skynewspolitics--2020-07-18--Ex-cricketer Sir Ian Botham 'to be made a lord as reward for Brexit loyalty'

Boris Johnson will reportedly offer ex-cricketer Sir Ian Botham a peerage as he marks his first year in Downing Street by rewarding Brexit loyalists .
Sir Ian , known affectionately as Beefy , is among 30 new peers who will be announced later this month , according to The Times .
He is considered to be one of England 's greatest cricketers with 5,200 test runs and 383 wickets .
Sir Ian also publicly supported the Brexit campaign and appeared alongside Mr Johnson before the referendum .
The 64-year-old played the question of Britain 's departure from the EU with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's enough '' .
He appeared at a County Durham event with Mr Johnson and said : `` I have been lucky enough to grow up in a wonderful country , a country that has always been able to look after itself . ''
But he felt power has been `` eroded by Brussels '' , adding : `` I think , hang on , enough 's enough . ''
Sir Ian said if the EU was inviting the UK to join afresh , we would `` give it a very wide berth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be offered a peerage , and therefore made a lord , as a reward for his support for Brexit , The Times reports .
The list of peerages is also said to include four ex-Labour MPs , including Frank Field and Gisela Stuart , who both supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum .
There will also be peerages for Ian Austin and John Woodcock , who backed Remain but supported Mr Johnson 's Brexit deal and urged Labour voters not to support Jeremy Corbyn , the broadsheet has said .
It has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heal the divisions in the Conservative Party with peerages for Ken Clarke , Philip Hammond and Ed Vaizey .
All three had the Tory whip withdrawn for supporting efforts to pass legislation to avoid a no-deal Brexit .
There was no immediate comment from Downing Street .

Boris Johnson will reportedly offer ex-cricketer Sir Ian Botham a peerage as he marks his first year in Downing Street by rewarding Brexit loyalists.
Sir Ian, known affectionately as Beefy, is among 30 new peers who will be announced later this month, according to The Times.
He is considered to be one of England's greatest cricketers with 5,200 test runs and 383 wickets. Sir Ian also publicly supported the Brexit campaign and appeared alongside Mr Johnson before the referendum.
The 64-year-old played the question of Britain's departure from the EU with a straight bat, saying "enough's enough".
Image: Sir Ian, pictured here in 1981, is considered to be one of Britain's best ever cricketers
He appeared at a County Durham event with Mr Johnson and said: "I have been lucky enough to grow up in a wonderful country, a country that has always been able to look after itself."
But he felt power has been "eroded by Brussels", adding: "I think, hang on, enough's enough."
Sir Ian said if the EU was inviting the UK to join afresh, we would "give it a very wide berth".
The former cricketer is to be offered a peerage, and therefore made a lord, as a reward for his support for Brexit, The Times reports.
Image: Sir Ian Botham appeared alongside Boris Johnson before the EU referendum
The list of peerages is also said to include four ex-Labour MPs, including Frank Field and Gisela Stuart, who both supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
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There will also be peerages for Ian Austin and John Woodcock, who backed Remain but supported Mr Johnson's Brexit deal and urged Labour voters not to support Jeremy Corbyn, the broadsheet has said.
It has also been reported Mr Johnson will seek to heal the divisions in the Conservative Party with peerages for Ken Clarke, Philip Hammond and Ed Vaizey.
All three had the Tory whip withdrawn for supporting efforts to pass legislation to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
There was no immediate comment from Downing Street.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-18--Government will take control if councils don't act quickly over local outbreaks

Councils in England now have extra powers to impose shutdowns if clusters of coronavirus appear - but central government will step in if local authorities do n't go far enough or act fast enough , Grant Shapps has told Sky News .
From today , councils can close specific premises , shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the powers would `` enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount '' .
Mr Shapps , the secretary of state for transport , told Sky News : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to act immediately , wherever that 's required… but the powers will be there , which is a change in order to make these things happen faster and be more responsive to the position on the ground . ''
But he added : `` Ultimately , government has ultimate power and control . ''
It comes amid concerns around two areas where the number of coronavirus cases are rising : Wakefield in West Yorkshire and Burton in Staffordshire .
Sky News ' Fraser Maude , who is in Wakefield , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are relatively low .
`` They do n't believe that they 're anywhere near implementing any of the lightning lockdowns which have now been approved by the PM , '' he said .
`` But people are being urged to protect themselves . ''
Wakefield is now registering 20 new cases per 100,000 of population - up from 14 .
There are three `` mini hotspots '' : a meat factory in the city where 17 people have tested positive ; a factory where four people have tested positive ; and a centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 reported cases .
Wakefield 's director of public health , Anna Hartley , said the government 's data-gathering technology had improved and the council was `` absolutely on top of it '' .
She said they now had `` a very comprehensive early warning system which not only looks at postcode data but also phone calls to GPS .
We even track social media coverage on that '' .
Manchester 's mayor , Andy Burnham , has also called on the government to share more detailed information so further local lockdowns can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better data from the government and I 've been making the argument for some time that we need named patient data and we 're not getting that at the moment , '' he told Sky News .
Mr Burnham added : `` The government needs to give us all the tools we need to act quickly to prevent the worst case scenario which is a local lockdown like we 've seen in Leicester ... '' A postcode can point you to a general area , a name takes you directly to the source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to act more effectively on the ground . ''
Next week , the prime minister will give details on extra powers for central government that will allow parliament to close factories and entire sectors of the economy in specific regions .
The powers will include enforcing stay-at-home orders , preventing people entering or leaving areas , closing roads , restricting public transport and reducing the maximum size of gatherings .
In a tweet today , Mr Johnson said : `` Action by local councils will not always be sufficient , so next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how central government can intervene at a local level . ''
He added : `` It has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks - there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country . ''
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Johnson hailed successes in Weston-super-Mare and Kirkless after outbreaks at specific premises ; in Bradford , Blackburn and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; and in Leicester where he said rates of infection had been `` stubborn '' .
It comes as the row over how the lockdown in Leicester and some surrounding areas was imposed , with very little advance notice .
The city 's Labour mayor has accused the government of penalising businesses and residents in a city that predominantly votes Labour .
The rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population in Leicester dropped from 126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days to 14 July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS figures on Saturday recorded another 13 coronavirus hospital deaths in England .
The Department for Health has said it is `` pausing '' daily death figures for the whole of the UK after Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered a review into claims there were `` statistical flaws '' .

