Mr Johnson appears aware that it is seemingly his election to lose, playing it safe with a manifesto that promises just £3bn in day-to-day spending increases.
The vow to "get Brexit done" is what it is all about, with the PM returning to this message again and again.
There are two head-to-head debates between Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn, but they do not produce any campaign-altering moments.
Still, a number of moments from the campaign trail itself stick in the memory.
Mr Corbyn produces documents which he claims show the NHS will be "up for sale" in a post-Brexit US trade deal under the Tories.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:05 Corbyn: 'NHS up for sale under Tories'
The documents are found on website Reddit, with it later emerging that Russian groups sought to interfere in the election by promoting them.
Campaigning is paused in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack that leaves two people dead.
The father of Jack Merritt, one of the victims, accuses the PM of trying to "score election points" in his response.
But as the PM gathers with his inner circle in Downing Street to await the results, he will be quietly confident of victory.
Electoral earthquake sees Labour's 'red wall' crumble
As the clock strikes 10pm on 12 December, the results of the broadcasters' exit poll are revealed.
The headline is clear: Boris Johnson's gamble has paid off and he is on course for a convincing victory.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:41 The moment the exit poll is announced
As the night progresses, it becomes apparent that the tectonic plates of British politics have shifted.
The first sign that something historic is in the offing comes when Blyth Valley, Labour since its creation in the 1950s, elects a Tory MP for the first time.
It proves to be the first brick to fall from the so-called "red wall", traditional Labour heartlands that have backed the party for decades.
As dawn breaks, Britain awakes to a new political reality.
The Tories have their largest parliamentary majority since the days of Margaret Thatcher, a commanding total of 80.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:38 General election: Story of the night
Labour, in contrast, loses more than 50 seats as it registers its worst performance at the polls since the 1930s.
But in a sign of potential trouble on the horizon, Nicola Sturgeon's SNP wins 48 of Scotland's 59 seats, a result the first minister hails as "clear endorsement" of a second independence vote.
As Jeremy Corbyn announces his intention to resign, Mr Johnson begins planning for the next five years.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:09 Johnson's victory speech
At a victory rally, Mr Johnson says "getting Brexit done is now the irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people".
Addressing the nation later in Downing Street, the PM acknowledges that many people will have voted Tory for the first time and promises to "work round the clock to repay your trust".
From division and chaos to an eerie calm
Having experienced three years of almost permanent crisis since the 2016 referendum, British politics in the wake of Boris Johnson's election victory seems like an alien landscape.
The PM takes the first step to delivering on his election promise to "get Brexit done", seeing the Withdrawal Agreement Bill approved by MPs at its second reading just before Christmas.
When MPs return to Westminster at the start of 2020, the legislation continues its progress through parliament and gets royal assent.
Ratification of the deal by the European Parliament swiftly follows.
After years of rancour and division, it is a sign of Westminster's new political reality that the last few weeks of Britain's 47 years of EU membership are devoid of drama.
Everything is set for 31 January.
Celebration and regret as curtain comes down on EU membership
Given the divisions caused by the Brexit vote, it is no surprise that the day Britain finally leaves the bloc provokes contrasting reactions.
There are celebrations and protests, with a light show illuminating Downing Street when the clock strikes 11pm and Brexit becomes official.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:53 This is how the country marked 'Brexit day'
Boris Johnson, who will go down in history as the PM who plotted a course out of the Brexit maze, acknowledges these contrasting emotions.
He says that while Brexit represents an "astonishing moment of hope" for many, there are others who "feel a sense of anxiety and loss".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:46 PM: 'An astonishing moment of hope'
Although it has now formally left the bloc, Britain will continue to follow EU rules and regulations during an 11-month transition period.
The PM now has to prepare for talks on a future trade deal with the EU, with a deadline of 31 December for an agreement.
Thorny issues provoke dissent
As the first phase of Brexit enters its final days, Boris Johnson begins to turn his mind to other concerns.
But these first few weeks after Brexit demonstrate that an 80-seat majority is not an impenetrable firewall against dissent and crisis.
At the end of January, he allows Chinese telecoms firm Huawei a limited role in Britain's 5G network.
The PM's move comes in the face of fierce opposition from the US and a number of Tory backbenchers, who make it abundantly clear that his decision is not the end of the matter.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:24 Johnson ignores US threats and gives Huawei limited 5G role
Mr Johnson also decides to allow construction of the HS2 high-speed rail link to go ahead, despite increasing costs and fervent opposition from some Tory MPs.
Soon after, the PM turns his attention to a major cabinet reshuffle.
But his plans to put his majority to good effect and radically reshape his top team are about to be unexpectedly blown off course.
'I don't believe any self-respecting minister would accept such conditions'
The resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor shocks Westminster.
He walks away from one of the most high profile roles in government after Boris Johnson orders him to sack his aides and replace them with ones chosen by Downing Street.
Rishi Sunak, who only became an MP five years ago, is his replacement.
Mr Javid's surprise departure is the culmination of weeks of reported tensions between him and Dominic Cummings, the PM's controversial chief adviser.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:11 Sajid Javid: I had 'no option' but to quit
The row is a preview of a criticism of the PM that will gain traction in the months to come - that he is too reliant on Mr Cummings and cannot handle dissent.
The first few months of the PM's majority government have seen Britain finally leave the EU, but not everything has gone according to plan.
Little does he know that the course of his premiership is about to be changed forever.
Lockdown
On 23 March, Boris Johnson announces the toughest restrictions on everyday life in Britain since the Second World War to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
For the foreseeable future, Britons will - with some exceptions - only be allowed to leave the house to buy food or medicine, to exercise and to travel to and from work if it is "absolutely necessary".