Councils in England now have extra powers to impose shutdowns if clusters of coronavirus appear - but central government will step in if local authorities don't go far enough or act fast enough, Grant Shapps has told Sky News.
From today, councils can close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the powers would "enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount".
Mr Shapps, the secretary of state for transport, told Sky News: "They will have the powers and they will be able to act immediately, wherever that's required… but the powers will be there, which is a change in order to make these things happen faster and be more responsive to the position on the ground."
But he added: "Ultimately, government has ultimate power and control."
It comes amid concerns around two areas where the number of coronavirus cases are rising: Wakefield in West Yorkshire and Burton in Staffordshire.
Sky News' Fraser Maude, who is in Wakefield, said the council insists the overall figures are relatively low.
Image: Wakefield is one of the places where there's concern over rising cases
"They don't believe that they're anywhere near implementing any of the lightning lockdowns which have now been approved by the PM," he said. "But people are being urged to protect themselves."
Wakefield is now registering 20 new cases per 100,000 of population - up from 14.
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There are three "mini hotspots": a meat factory in the city where 17 people have tested positive; a factory where four people have tested positive; and a centre for asylum seekers where there have been 20 reported cases.
Wakefield's director of public health, Anna Hartley, said the government's data-gathering technology had improved and the council was "absolutely on top of it".
She said they now had "a very comprehensive early warning system which not only looks at postcode data but also phone calls to GPS. We even track social media coverage on that".
Manchester's mayor, Andy Burnham, has also called on the government to share more detailed information so further local lockdowns can be avoided.
"We do need better data from the government and I've been making the argument for some time that we need named patient data and we're not getting that at the moment," he told Sky News.
Mr Burnham added: "The government needs to give us all the tools we need to act quickly to prevent the worst case scenario which is a local lockdown like we've seen in Leicester...
"A postcode can point you to a general area, a name takes you directly to the source of the outbreak - and that enables people to act more effectively on the ground."
Next week, the prime minister will give details on extra powers for central government that will allow parliament to close factories and entire sectors of the economy in specific regions.
The powers will include enforcing stay-at-home orders, preventing people entering or leaving areas, closing roads, restricting public transport and reducing the maximum size of gatherings.
In a tweet today, Mr Johnson said: "Action by local councils will not always be sufficient, so next week we will publish draft regulations explaining how central government can intervene at a local level."
He added: "It has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks - there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country."
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:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Johnson hailed successes in Weston-super-Mare and Kirkless after outbreaks at specific premises; in Bradford, Blackburn and Darwen where he said testing was increased; and in Leicester where he said rates of infection had been "stubborn".
It comes as the row over how the lockdown in Leicester and some surrounding areas was imposed, with very little advance notice.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:28 PM announces easing of lockdown restrictions
The city's Labour mayor has accused the government of penalising businesses and residents in a city that predominantly votes Labour.
The rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population in Leicester dropped from 126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days to 14 July, according to data published on Friday.
NHS figures on Saturday recorded another 13 coronavirus hospital deaths in England.
The Department for Health has said it is "pausing" daily death figures for the whole of the UK after Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered a review into claims there were "statistical flaws".


skynewspolitics--2020-07-18--Johnson pictured with son for first time as PM speaks to midwives

Boris Johnson has been pictured with his baby son Wilfred for the first time .
The image released by Downing Street shows the prime minister and his partner Carrie Symonds with Wilfred , who is now 11 weeks old .
The couple are seen speaking on a Zoom call with midwives , some of whom cared for Ms Symonds and Wilfred at University College Hospital in London .
Wilfred was born on 29 April , just over two weeks after the prime minister left hospital after being seriously ill with COVID-19 .
Ms Symonds said they named their son Wilfred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfathers and the two doctors called Nick who `` saved Boris ' life '' .
Ms Symonds reportedly told the midwives on the Zoom call how `` incredibly grateful '' she was for the `` most amazing care '' she had received in hospital , and thanked them for `` the brilliant work they do day in and day out '' .
Following Wilfred 's birth , Ms Symonds said : `` Thank you so , so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH that looked after us so well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart is full . ''
Wilfred 's birth weight was not disclosed .
Downing Street declined to say whether the baby was born prematurely , and has not provided any other details about the birth .
A spokesperson said the PM will take a short period of paternity leave later this year .
Mr Johnson , 55 , and 32-year-old Ms Symonds made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street when they moved in last July .
The baby is Ms Symonds ' first child , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his second wife Marina Wheeler ; Lara , Milo , Cassie and Theodore .
The PM also has a daughter with art consultant Helen Macintyre .
Asked how many children he had during the general election in November , he told LBC : `` I love my children very much but they are not standing at this election .
I 'm therefore not going to comment on them . ''
Wilfred is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history .
Tony Blair 's wife Cherie gave birth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years after her husband 's first election victory , and David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence in 2010 .
The last babies born to prime ministers before Leo and Florence arrived more than 150 years ago .