The lockdown follows an unprecedented economic intervention - the announcement that the government will pay the wages of millions of employees unable to work during the pandemic.
But could - and should - the PM have acted sooner?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:14 Watch the PM's address to the nation
The picture that has emerged so far suggests that in the early days there is a reluctance to order an unprecedented national shutdown.
Throughout the crisis, ministers have spoken about being "guided" by the science, but some scientists insist an earlier shutdown would have saved lives.
As the PM grapples with how to respond to COVID-19 in early March, the phrase "herd immunity" enters the national conversation.
Downing Street insists it was never official government policy.
But a newspaper report claims Dominic Cummings told a private engagement in February that achieving it is the government's aim, something denied by Number 10.
As Britain adapts to the reality of life in lockdown, the PM knows he is about to be tested in ways he never imagined.
'The NHS saved my life, no question'
For a few worrying days in April, Boris Johnson is at risk of becoming a victim of COVID-19 himself.
The PM confirms he has the virus on 27 March and is admitted to St Thomas' Hospital a week later, spending three nights in intensive care.
The nation holds its breath.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:13 'The NHS saved my life, no question'
On Easter Sunday, he is released from hospital to continue his recovery.
In a video message, the PM reveals "things could have gone either way" and declares: "The NHS has saved my life, no question."
Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson
A little more than two weeks later, Boris Johnson is back in hospital again.
But this time it is under much happier circumstances.
His fiancee Carrie Symonds gives birth to a baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.
Image: Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds speak to midwives
The name Nicholas is chosen in a nod to the two doctors who saved the PM's life.
Mr Johnson is present throughout the birth and is seen beaming on his return to Number 10.
The pair announced in February that they got engaged at the end of last year, shortly after the PM's divorce from wife Marina Wheeler was confirmed.
Cummings and goings
During the lockdown the government's message is clear: stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.
But that message is undermined from within Downing Street in one of the defining moments of Boris Johnson's first year in Number 10.
In May, it emerges Dominic Cummings drove 260 miles to his parents in Durham for childcare support after his wife displayed coronavirus symptoms at the height of lockdown.
It is also revealed that the PM's chief adviser went for a "test drive" to Barnard Castle 30 minutes away to check if he was well enough to travel home.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 8:49 PM defends Dominic Cummings
Opposition parties - and dozens of Mr Johnson's own MPs - demand the sacking of Mr Cummings.
Polls show that a majority the public thinks Mr Cummings broke the rules and should resign.
But the PM sticks by his trusted lieutenant and tries to ride the crisis out.
In an unprecedented Downing Street news conference, Mr Cummings says he does not "regret" his actions and believes he acted "reasonably".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:47 'I behaved reasonably', says Cummings
Durham Police later say Mr Cummings may have committed a "minor breach" by driving to Barnard Castle, but he had not "committed an offence" by travelling from London to Durham.
The PM makes it clear that he considers the matter closed and tries to move on.
But as one looks back on an extraordinary 12 months, it seems this is a controversy that will fester.
For his critics, it reinforces his unhealthy reliance on Mr Cummings and shows there is one rule for those in power and another for everyone else.
The long road back normality
After setting out a roadmap to ease the COVID-19 restrictions, Boris Johnson begins taking the country down the road towards some form of normal life.
A phased reopening of schools begins on 1 June, with non-essential retail allowed to reopen two weeks later.
In the most significant easing, pubs, restaurants, barbers and hairdressers welcome customers again on 4 July.
The two-metre social distancing rule is also relaxed, becoming "one-metre plus".
With the delicate process of easing lockdown and getting the economy moving again under way, questions over the PM's handling of the pandemic persist.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:13 UK enjoys first weekend of eased lockdown
Ministers insist that international comparisons are not helpful, but the fact that Britain has one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in the world cannot be easily dismissed.
Was the government too slow to increase coronavirus testing? Did ministers do enough to protect care homes from the virus? Why were there problems with the supply of vital protective equipment for those on the frontline?
These are just a few of the multitude of questions directed at the government.
There is also scrutiny and criticism of the COVID-19 travel quarantine, the stalled efforts to develop a functioning contact-tracing app and a failed attempt to get more primary school children back in class before the summer break.
Mr Johnson's promise of a "world beating" system to trace those who catch the disease is another facet of the government's response that comes under the spotlight.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:26 PM promises pandemic inquiry at the right time
Ministers also face accusations of being too slow to advocate the use of face masks and then offering mixed messages on when and where people should wear them.
The "mixed messages" charge is also laid at the PM when he sets out the route out of lockdown and encourages those who can to return to work.
In addition, there is a much-publicised U-turn on free school meals following a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
The lack of a unified "four nations" approach to easing lockdown is also noteworthy, with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland diverging in a number of areas.
All this takes a toll on the PM's personal approval ratings, which hit a high at the start of lockdown but fall off after that.
'Build, build, build'
As he approaches his first anniversary as prime minister, Boris Johnson clearly wants to get on with his "levelling up" vision.
Coronavirus is still on the agenda, but it is not the PM's sole focus.
This is exemplified by the ending of the daily Downing Street COVID-19 briefing, for months a feature of lockdown life.
The PM talks of a "more significant return to normality" by Christmas.
Talks on the UK's future relationship with the EU continue, but a breakthrough proves elusive.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:25 PM refuses to rule out tax rises in 'new deal'
Having promised not to extend the transition beyond December, Mr Johnson sticks to his guns and formally tells the EU the UK will not be asking for a further delay.