Boris Johnson has been pictured with his baby son Wilfred for the first time.
The image released by Downing Street shows the prime minister and his partner Carrie Symonds with Wilfred, who is now 11 weeks old.
The couple are seen speaking on a Zoom call with midwives, some of whom cared for Ms Symonds and Wilfred at University College Hospital in London.
Wilfred was born on 29 April, just over two weeks after the prime minister left hospital after being seriously ill with COVID-19.
Image: It is the first time Boris Johnson has been pictured with his son
Ms Symonds said they named their son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson after the couple's grandfathers and the two doctors called Nick who "saved Boris' life".
Ms Symonds reportedly told the midwives on the Zoom call how "incredibly grateful" she was for the "most amazing care" she had received in hospital, and thanked them for "the brilliant work they do day in and day out".
Following Wilfred's birth, Ms Symonds said: "Thank you so, so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH that looked after us so well. I couldn't be happier. My heart is full."
Image: Wilfred was born on 29 April, just over two weeks after the prime minister left hospital
Wilfred's birth weight was not disclosed. Downing Street declined to say whether the baby was born prematurely, and has not provided any other details about the birth.
A spokesperson said the PM will take a short period of paternity leave later this year.
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Mr Johnson, 55, and 32-year-old Ms Symonds made history as the first unmarried couple to officially live together in Downing Street when they moved in last July.
The baby is Ms Symonds' first child, while Mr Johnson already has four grown-up children with his second wife Marina Wheeler; Lara, Milo, Cassie and Theodore.
The PM also has a daughter with art consultant Helen Macintyre.
Image: Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson are the first unmarried couple to live in Number 10
Asked how many children he had during the general election in November, he told LBC: "I love my children very much but they are not standing at this election. I'm therefore not going to comment on them."
Wilfred is the third baby born to a serving prime minister in recent history.
Tony Blair's wife Cherie gave birth to son Leo in May 2000, three years after her husband's first election victory, and David Cameron and wife Samantha welcomed daughter Florence in 2010.
The last babies born to prime ministers before Leo and Florence arrived more than 150 years ago.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--No spike in cases since lockdown restrictions eased - but there's a warning for autumn

Lifting lockdown restrictions has not led to a spike in coronavirus cases , the UK 's national statistician has said , but he issued a warning for autumn as the PM insisted he does not want a second national shutdown .
Professor Sir Ian Diamond , head of the Office for National Statistics , told Sky 's Sophy Ridge On Sunday an increase in infections depended on `` how the population works '' .
He said he had not noticed any uptake in coronavirus since measures were eased , adding : `` The message has been quite consistent in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be socially distanced and if we are really super careful and if we are able to follow all the rules it does seem to me that we should expect there to be a relative flatline at the moment .
`` Clearly over the autumn we will need to be ever vigilant . ''
He said sample households have been tested across England , adding : • Between 0.03 and 0.06 % of the population have the virus at any time • Around 1,700 new COVID-19 cases are recorded every day • There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have been `` exposed to the virus '' - about three million people • Positive tests have been `` basically flat over the last few weeks '' despite Leicester and other areas with raised infection rates Sir Ian 's autumn warning comes after Boris Johnson played down the prospect of another nationwide lockdown as he compared enforcing the measures to using Britain 's nuclear deterrent .
The prime minister added that authorities are getting better at identifying and isolating local outbreaks , but said it was important that the power to order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He told The Sunday Telegraph : `` I ca n't abandon that tool any more than I would abandon a nuclear deterrent .
`` But it is like a nuclear deterrent , I certainly do n't want to use it , and nor do I think we will be in that position again . ''
Mr Johnson 's comments could lead to further tensions between ministers and their scientific experts after Sir Patrick Vallance , the government 's chief scientific adviser , warned there was `` a risk '' that national measures could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a further easing of England 's lockdown restrictions on Friday , Mr Johnson said he hoped there could be a `` significant return to normality '' in time for Christmas .
He also said the government had given local authorities new powers to close specific premises , shut outdoor spaces and cancel events to control outbreaks .
Mr Johnson , who was pictured with his baby son Wilfred for the first time on Saturday , insisted his agenda for domestic reform and `` levelling up '' the economy would not be blown off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first anniversary of being in office .
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the PM was `` right to aspire to open up the economy again and get things moving '' , but added : `` The trouble is just saying it does n't make it so . ''
The Labour MP told Ridge there are `` great big gaping holes '' in the plan Mr Johnson announced , including the omission of `` a mass winter flu vaccination programme '' .
She said while shops , pubs and restaurants were reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming out of their houses and spending again '' because they are `` nervous '' about a second wave of coronavirus and overwhelming the NHS .
Ms Nandy said the government needed to `` get to grips '' with contact-tracing .
The PM promised a `` world-beating '' test and trace system by 1 June , which saw the app trialled on the Isle of Wight but it is not set for UK-wide release until the winter .
`` Unless people feel confident that there are plans for a second wave , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the NHS is n't going to be overwhelmed , I just do n't think the economy will get back up and running as quickly as the prime minister hopes , '' she added .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government listens to Sir Patrick 's advice `` very carefully '' , and said local shutdowns would `` enable us to take targeted action to avoid a national lockdown '' .
Asked if social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Ridge : `` It 's all conditional on us continuing to make progress .
I think it is right , though , to give ... a sense of ... hope . ''
On Saturday , Scotland recorded its highest daily positive COVID-19 tests for almost a month , with Scottish government figures showing 21 confirmed results over a 24-hour period .
On 21 June there were 26 positive test results .
Deputy first minister John Sweeney warned the public of the ongoing threat of coronavirus , with the surge in positive cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , tweeting : `` Thankfully another day of no deaths recorded due to # COVID .
21 positive cases however remind us of the danger still out there . ''
People in Wales will be able to use playgrounds , community centres and outdoor gyms from tomorrow , after hairdressers and pubs reopened at the start of the week .
Asked why Wales was taking a slower approach to easing lockdown measures than that advocated by Mr Johnson , Vaughan Gething , Welsh minister for health and social services , told Sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advice from SAGE and our own Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee ... and we are supported by three quarters of the public in the approach we are taking .
`` If we move too fast we could see a further , earlier peak than we would otherwise see , and that would have consequences as we have seen in some towns and counties in England .
The local outbreaks we have seen in the UK , including here in Wales , are a real reminder that coronavirus has not gone away . ''

Lifting lockdown restrictions has not led to a spike in coronavirus cases, the UK's national statistician has said, but he issued a warning for autumn as the PM insisted he does not want a second national shutdown.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond, head of the Office for National Statistics, told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday an increase in infections depended on "how the population works".
He said he had not noticed any uptick in coronavirus since measures were eased, adding: "The message has been quite consistent in that we must be alert and we must be socially distanced and if we are really super careful and if we are able to follow all the rules it does seem to me that we should expect there to be a relative flatline at the moment.
"Clearly over the autumn we will need to be ever vigilant."
Image: Boris Johnson has compared full lockdown to 'a nuclear deterrent', saying: 'I certainly don't want to use it'
He said sample households have been tested across England, adding:
Between 0.03 and 0.06% of the population have the virus at any time
Around 1,700 new COVID-19 cases are recorded every day
cases are recorded every day There are antibodies in 6.3% of the population who have been "exposed to the virus" - about three million people
Positive tests have been "basically flat over the last few weeks" despite Leicester and other areas with raised infection rates
Sir Ian's autumn warning comes after Boris Johnson played down the prospect of another nationwide lockdown as he compared enforcing the measures to using Britain's nuclear deterrent.
The prime minister added that authorities are getting better at identifying and isolating local outbreaks, but said it was important that the power to order national action was held in reserve.
He told The Sunday Telegraph: "I can't abandon that tool any more than I would abandon a nuclear deterrent.
"But it is like a nuclear deterrent, I certainly don't want to use it, and nor do I think we will be in that position again."
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Mr Johnson's comments could lead to further tensions between ministers and their scientific experts after Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, warned there was "a risk" that national measures could be needed as winter approaches.
Announcing a further easing of England's lockdown restrictions on Friday, Mr Johnson said he hoped there could be a "significant return to normality" in time for Christmas.
He also said the government had given local authorities new powers to close specific premises, shut outdoor spaces and cancel events to control outbreaks.
Mr Johnson, who was pictured with his baby son Wilfred for the first time on Saturday, insisted his agenda for domestic reform and "levelling up" the economy would not be blown off course by the pandemic as he approaches his first anniversary of being in office.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:28 PM announces easing of lockdown restrictions
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the PM was "right to aspire to open up the economy again and get things moving", but added: "The trouble is just saying it doesn't make it so."
The Labour MP told Ridge there are "great big gaping holes" in the plan Mr Johnson announced, including the omission of "a mass winter flu vaccination programme".
She said while shops, pubs and restaurants were reopening, "many people are still not coming out of their houses and spending again" because they are "nervous" about a second wave of coronavirus and overwhelming the NHS.
Ms Nandy said the government needed to "get to grips" with contact-tracing. The PM promised a "world-beating" test and trace system by 1 June, which saw the app trialled on the Isle of Wight but it is not set for UK-wide release until the winter.
"Unless people feel confident that there are plans for a second wave, that it is going to be avoided, that the NHS isn't going to be overwhelmed, I just don't think the economy will get back up and running as quickly as the prime minister hopes," she added.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government listens to Sir Patrick's advice "very carefully", and said local shutdowns would "enable us to take targeted action to avoid a national lockdown".
Asked if social distancing could be scrapped by November, he told Ridge: "It's all conditional on us continuing to make progress. I think it is right, though, to give... a sense of... hope."
A further eight people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals to 29,181, NHS England said on Sunday.
The patients were aged between 61 and 91 years old and all had known underlying health conditions.
The Department for Health and Social Care said on Friday it was "pausing" publication of Public Health England (PHE) daily death data for the whole of the UK.
It followed Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordering an urgent review into claims by researchers that the current method of calculation does not take into account the fact that some people may have recovered from COVID-19 and died of a different cause.
On Saturday, Scotland recorded its highest daily positive COVID-19 tests for almost a month, with Scottish government figures showing 21 confirmed results over a 24-hour period. On 21 June there were 26 positive test results.
Deputy first minister John Sweeney warned the public of the ongoing threat of coronavirus, with the surge in positive cases coming after lockdown measures were eased on Wednesday, tweeting: "Thankfully another day of no deaths recorded due to #COVID. 21 positive cases however remind us of the danger still out there."
People in Wales will be able to use playgrounds, community centres and outdoor gyms from tomorrow, after hairdressers and pubs reopened at the start of the week.
Asked why Wales was taking a slower approach to easing lockdown measures than that advocated by Mr Johnson, Vaughan Gething, Welsh minister for health and social services, told Sky News: "We have taken seriously the advice from SAGE and our own Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee... and we are supported by three quarters of the public in the approach we are taking.
"If we move too fast we could see a further, earlier peak than we would otherwise see, and that would have consequences as we have seen in some towns and counties in England. The local outbreaks we have seen in the UK, including here in Wales, are a real reminder that coronavirus has not gone away."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--'Outrageous' that Russia 'trying to steal or sabotage vaccine research' – Raab