The PM presses on with plans for a new post-Brexit immigration system and performs a major U-turn on Huawei's role in Britain's 5G network.
There is a hardline response to the targeting of statues and violence in the wake of protests surrounding the death of George Floyd, amid opposition suggestions Mr Johnson wants to stoke a culture war.
In a set piece speech detailing his coronavirus recovery plan, the PM promises to "build, build, build" and oversee an "infrastructure revolution" to see Britain through the pandemic.
Despite a once-in-a-lifetime crisis, he is determined not to be blown off course.
Epilogue
David Cameron will be remembered as the prime minister who gambled on settling the question of Britain's place in the EU once and for all and lost.
Theresa May will go down in history as the leader who was unable to escape from the Brexit morass.
The stories of Boris Johnson's two immediate predecessors show that leaders do not always get to choose what defines their time in power.
He will always be remembered as the PM who took Britain out of the EU.
But the coronavirus pandemic - and his government's response to it - could define his time in Downing Street.
Image: A lot has changed in the 12 months since Boris Johnson became PM
More than 40,000 people have lost their lives to COVID-19, while tens of thousands have been made unemployed.
The personal and economic effects will be felt for years to come.
It will be the PM's job to chart as smooth a course as he can out of this nightmare.
In time, the handling of the outbreak will need to be examined thoroughly, with questions asked and lessons learnt.
If the epilogue to Britain's coronavirus crisis makes for difficult reading and reaches uncomfortable conclusions, the public may blame Mr Johnson.
Image: Coronavirus could come to define Boris Johnson's premiership. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Downing Street
After all, the buck stops with him.
However, they may give the PM the benefit of the doubt for doing his best during a crisis that took the country by surprise.
In his first year in Downing Street, Mr Johnson has run a gamut of emotions: Frustration, anger, defiance, fear, relief, excitement and joy.
Little is certain in politics, but the next 12 months promises more of the same.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-24--Boris Johnson wanted a Brexit legacy but coronavirus will define his premiership

Boris Johnson is marking his first anniversary as prime minister , in a year that is surely a contender for the most extraordinary of his own life , and certainly one of the most profound in the history of the country he leads .
The UK has lived through two of the most momentous events in our modern history - Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic .
Neither are finished business .
Both will define the legacy of this prime minister .
As for Mr Johnson , he has packed more into his political and personal life in one year than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He won the party leadership and entered Number 10 , tore up the May cabinet , prorogued parliament , secured a Brexit deal , expelled 21 of his own colleagues , asked for a Brexit extension , called an election , won a Conservative majority not seen since the Thatcher years , and delivered Brexit on 31 January - the next chapter of that relationship and the trade deal still a work in progress .
And that was just his political life .
In his personal life , he moved into Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divorced his second wife of 27 years Marina Wheeler .
He became a father for the sixth time at the age of 56 with the arrival of his baby son Wilfred , and fought for his life in intensive care after contracting COVID-19 .
When it comes to his relationship with the public , Mr Johnson has taken his party from lows of 29 % in opinion polls to the 40 % plus at the start of the general election , before tipping over the 50 % mark in public support in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But during the course of this pandemic his personal polling and that of his party have begun to fall .
He might be poised to tie the knot with his partner Ms Symonds , but when it comes to the British public , the prime minister 's honeymoon period is over .
Undeterred , on Friday Mr Johnson used his one-year anniversary to repeat the views of his manifesto , telling the British people his ambition remains the same : to level up the country .
`` I will not let the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We must harness the unity of purpose and resolve we have shown as a country in fighting coronavirus - and use it to build back better . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker But speak to senior figures in government and the relentless optimism of Mr Johnson is met with a heavy dose of realism .
The fears over a second wave and mass unemployment are palpable .
With 9.4 million people on furlough and the economy contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew in 17 years , it 's not a question of whether there will be a recession but rather how deep and prolonged it might be .
And that depends too on what 's happening with the virus into the winter : Mr Johnson might be in the driving seat in Number 10 , but his agenda will ultimately be determined not by what he wants to do , but how the virus behaves .
When it comes to the economy , the government is bracing itself for unemployment to reach four million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment is one of the top priorities on the government 's agenda .
How to get the public finances in order is another - spending cuts or tax rises are inevitable .
Another deep and mounting concern within cabinet is the growing demand for Scottish independence .
The polling shows a sustained majority in Scotland who want independence after the bitter Brexit wars , Boris Johnson 's election as prime minister , and the splits between Westminster and Holyrood over coronavirus take hold .
Mr Johnson might be the prime minister who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down in history as the one who lost the union ?
In his final address to Conservative MPs at the 1922 backbench meeting this week the prime minister told his party it had to campaign for the union as he lamented how awful the break-up of the union would be .
But Brexit has inevitably strained the relationship between two nations - Scotland and England - which wanted to go different ways when it came to our relationship with the EU .
And the potential of a no-deal exit on 31 December only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brussels are another critical item in the prime minister 's in-tray when he returns in the autumn .
Politically , the Number 10 operation knows it can not extend the transition beyond 31 December .
Economically , it knows the importance of securing a trade deal with the UK 's biggest export market against the backdrop of a recession .
Mr Johnson is a prime minister elected to deliver Brexit on a landslide victory that gave him the authority to re-cast the country as he saw fit .
Seven months in , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the deepest recession seen for decades , and manage a pandemic on a scale not seen in our country for 100 years .
Mr Johnson believed his legacy would be delivering Brexit , but he now faces an even more challenging task .
We are living through a pandemic that will shape our lives for years to come - and his premiership too .