The foreign secretary has said he is `` absolutely confident '' Russian spies are trying to sabotage or steal UK scientists ' coronavirus vaccine research , calling the action `` outrageous and reprehensible '' .
Dominic Raab told Sky News it was important to call Vladimir Putin 's government out for what he called `` egregious '' behaviour at a time when `` the world is coming together '' to battle the COVID-19 pandemic .
He did not say if any information had been stolen by the hackers uncovered earlier this week by US , Canadian and British intelligence agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow amid another criminal investigation into Russian groups the UK has accused of trying to interfere in last year 's general election .
Mr Raab said the cyber spies trying to steal virus vaccine information were engaged by the very highest levels of the Kremlin .
Moscow denies the claim .
He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday : `` The point is : First of all we 've seen this as part of a wider systematic approach to cyber taken by Russia .
`` And at the time that the world is coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly come up with a global solution for a vaccine , I think it 's outrageous and reprehensible that the Russian Government is engaged in this activity .
`` So what we 're doing with our allies is making sure people know , making sure the organisations know so that they can better defend against it , but also just calling Russia out , we will do this .
`` Now you will see us holding Russia to account and making sure that the world knows the nature of the reprehensible behaviour that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raab added : `` As a leading member of the international community , a permanent member of the Security Council , Russia should be engaged in that collaborative international effort . ''
Russia 's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said the claims make `` no sense '' '' I do n't believe in this story at all , there is no sense in it , '' he told the BBC .
Mr Raab hit back , telling Sky News : `` Of course he will come on and deny the attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines .
`` Russia always does this when it 's behaved in such an egregious way .
They denied responsibility for the Salisbury attack in 2018 and we 're calling them out .
`` It 's important as with Salisbury , as with cyber attacks and the other nefarious behaviours Russia engages in , we are going to hold them to account and call them out .
`` I 'm not surprised in the least the Russian ambassador is wheeled out to deny it . ''
Meanwhile , Labour 's shadow foreign secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` got it wrong on Russia '' because the leadership under Jeremy Corbyn `` prevaricated and equivocated '' and let an `` authoritarian regime ... off the hook '' .
`` I believe the Conservatives have been especially slow to wake up to the threat that is posed by the current Putin administration and we should have been much quicker to act , '' she said .
While the Foreign Office vows to take strong steps against the Kremlin , the government is underwriting `` to a huge extent '' the activities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK Export Finance scheme in a `` very confused approach '' , she added , calling for a `` much more strategic approach to Russia '' .
Mr Corbyn has been put in the spotlight after the government said Russia-based hackers helped promote secret documents revealing trade deal talks between the UK and US , dramatically unveiled by the then-Labour leader in the run up to last year 's election .
He was also criticised for his approach to the Salisbury poisoning , referred to by Ms Nandy , which at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparent reluctance to directly blame Moscow for the nerve agent attack .

The foreign secretary has said he is "absolutely confident" Russian spies are trying to sabotage or steal UK scientists' coronavirus vaccine research, calling the action "outrageous and reprehensible".
Dominic Raab told Sky News it was important to call Vladimir Putin's government out for what he called "egregious" behaviour at a time when "the world is coming together" to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
He did not say if any information had been stolen by the hackers uncovered earlier this week by US, Canadian and British intelligence agencies.
Image: Scientists researching a COVID-19 vaccine were targeted
The comments will fuel tensions with Moscow amid another criminal investigation into Russian groups the UK has accused of trying to interfere in last year's general election.
Mr Raab said the cyber spies trying to steal virus vaccine information were engaged by the very highest levels of the Kremlin. Moscow denies the claim.
He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "The point is: First of all we've seen this as part of a wider systematic approach to cyber taken by Russia.
"And at the time that the world is coming together to try and tackle COVID-19, particularly come up with a global solution for a vaccine, I think it's outrageous and reprehensible that the Russian Government is engaged in this activity.
"So what we're doing with our allies is making sure people know, making sure the organisations know so that they can better defend against it, but also just calling Russia out, we will do this.
"Now you will see us holding Russia to account and making sure that the world knows the nature of the reprehensible behaviour that they're engaged in."
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Mr Raab added: "As a leading member of the international community, a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia should be engaged in that collaborative international effort."
Russia's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said the claims make "no sense"
"I don't believe in this story at all, there is no sense in it," he told the BBC.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Raab hit back, telling Sky News: "Of course he will come on and deny the attack on the R&D in relation to vaccines.
"Russia always does this when it's behaved in such an egregious way. They denied responsibility for the Salisbury attack in 2018 and we're calling them out.
"It's important as with Salisbury, as with cyber attacks and the other nefarious behaviours Russia engages in, we are going to hold them to account and call them out.
"I'm not surprised in the least the Russian ambassador is wheeled out to deny it."
Meanwhile, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News the party "got it wrong on Russia" because the leadership under Jeremy Corbyn "prevaricated and equivocated" and let an "authoritarian regime... off the hook".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 14:48 Lisa Nandy: Labour got it wrong on Russia
"I believe the Conservatives have been especially slow to wake up to the threat that is posed by the current Putin administration and we should have been much quicker to act," she said.
While the Foreign Office vows to take strong steps against the Kremlin, the government is underwriting "to a huge extent" the activities of Russian state-backed gas giant Gazprom through the UK Export Finance scheme in a "very confused approach", she added, calling for a "much more strategic approach to Russia".
Mr Corbyn has been put in the spotlight after the government said Russia-based hackers helped promote secret documents revealing trade deal talks between the UK and US, dramatically unveiled by the then-Labour leader in the run up to last year's election.
He was also criticised for his approach to the Salisbury poisoning, referred to by Ms Nandy, which at the time sparked fury from Labour MPs given his apparent reluctance to directly blame Moscow for the nerve agent attack.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--Five things we learnt from this week's Sophy Ridge On Sunday

With international relations between the UK and some key superpowers deteriorating , what actions are being taken against Russia and China ?
And has easing lockdown led to a spike in COVID- 19 infections ?
Here are five things we learnt from this week 's Sophy Ridge On Sunday : 1 .
An end to extradition to Hong Kong ?
Dominic Raab has hinted that extraditions from the UK to Hong Kong could end , shortly after 17 fellow Conservative MPs called for the suspension of the relevant treaty .
The foreign secretary promised a statement on Hong Kong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying `` one of the things that we reviewed is our extradition arrangements and I will be updating the House on the conclusion of that review '' .
The new tough talk is part of the government 's post-pandemic approach to China , with Mr Raab insisting it wo n't be `` business as usual '' with the superpower and `` we need to be very careful in our dealings '' .
Some more zealous China-sceptics may be less happy about his warning that the UK will not however be `` slipping into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign secretary also laid into Russia over allegations it has attempted to hack coronavirus research facilities , declaring the country guilty of `` reprehensible behaviour '' and vowing : `` You will see us holding Russia to account '' .
Mr Raab told Sophy Ridge the government was `` absolutely confident that the Russian intelligence agencies were engaged in a cyber-attack on research and development efforts and organisations in this country and internationally , with a view either to sabotage or to profit from the R & D [ research and development ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations have been denied by Moscow 's ambassador to the UK , drawing the sharp aside from Mr Raab that he was n't `` surprised in the least that the Russian ambassador is wheeled out to deny it . ''
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker There was a reminder , however , of the limits of UK power on the world stage .
11 months on from the death of teenager Harry Dunn in a road collision , the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , charged with death by dangerous driving , to return from the United States .
Harry 's mother Charlotte Charles appeared on the programme to call for help from the government , ahead of a visit to the UK by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo .
`` It 's so important to feel supported by your own government , '' she said , but `` unfortunately we just have n't had that - but it 's never too late '' .
`` Just help us - help us , '' she urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extradite Ms Sacoolas , Dominic Raab told the programme `` we 're on the family 's side , we 've made that clear all along '' but `` there are no measures that we could I think credibly , realistically take '' to force her return .
4 .
The UK 'should not be a haven ' for human rights abusers Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy called on the government to take action to `` freeze the assets '' of any officials involved `` those human rights abuses '' against Muslim Uighurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK should `` not be a haven for people who abuse human rights overseas '' .
She also criticised the previous Labour leadership , saying `` I think we got it wrong on Russia…when the Salisbury attacks happened , we prevaricated , we equivocated '' .
Ms Nandy said Labour had allowed `` an authoritarian regime that has invaded its neighbours , that has interfered in elections across European democratic countries over several years , that has had an appalling record of human rights against its own people , against LGBT people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escape criticism .
She also accused the Conservative Party of also being `` desperately slow '' to recognise the `` threat '' posed by Russia .
It 's been a bad week for official statistics , as an investigation was launched on Friday into Public Health England 's totals of deaths from coronavirus .
But in one piece of good news , the UK 's national statistician - and head of the Office for National Statistics - Sir Ian Diamond , said the virus rate was `` basically flat over the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in various parts of the country '' .
He said there were 1,700 new cases of COVID-19 a day and that `` 6.3 % of the population have been exposed to the virus and that 's round about three million people '' .
The government 's warning that face masks will be mandatory in shops looks to have taken effect before the rule comes into force too , as Sir Ian said `` 61 % of the population '' had used a face covering in the last week , `` up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @

With international relations between the UK and some key superpowers deteriorating, what actions are being taken against Russia and China? And has easing lockdown led to a spike in COVID- 19 infections?
Here are five things we learnt from this week's Sophy Ridge On Sunday:
1. An end to extradition to Hong Kong?
Dominic Raab has hinted that extraditions from the UK to Hong Kong could end, shortly after 17 fellow Conservative MPs called for the suspension of the relevant treaty.
The foreign secretary promised a statement on Hong Kong to the House of Commons on Monday, saying "one of the things that we reviewed is our extradition arrangements and I will be updating the House on the conclusion of that review".
The new tough talk is part of the government's post-pandemic approach to China, with Mr Raab insisting it won't be "business as usual" with the superpower and "we need to be very careful in our dealings".
Some more zealous China-sceptics may be less happy about his warning that the UK will not however be "slipping into some outdated dogmatic approach".
2. Russia's 'reprehensible behaviour'
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:16 Russia action 'outrageous and reprehensible'
The foreign secretary also laid into Russia over allegations it has attempted to hack coronavirus research facilities, declaring the country guilty of "reprehensible behaviour" and vowing: "You will see us holding Russia to account".
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Mr Raab told Sophy Ridge the government was "absolutely confident that the Russian intelligence agencies were engaged in a cyber-attack on research and development efforts and organisations in this country and internationally, with a view either to sabotage or to profit from the R&D [research and development] that was taking place".
The allegations have been denied by Moscow's ambassador to the UK, drawing the sharp aside from Mr Raab that he wasn't "surprised in the least that the Russian ambassador is wheeled out to deny it."
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
3. 'Please support us' pleads Harry Dunn's mother
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:16 Harry Dunn: Mum's plea ahead of Pompeo's visit
There was a reminder, however, of the limits of UK power on the world stage.
11 months on from the death of teenager Harry Dunn in a road collision, the UK still has yet to get Anne Sacoolas, charged with death by dangerous driving, to return from the United States.
Harry's mother Charlotte Charles appeared on the programme to call for help from the government, ahead of a visit to the UK by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
"It's so important to feel supported by your own government," she said, but "unfortunately we just haven't had that - but it's never too late".
"Just help us - help us," she urged.
Challenged over the UK's failure to extradite Ms Sacoolas, Dominic Raab told the programme "we're on the family's side, we've made that clear all along" but "there are no measures that we could I think credibly, realistically take" to force her return.
4. The UK 'should not be a haven' for human rights abusers
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 14:48 Lisa Nandy: Labour got it wrong on Russia
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy called on the government to take action to "freeze the assets" of any officials involved "those human rights abuses" against Muslim Uighurs in China's Xinjiang province, saying the UK should "not be a haven for people who abuse human rights overseas".
She also criticised the previous Labour leadership, saying "I think we got it wrong on Russia…when the Salisbury attacks happened, we prevaricated, we equivocated".
Ms Nandy said Labour had allowed "an authoritarian regime that has invaded its neighbours, that has interfered in elections across European democratic countries over several years, that has had an appalling record of human rights against its own people, against LGBT people, Muslims and other minorities" to escape criticism.
She also accused the Conservative Party of also being "desperately slow" to recognise the "threat" posed by Russia.
5. Virus rate is 'relatively flat'
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It's been a bad week for official statistics, as an investigation was launched on Friday into Public Health England's totals of deaths from coronavirus.
But in one piece of good news, the UK's national statistician - and head of the Office for National Statistics - Sir Ian Diamond, said the virus rate was "basically flat over the last few weeks" despite "one or two outbreaks in various parts of the country".
He said there were 1,700 new cases of COVID-19 a day and that "6.3% of the population have been exposed to the virus and that's round about three million people".
The government's warning that face masks will be mandatory in shops looks to have taken effect before the rule comes into force too, as Sir Ian said "61% of the population" had used a face covering in the last week, "up from 50% the week before".