Boris Johnson is marking his first anniversary as prime minister, in a year that is surely a contender for the most extraordinary of his own life, and certainly one of the most profound in the history of the country he leads.
The UK has lived through two of the most momentous events in our modern history - Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. Neither are finished business. Both will define the legacy of this prime minister.
As for Mr Johnson, he has packed more into his political and personal life in one year than most leaders would in a lifetime. He won the party leadership and entered Number 10, tore up the May cabinet, prorogued parliament, secured a Brexit deal, expelled 21 of his own colleagues, asked for a Brexit extension, called an election, won a Conservative majority not seen since the Thatcher years, and delivered Brexit on 31 January - the next chapter of that relationship and the trade deal still a work in progress.
Image: Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds had a baby - Wilfred
And that was just his political life. In his personal life, he moved into Downing Street with his now fiancée Carrie Symonds and divorced his second wife of 27 years Marina Wheeler. He became a father for the sixth time at the age of 56 with the arrival of his baby son Wilfred, and fought for his life in intensive care after contracting COVID-19.
When it comes to his relationship with the public, Mr Johnson has taken his party from lows of 29% in opinion polls to the 40% plus at the start of the general election, before tipping over the 50% mark in public support in the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis.
But during the course of this pandemic his personal polling and that of his party have begun to fall. He might be poised to tie the knot with his partner Ms Symonds, but when it comes to the British public, the prime minister's honeymoon period is over.
Undeterred, on Friday Mr Johnson used his one-year anniversary to repeat the views of his manifesto, telling the British people his ambition remains the same: to level up the country.
"I will not let the virus hold this country back," he said. "We must harness the unity of purpose and resolve we have shown as a country in fighting coronavirus - and use it to build back better."
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Advertisement
But speak to senior figures in government and the relentless optimism of Mr Johnson is met with a heavy dose of realism. The fears over a second wave and mass unemployment are palpable.
With 9.4 million people on furlough and the economy contracting as much in two months as it grew in 17 years, it's not a question of whether there will be a recession but rather how deep and prolonged it might be. And that depends too on what's happening with the virus into the winter: Mr Johnson might be in the driving seat in Number 10, but his agenda will ultimately be determined not by what he wants to do, but how the virus behaves.
When it comes to the economy, the government is bracing itself for unemployment to reach four million or more. How to manage long-term unemployment is one of the top priorities on the government's agenda. How to get the public finances in order is another - spending cuts or tax rises are inevitable.
Another deep and mounting concern within cabinet is the growing demand for Scottish independence. The polling shows a sustained majority in Scotland who want independence after the bitter Brexit wars, Boris Johnson's election as prime minister, and the splits between Westminster and Holyrood over coronavirus take hold. Mr Johnson might be the prime minister who has delivered Brexit but will he also go down in history as the one who lost the union?
Image: Boris Johnson led the Clap For Carers during the worst of the pandemic
In his final address to Conservative MPs at the 1922 backbench meeting this week the prime minister told his party it had to campaign for the union as he lamented how awful the break-up of the union would be. But Brexit has inevitably strained the relationship between two nations - Scotland and England - which wanted to go different ways when it came to our relationship with the EU. And the potential of a no-deal exit on 31 December only exacerbates those tensions.
Those negotiations with Brussels are another critical item in the prime minister's in-tray when he returns in the autumn. Politically, the Number 10 operation knows it cannot extend the transition beyond 31 December. Economically, it knows the importance of securing a trade deal with the UK's biggest export market against the backdrop of a recession.
Mr Johnson is a prime minister elected to deliver Brexit on a landslide victory that gave him the authority to re-cast the country as he saw fit. Seven months in, he is battling to save the union, prevent the deepest recession seen for decades, and manage a pandemic on a scale not seen in our country for 100 years.
Mr Johnson believed his legacy would be delivering Brexit, but he now faces an even more challenging task. We are living through a pandemic that will shape our lives for years to come - and his premiership too.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-24--Five more countries made exempt from England's travel quarantine

The government has announced travel corridors for five more countries , meaning they will be exempt from the coronavirus quarantine .
From Tuesday , people returning to England from Estonia , Latvia , Slovakia , Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days .
More than 70 countries and territories were included in the first wave of travel corridors , which came into effect earlier this month .
Among the countries not on the list were the US , Portugal , Sweden , Mexico , Brazil , Russia , Iran , India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portugal 's prime minister has said his country is in talks with the British government over its exclusion .
The country 's ministry of foreign affairs said it `` regrets '' the continued absence of Portugal from the list , adding : `` This decision is not consistent with reality and facts . ''
The Department for Transport has said the approved destinations pose `` a reduced risk to the public health of UK citizens '' , but the list will be kept `` under constant review '' .
The full list is @ @ @

The government has announced travel corridors for five more countries, meaning they will be exempt from the coronavirus quarantine.
From Tuesday, people returning to England from Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days.
More than 70 countries and territories were included in the first wave of travel corridors, which came into effect earlier this month.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:32 Quarantine rules end for dozens of countries
Among the countries not on the list were the US, Portugal, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
Portugal's prime minister has said his country is in talks with the British government over its exclusion.
The country's ministry of foreign affairs said it "regrets" the continued absence of Portugal from the list, adding: "This decision is not consistent with reality and facts."
Spain has remained exempt, despite a sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases.
The Department for Transport has said the approved destinations pose "a reduced risk to the public health of UK citizens", but the list will be kept "under constant review".
The full list is as follows:
Advertisement


skynewspolitics--2020-07-24--PM: 'We get things wrong' but worst will be over by 'middle of next year'

Boris Johnson has admitted the government has got some things wrong during the pandemic , but expects the worst of it will be over `` by the middle of next year '' .