skynewspolitics--2020-07-20--China rift, Russia claims, Brexit talks: Foreign policy challenges weigh heavy on PM

The UK 's place in the world may not have been the focus these last few months , for obvious reasons , but this week the prime minister wo n't be able to ignore pressing international matters .
While coronavirus still occupies most of the government 's waking hours , a deepening rift with China , allegations of Russian interference in UK elections , a US president demanding loyalty , and fractious Brexit talks are all weighing heavy on Boris Johnson .
Today could see the UK end its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after pressure from MPs and campaigners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security laws .
And while Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refuses to call this a reset of relations , it will likely be seen as just that .
It follows a controversial decision to exclude Huawei from the UK 's 5G network after initially welcoming bids from the Chinese technology firm .
Whispers about pressure from America , where Donald Trump is determined to show China he will not be bullied , have prompted questions about where the UK will position itself in the months to come .
Asked on Sunday about the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake of the Huawei decision , the country 's Ambassador threatened retaliation against the UK and others who shun the superpower .
But Mr Raab knows he has a difficult line to walk .
On the one hand he can not be seen to condone human rights abuses and allegations of interference by the communist state , but on the other he ca n't shut China out completely when the balance of trade with the UK is so important .
Add to that pressure from allies around the world , as the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forge a new place for itself on the world stage , and questions about whose side Britain is on become even more important .
That 's before you consider the Russia report due to be published this week by the Intelligence and Security Committee into interference in UK elections and fraught talks between the UK and Brussels on fishing rights and trade .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The reality is the UK does n't yet have a clear long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Brexit - plans are under way but not yet fully developed .
Without this ability to look beyond the here and now it will be very difficult for Mr Johnson to navigate difficult political decisions while keeping everyone on side .

The UK's place in the world may not have been the focus these last few months, for obvious reasons, but this week the prime minister won't be able to ignore pressing international matters.
While coronavirus still occupies most of the government's waking hours, a deepening rift with China, allegations of Russian interference in UK elections, a US president demanding loyalty, and fractious Brexit talks are all weighing heavy on Boris Johnson.
Today could see the UK end its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after pressure from MPs and campaigners demanding a tough response to new Chinese security laws.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:13 Foreign Secretary hints at change to Hong Kong deal
And while Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refuses to call this a reset of relations, it will likely be seen as just that.
It follows a controversial decision to exclude Huawei from the UK's 5G network after initially welcoming bids from the Chinese technology firm.
Whispers about pressure from America, where Donald Trump is determined to show China he will not be bullied, have prompted questions about where the UK will position itself in the months to come.
Asked on Sunday about the potential for further sanctions against China in the wake of the Huawei decision, the country's ambassador, Liu Xiaoming, threatened retaliation against the UK and others who shun the superpower.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:52 'The faster, the better' on Brexit deal - PM
But Mr Raab knows he has a difficult line to walk. On the one hand he cannot be seen to condone human rights abuses and allegations of interference by the communist state, but on the other he can't shut China out completely when the balance of trade with the UK is so important.
Add to that pressure from allies around the world, as the UK leaves the European Union and seeks to forge a new place for itself on the world stage, and questions about whose side Britain is on become even more important.
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That's before you consider the Russia report due to be published this week by the Intelligence and Security Committee into interference in UK elections and fraught talks between the UK and Brussels on fishing rights and trade.
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:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The reality is the UK doesn't yet have a clear long-term strategy for how it will project itself after Brexit - plans are under way but not yet fully developed.
Without this ability to look beyond the here and now it will be very difficult for Mr Johnson to navigate difficult political decisions while keeping everyone on side.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--It won't be 'business as usual': Raab hints at suspending Hong Kong extradition deal

The foreign secretary has given his strongest hint yet he may suspend the UK 's extradition treaty with Hong Kong , as relations with China sour .
Dominic Raab confirmed a review into the arrangement has been completed and he will be announcing an `` update '' to parliament today .
He cautioned there would n't be `` business as usual '' with the former British colony after the coronavirus pandemic ends .
Extradition treaties are signed between countries to speed up the deportation of suspected criminals .
But after Beijing imposed a controversial new security law in Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to be rescinded .
`` We are all going to have to ask ourselves if we recognise the Chinese Communist Party 's definitions of secession , subversion , terrorism and collusion , and share the interpretation of mainland judges , '' the members of parliament 's Chinese Research Group wrote in a letter on Saturday .
The said countries including Canada , the US and Australia have already taken the step and others such as New Zealand are considering doing the same .
Mr Raab did not rule out the UK taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News ' Sophy Ridge on Sunday .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker '' On Hong Kong , I 'm going to go to the House of Commons tomorrow [ Monday ] to make a further statement on the work we 've been doing with our partners in government , '' he said .
`` I 've said that we 'd review a whole range of other considerations .
`` One of the things that we reviewed is our extradition arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the conclusion of that review , along with other things that we 've been looking at , tomorrow . ''
Mr Raab said the UK does rely on China for issues requiring international cooperation like climate change .
But he added : `` We have said there wo n't be business as usual after COVID-19 and we are working with our international partners to get a proper independent review of what happened but we also want to make sure that we 're not slipping into some outdated dogmatic approach with China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deteriorated with the news the UK will end the use of Huawei technology in its 5G network as soon as this year over security concerns .
Liu Xiaoming , China 's ambassador to the UK , said on Sunday it would be `` totally wrong '' for Britain now to impose sanctions on officials .
`` If the UK goes that far to impose sanctions on any individuals in China , China will certainly make a resolute response to it , '' he told the BBC .
`` I think the UK should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than dance to the tune of the Americans like what happened to Huawei . ''
There were reports at the weekend that the the Chinese social media company TikTok had broken off talks to open a global headquarters in Britain .
Communist Party officials were also reported to have warned UK companies operating in China , including Jaguar Land Rover , BP and GlaxoSmithKline , that they could now face retaliation .