`` Of course ... there are things we get wrong and we 're learning the whole time , '' he told Sky News ' deputy political editor Sam Coates .
`` You 've got to learn from your mistakes as fast as possible and that 's what we 're doing . ''
Speaking on his first anniversary as prime minister , Mr Johnson said he expects Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past '' COVID-19 by the middle of next year , although warned of `` tough times ahead '' .
`` But I 've absolutely no doubt that we are going to [ keep the virus under control ] and this country is going to bounce back stronger than ever before , '' he said .
More than 40,000 people in the UK have died with coronavirus , making it one of the worst-hit countries in the world .
A further 123 people have died with coronavirus in Britain as of 5pm on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown has gradually eased , a number of social distancing measures are still in place - and people are wondering when they will be able to hug friends and family again .
`` I 'm not going to make a prediction about when these various social distancing measures will come off , '' Mr Johnson said .
`` Obviously we have been able to reduce some of them .
We no longer ask people to stay at home , we 're trying to get back much closer to normal , but our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures will depend on our continued ability to drive down the virus . ''
Asked whether people should be `` shamed '' for not complying with social distancing measures , the prime minister replied : `` I think we should rely on the massive common sense of the British people that have so far delivered the results that we 've seen , and that 's going to work . ''
The reproduction number , or R value , remains at 0.7 to 0.9 across the UK .
This refers to the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pass the virus on to .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Johnson also responded to suggestions that junk food adverts could be banned before the 9pm watershed in a bid to tackle obesity - widely regarded as a risk factor for becoming more seriously ill with COVID-19 .
`` I 'm not normally a believer in nannying ... type of politics , '' Mr Johnson said , but he added : `` Losing weight is , frankly , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own risks from COVID . ''
Having spent three nights in intensive care with coronavirus , the prime minister said he had since lost more than a stone in weight `` primarily by eating less , but also by a lot of exercise '' .
In a separate interview with BBC News , Mr Johnson admitted the UK did not understand COVID-19 well enough in the `` first few weeks and months '' of the pandemic .
`` And I think probably , the single thing that we did n't see at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was being transmitted asymptomatically from person to person , '' he added .
Responding to the prime minister 's remarks , shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it `` finally puts to bed the prime minister 's previous claim his government took the right decisions at the right time '' .
`` It was too slow to acknowledge the threat of the virus , too slow to enter lockdown and too slow to take this crisis seriously , '' he said .
Sir Ed Davey , acting Liberal Democrat leader , accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the catastrophic mistakes '' made and called for an `` immediate '' inquiry .

Boris Johnson has admitted the government has got some things wrong during the pandemic, but expects the worst of it will be over "by the middle of next year".
"Of course... there are things we get wrong and we're learning the whole time," he told Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates.
"You've got to learn from your mistakes as fast as possible and that's what we're doing."
Speaking on his first anniversary as prime minister, Mr Johnson said he expects Britain will be "well on the way past" COVID-19 by the middle of next year, although warned of "tough times ahead".
"But I've absolutely no doubt that we are going to [keep the virus under control] and this country is going to bounce back stronger than ever before," he said.
More than 40,000 people in the UK have died with coronavirus, making it one of the worst-hit countries in the world.
A further 123 people have died with coronavirus in Britain as of 5pm on Thursday, according to government figures.
Although the lockdown has gradually eased, a number of social distancing measures are still in place - and people are wondering when they will be able to hug friends and family again.
"I'm not going to make a prediction about when these various social distancing measures will come off," Mr Johnson said.
Advertisement
"Obviously we have been able to reduce some of them. We no longer ask people to stay at home, we're trying to get back much closer to normal, but our ability to dispense with the social distancing measures will depend on our continued ability to drive down the virus."
Asked whether people should be "shamed" for not complying with social distancing measures, the prime minister replied: "I think we should rely on the massive common sense of the British people that have so far delivered the results that we've seen, and that's going to work."
The reproduction number, or R value, remains at 0.7 to 0.9 across the UK. This refers to the number of people on average that one infected person will pass the virus on to.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Johnson also responded to suggestions that junk food adverts could be banned before the 9pm watershed in a bid to tackle obesity - widely regarded as a risk factor for becoming more seriously ill with COVID-19.
"I'm not normally a believer in nannying... type of politics," Mr Johnson said, but he added: "Losing weight is, frankly, one of the ways that you can reduce your own risks from COVID."
Having spent three nights in intensive care with coronavirus, the prime minister said he had since lost more than a stone in weight "primarily by eating less, but also by a lot of exercise".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:29 Johnson attacks anti-vaxxers
In a separate interview with BBC News, Mr Johnson admitted the UK did not understand COVID-19 well enough in the "first few weeks and months" of the pandemic.
"And I think probably, the single thing that we didn't see at the beginning was the extent to which it was being transmitted asymptomatically from person to person," he added.
Responding to the prime minister's remarks, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said it "finally puts to bed the prime minister's previous claim his government took the right decisions at the right time".
"It was too slow to acknowledge the threat of the virus, too slow to enter lockdown and too slow to take this crisis seriously," he said.
Sir Ed Davey, acting Liberal Democrat leader, accused Mr Johnson of showing "no remorse for the catastrophic mistakes" made and called for an "immediate" inquiry.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-24--'All these anti-vaxxers' are 'nuts', Boris Johnson says, as he wants 'everybody' to get vaccinated

The prime minister has described opponents of vaccines as `` nuts '' , encouraging people to get the jab to help `` protect the NHS '' .
`` There 's all these anti-vaxxers now .
They are nuts , they are nuts , '' Boris Johnson told nurses at a GP surgery in London .
The PM was speaking as the government announced an expansion of its winter flu vaccination programme , intending to double the number of people who have the jab .
There will be free vaccinations for those aged over 50 and 11-year-olds .
This is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with asthma , heart disease and diabetes , and anyone living with somebody on the COVID-19 shielded list .
Mr Johnson said getting the jab is something that can help to `` protect the NHS '' , adding he wants `` everybody '' to get the jab .
He said : `` We want everybody to get a flu jab in the run-up to this winter and that 's why we 're rolling out the biggest-ever programme of flu immunisation .
`` And we 're aiming first of all for schoolchildren up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people over 65 , for people who are shielded , but then we will be extending it to people who are 50 to 65 .
`` Now the reason for doing this is to protect the NHS in the winter months because obviously we have still got COVID , we have still got the threat of a second spike on COVID , and it 's vital therefore to keep that pressure off the NHS by everybody getting a flu jab and I really hope everybody will . ''
One woman concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Mr Johnson 's comments , describing them as `` alarming and wilfully ignorant '' .
`` I think essentially we socially shame parents to vaccinate and we do n't listen to mothers who vaccinate and who then encounter problems , '' she said .
Vaccines go through rigorous testing to prove their safety and have saved millions of lives globally by protecting people from diseases such as measles , smallpox and whooping cough .
: : Listen to The World Tomorrow on Apple podcasts , Spotify , Google podcasts and Spreaker Helen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at University College London , said vaccines have proven to be `` very valuable '' .
`` We can eradicate diseases with vaccines as we 've done with smallpox and save many millions of lives every year as a result of vaccines , '' she said .
`` Since the turn of the century , 20 million lives have been saved as a result of the measles vaccine alone , globally . ''
Ms Bedford added that the `` overwhelming majority '' of people do get their children vaccinated , while those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` often very vocal '' .

The prime minister has described opponents of vaccines as "nuts", encouraging people to get the jab to help "protect the NHS".
"There's all these anti-vaxxers now. They are nuts, they are nuts," Boris Johnson told nurses at a GP surgery in London.
The PM was speaking as the government announced an expansion of its winter flu vaccination programme, intending to double the number of people who have the jab.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:40 'We want to vaccinate as many as we can'
There will be free vaccinations for those aged over 50 and 11-year-olds.
This is on top of at-risk groups such as people with asthma, heart disease and diabetes, and anyone living with somebody on the COVID-19 shielded list.
Mr Johnson said getting the jab is something that can help to "protect the NHS", adding he wants "everybody" to get the jab.
He said: "We want everybody to get a flu jab in the run-up to this winter and that's why we're rolling out the biggest-ever programme of flu immunisation.
"And we're aiming first of all for schoolchildren up to year seven, for pregnant women, for people over 65, for people who are shielded, but then we will be extending it to people who are 50 to 65.
"Now the reason for doing this is to protect the NHS in the winter months because obviously we have still got COVID, we have still got the threat of a second spike on COVID, and it's vital therefore to keep that pressure off the NHS by everybody getting a flu jab and I really hope everybody will."
Advertisement
One woman concerned about vaccines, Lottie Daley, hit back at Mr Johnson's comments, describing them as "alarming and wilfully ignorant".
"I think essentially we socially shame parents to vaccinate and we don't listen to mothers who vaccinate and who then encounter problems," she said.
Vaccines go through rigorous testing to prove their safety and have saved millions of lives globally by protecting people from diseases such as measles, smallpox and whooping cough.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to The World Tomorrow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts and Spreaker
Helen Bedford, professor of children's health at University College London, said vaccines have proven to be "very valuable".
"We can eradicate diseases with vaccines as we've done with smallpox and save many millions of lives every year as a result of vaccines," she said.
"Since the turn of the century, 20 million lives have been saved as a result of the measles vaccine alone, globally."
Ms Bedford added that the "overwhelming majority" of people do get their children vaccinated, while those who do not are in the minority but "often very vocal".


skynewspolitics--2020-07-24--'Legal fund' launched for Jeremy Corbyn as he faces prospect of being sued

A `` legal fund '' for Jeremy Corbyn has raised more than £150,000 in a matter of days , as the former Labour leader faces the prospect of being sued .
The GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday .
It was established in the wake of Labour 's decision to pay `` substantial damages '' to former party employees who took part in a documentary on antisemitism claims under Mr Corbyn 's leadership .
Panorama presenter John Ware , who made the programme , is said to be taking legal action after Mr Corbyn claimed that the payout `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations '' .
The GoFundMe campaign has attracted support via social media , with backers using the hashtag # IStandWithJeremyCorbyn .
`` The relentless attacks on Mr Corbyn , a man of integrity , honesty and humility can not be allowed to continue and we have an opportunity here to offer him support in a practical way , '' the page says .
`` It will also let him know that his supporters have not forgotten him , nor have they gone away . ''
It is not clear how the funds raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky News has contacted the organiser of the campaign for comment .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Corbyn has not commented directly on the fundraising effort , but he tweeted on Thursday : `` Thank you friends and comrades for your solidarity .
Our campaigning for a better world continues . ''
Sir Keir Starmer , who succeeded Mr Corbyn in April , has said he wants to `` draw a line under antisemitism in the Labour Party '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that respect , '' he said .
`` It was the right decision , the right thing to do . ''

A "legal fund" for Jeremy Corbyn has raised more than £150,000 in a matter of days, as the former Labour leader faces the prospect of being sued.
The GoFundMe page was set up on Wednesday.
It was established in the wake of Labour's decision to pay "substantial damages" to former party employees who took part in a documentary on antisemitism claims under Mr Corbyn's leadership.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:39 Labour pays damages to whistleblowers
Panorama presenter John Ware, who made the programme, is said to be taking legal action after Mr Corbyn claimed that the payout "risks giving credibility to misleading and inaccurate allegations".
The GoFundMe campaign has attracted support via social media, with backers using the hashtag #IStandWithJeremyCorbyn.
"The relentless attacks on Mr Corbyn, a man of integrity, honesty and humility cannot be allowed to continue and we have an opportunity here to offer him support in a practical way," the page says.
"It will also let him know that his supporters have not forgotten him, nor have they gone away."
It is not clear how the funds raised by the page will be used.
Sky News has contacted the organiser of the campaign for comment.
Advertisement
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Corbyn has not commented directly on the fundraising effort, but he tweeted on Thursday: "Thank you friends and comrades for your solidarity. Our campaigning for a better world continues."
Sir Keir Starmer, who succeeded Mr Corbyn in April, has said he wants to "draw a line under antisemitism in the Labour Party".
"Settling this case was important in that respect," he said.
"It was the right decision, the right thing to do."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-27--Cyclists to get bike repair vouchers under anti-obesity strategy

Cycling fanatic Boris Johnson is promising £50 repair vouchers as part of his coronavirus crusade to persuade people to get on their bike .
The first vouchers will be available online late on Tuesday in England and the prime minister is also pledging more spending on cycle lanes , training and bikes on prescription from GPs .
The aim of the bike repair vouchers is to encourage people to get their old bicycles out of the shed , fixed and safe to ride , so they cycle to the shops or see friends rather than use public transport .
Launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , the fix-your-bike voucher scheme is the latest move by the PM in his drive to boost cycling to get the nation slimmer and fitter .
`` From helping people get fit and healthy and lowering their risk of illness , to improving air quality and cutting congestion , cycling and walking have a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face , '' he said .
`` But to build a healthier , more active nation , we need the right infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give people the confidence to travel on two wheels .
`` That 's why now is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel - so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling . ''
Mr Johnson , who cycled to work as London mayor and as a backbench MP , has long been a champion of cycling , launching major projects in the capital in his time as mayor .
It has been claimed that since his brush with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become `` obsessed '' with `` getting Britain on its bike '' and encouraging more people to cycle to work .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Transport Secretary Grant Shapps , who is returning from his Spanish holiday and going into quarantine , says the government is also increasing access to e-bikes for older people and those not so fit .
`` We 've got a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a shift in attitudes for generations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle or walk as part of their daily routine , '' said Mr Shapps .
`` The measures we 've set out today in this revolutionary plan will do just that .
No matter your age , how far you 're travelling , or your current confidence on a bike - there are plans to help and support you .
`` By helping to fix your bike - or get an electrically powered one ; by increasing storage space at stations , on trains and buses ; and by introducing more ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're making it easier than ever to make active travel part of your daily life , and leading England to become a great cycling nation . ''
The government says that due to overwhelming demand for cycle shops ' services during the coronavirus pandemic , vouchers will be released in batches in order to help manage capacity across participating stores .
The first 50,000 will be available just before midnight on Tuesday on a first come , first served basis to those who register online .
Children 's bikes will also covered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use their voucher , with a limit of two per household , at any participating repair shop , with the voucher remaining valid for two months .
The government claims £50 will typically cover the cost of a standard service and the replacement of a basic part such as an inner tube or cable .
The scheme can be used to pay for service and parts required to make a bike safe but will not be allowed for buying accessories and equipment .
Other government proposals include cycle training for every child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through schools , local authorities or direct from cycle training schemes .
More cycle racks will be installed at transport hubs , town and city centres and public buildings and funding will go towards new bike hangars and on-street storage for people who do n't have space to keep a bike at home .
The government says its cycling revolution , which will be funded by the £2bn of new money announced earlier this year for walking and cycling , will also include : • Thousands of miles of protected cycle routes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseen by a new inspectorate , Active Travel England , and improving the National Cycle Network ; • Strengthening the Highway Code to better protect pedestrians and cyclists , raising safety standards on lorries and working with the police and retailers to tackle bike theft ; • Powers for local authorities to crack down on traffic offences and increased powers for metro mayors over road networks ; • Reducing `` rat runs '' , closing side streets , reducing traffic by schools , 12 new cycle-friendly `` Mini Hollands '' and at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GPs to prescribe cycling , with patients able to access bikes through their local surgery ; and • A new national e-bike programme , to help those who are older , have to travel long distances or are less fit to take up cycling The PM 's cycling crusade is called `` Gear Shift : A bold vision for cycling and walking '' and the proposed `` Mini Holland '' schemes are based on those already introduced in three outer London boroughs .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a recent Glasgow University study , cycling to work is associated with a 45 % lower risk of developing cancer , a 46 % lower risk of heart disease and a 41 % lower risk of premature death , compared to a non-active commute .
The bike repair vouchers were first mentioned by Mr Shapps during a Downing Street coronavirus briefing on 23 May , when he said the initiative would be `` available from next month '' .
But the Department for Transport ( DfT ) said earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could handle the expected spike in demand .
Halfords has said it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bike into stores to identify potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme .
The company 's chief executive Graham Stapleton said : `` We think the government 's Fix Your Bike voucher scheme will not only help individuals become more confident about keeping their bikes maintained , but will help speed up the cycling revolution . ''
But the government 's cycling initiative was derided by Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's been five months since the government first announced this funding for cycling in the spring budget , three months since Shapps ' cycling press conference and yet again all we have is a re-announcement , '' she said .
`` Tory ministers have dragged their feet and failed to seize the opportunity this crisis has posed .
Although funding is welcome , cyclists will be rightly concerned about how long it is going to take to actually put these plans into practice .
`` No one wants a return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw before the lockdown began , but , if we fail to make our roads safe enough to cycle , people will revert back to taking the car . ''
The website to sign up for the voucher is : https : //fixyourbikevoucherscheme.est.org.uk/

Cycling fanatic Boris Johnson is promising £50 repair vouchers as part of his coronavirus crusade to persuade people to get on their bike.
The first vouchers will be available online late on Tuesday in England and the prime minister is also pledging more spending on cycle lanes, training and bikes on prescription from GPs.
The aim of the bike repair vouchers is to encourage people to get their old bicycles out of the shed, fixed and safe to ride, so they cycle to the shops or see friends rather than use public transport.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:14 Boris Johnson's first year in office
Launched 24 hours after Mr Johnson's anti-obesity campaign, the fix-your-bike voucher scheme is the latest move by the PM in his drive to boost cycling to get the nation slimmer and fitter.
"From helping people get fit and healthy and lowering their risk of illness, to improving air quality and cutting congestion, cycling and walking have a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face," he said.
"But to build a healthier, more active nation, we need the right infrastructure, training and support in place to give people the confidence to travel on two wheels.
"That's why now is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel - so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling."
Mr Johnson, who cycled to work as London mayor and as a backbench MP, has long been a champion of cycling, launching major projects in the capital in his time as mayor.
It has been claimed that since his brush with death from coronavirus the prime minister has become "obsessed" with "getting Britain on its bike" and encouraging more people to cycle to work.
Advertisement
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who is returning from his Spanish holiday and going into quarantine, says the government is also increasing access to e-bikes for older people and those not so fit.
"We've got a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a shift in attitudes for generations to come and get more people choosing to cycle or walk as part of their daily routine," said Mr Shapps.
"The measures we've set out today in this revolutionary plan will do just that. No matter your age, how far you're travelling, or your current confidence on a bike - there are plans to help and support you.
"By helping to fix your bike - or get an electrically powered one; by increasing storage space at stations, on trains and buses; and by introducing more ways to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe, we're making it easier than ever to make active travel part of your daily life, and leading England to become a great cycling nation."
The government says that due to overwhelming demand for cycle shops' services during the coronavirus pandemic, vouchers will be released in batches in order to help manage capacity across participating stores.
The first 50,000 will be available just before midnight on Tuesday on a first come, first served basis to those who register online. Children's bikes will also covered by the scheme.
People will be able to use their voucher, with a limit of two per household, at any participating repair shop, with the voucher remaining valid for two months.
The government claims £50 will typically cover the cost of a standard service and the replacement of a basic part such as an inner tube or cable.
The scheme can be used to pay for service and parts required to make a bike safe but will not be allowed for buying accessories and equipment.
Other government proposals include cycle training for every child and adult who wants it, accessible through schools, local authorities or direct from cycle training schemes.
More cycle racks will be installed at transport hubs, town and city centres and public buildings and funding will go towards new bike hangars and on-street storage for people who don't have space to keep a bike at home.
The government says its cycling revolution, which will be funded by the £2bn of new money announced earlier this year for walking and cycling, will also include:
Thousands of miles of protected cycle routes in towns and cities, with higher standards overseen by a new inspectorate, Active Travel England, and improving the National Cycle Network;
Strengthening the Highway Code to better protect pedestrians and cyclists, raising safety standards on lorries and working with the police and retailers to tackle bike theft;
Powers for local authorities to crack down on traffic offences and increased powers for metro mayors over road networks;
Reducing "rat runs", closing side streets, reducing traffic by schools, 12 new cycle-friendly "Mini Hollands" and at least one zero-emission city centre;
Encouraging GPs to prescribe cycling, with patients able to access bikes through their local surgery; and
A new national e-bike programme, to help those who are older, have to travel long distances or are less fit to take up cycling
The PM's cycling crusade is called "Gear Shift: A bold vision for cycling and walking" and the proposed "Mini Holland" schemes are based on those already introduced in three outer London boroughs.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
According to a recent Glasgow University study, cycling to work is associated with a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, a 46% lower risk of heart disease and a 41% lower risk of premature death, compared to a non-active commute.
The bike repair vouchers were first mentioned by Mr Shapps during a Downing Street coronavirus briefing on 23 May, when he said the initiative would be "available from next month".
But the Department for Transport (DfT) said earlier this month it would only begin when maintenance shops could handle the expected spike in demand.
Halfords has said it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bike into stores to identify potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme.
The company's chief executive Graham Stapleton said: "We think the government's Fix Your Bike voucher scheme will not only help individuals become more confident about keeping their bikes maintained, but will help speed up the cycling revolution."
But the government's cycling initiative was derided by Labour's shadow cycling minister Kerry McCarthy.
"It's been five months since the government first announced this funding for cycling in the spring budget, three months since Shapps' cycling press conference and yet again all we have is a re-announcement," she said.
"Tory ministers have dragged their feet and failed to seize the opportunity this crisis has posed. Although funding is welcome, cyclists will be rightly concerned about how long it is going to take to actually put these plans into practice.
"No one wants a return to the levels of pollution and congestion we saw before the lockdown began, but, if we fail to make our roads safe enough to cycle, people will revert back to taking the car."
The website to sign up for the voucher is: https://fixyourbikevoucherscheme.est.org.uk/