The foreign secretary has given his strongest hint yet he may suspend the UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong, as relations with China sour.
Dominic Raab confirmed a review into the arrangement has been completed and he will be announcing an "update" to parliament today.
He cautioned there wouldn't be "business as usual" with the former British colony after the coronavirus pandemic ends.
Image: China has imposed a controversial new national security law on Hong Kong
Extradition treaties are signed between countries to speed up the deportation of suspected criminals.
But after Beijing imposed a controversial new security law in Hong Kong, senior Tory MPs have called for it to be rescinded.
"We are all going to have to ask ourselves if we recognise the Chinese Communist Party's definitions of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion, and share the interpretation of mainland judges," the members of parliament's Chinese Research Group wrote in a letter on Saturday.
Canada and Australia have already taken the step and others such as the US and New Zealand are considering doing the same.
Mr Raab did not rule out the UK taking similar action when he spoke to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
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"On Hong Kong, I'm going to go to the House of Commons tomorrow [Monday] to make a further statement on the work we've been doing with our partners in government," he said.
"I've said that we'd review a whole range of other considerations.
"One of the things that we reviewed is our extradition arrangements and I will be updating the House on the conclusion of that review, along with other things that we've been looking at."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:17 PM: We need a 'calibrated response' on China
Mr Raab said the UK does rely on China for issues requiring international cooperation like climate change.
But he added: "We have said there won't be business as usual after COVID-19 and we are working with our international partners to get a proper independent review of what happened but we also want to make sure that we're not slipping into some outdated dogmatic approach with China."
Image: A pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong
It comes after relations with Beijing deteriorated with the news the UK will end the use of Huawei technology in its 5G network as soon as this year over security concerns.
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, said on Sunday it would be "totally wrong" for Britain now to impose sanctions on officials.
"If the UK goes that far to impose sanctions on any individuals in China, China will certainly make a resolute response to it," he told the BBC.
"I think the UK should have its own independent foreign policy rather than dance to the tune of the Americans like what happened to Huawei."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:11 TikTok will no longer operate in Hong Kong
There were reports at the weekend that the the Chinese social media company TikTok had broken off talks to open a global headquarters in Britain.
Communist Party officials were also reported to have warned UK companies operating in China, including Jaguar Land Rover, BP and GlaxoSmithKline, that they could now face retaliation.


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--'They have still got to deliver': Is support for PM in red wall seats crumbling?

We get to Sam Zair 's cafe in the centre of Bishop Auckland at about 4pm as he 's shutting up shop .
When we last saw him in January , Boris Johnson had just won a landslide victory , snatching dozens of Labour 's red wall seats on his promise to `` Get Brexit Done '' and `` level up '' the country .
Bishop Auckland was one of his wins and Sam , who 'd once been a Liberal Democrat councillor but was now a Brexit and Boris Johnson backer , was optimistic about the prospects for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friendly as I remember when we meet again , but the strain of the past few months is plain to see .
`` It 's been horrendous , '' he tells me as we talk about having to close the cafe , opened by his great-grandfather over 100 years ago , during the lockdown .
`` I felt like I was a failure , '' he said .
`` This business still traded through World War One , the Spanish Flu and World War Two .
For three generations my father , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was a different kettle of fish because it had to close down . ''
When he re-opened on 15 June he was `` terrified that no one would come '' .
Things are slowly getting better but Sam is in no doubt it will be a long haul .
`` It 's the toughest I 've ever known in my lifetime , '' he said .
`` It 's going to take a long time before people find the confidence to come back onto the streets and get back to using local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2019 electoral earthquake can not be overstated .
Mr Johnson won an 80-seat majority as the Labour party returned its lowest number of MPs since 1935 .
The Brexit election scrambled political identities .
For the first time ever , the Tory party out-polled Labour when it came to low-income voters and it is now more popular with that group than with high-income voters , according to a recent report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation .
But now seven months later , Brexit Britain has been scrambled again by a once-in-a-century pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will play out for years to come .
And it is communities like Bishop Auckland that will feel it the most .
The North East is projected to be one of the worst-hit regions from the fall-out of coronavirus in the medium term , according to a report released in May by the Centre for Progressive Policy .
CPP analysis found that red wall areas have a high proportion of vulnerable local authorities - those it expects to particularly struggle in recovering from the crisis , with nearly half of red wall local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK as a whole .
Those seats could see a 12 % permanent output loss , against a 5 % contraction in the South East .
`` To avoid large permanent losses in some of the country 's most vulnerable places , the government must return to a revitalised levelling up agenda , '' the CPP report concluded .
It is a message I hear loud and clear in my many conversations with people across Blyth , Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle .
Just as it was seven months ago , support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson and his government is qualified and shallow .
Those who ran businesses were grateful for the financial support the government had given to keep them afloat during the shutdown and , in the main , willing to give ministers in Westminster the benefit of the doubt when it came to managing the crisis .
And when it comes to the prime minister himself - whose personal polling ratings have fallen during this crisis - those I spoke to were appreciative that he was sticking to his promises on Brexit and levelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at times by his handling of the crisis .
Michelle , who lives in Blyth and had religiously followed the daily news conferences , said she thought Mr Johnson was `` a waffler '' .
David , a retired engineer and Brexiteer who I met in Barnard Castle , says his faith in the government 's handling of the crisis has diminished over the course of the lockdown .
He told me he was `` disgusted '' that the PM 's chief advisor Dominic Cummings had come to Barnard Castle at the height @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubtful over the government 's changing advice on face masks .
`` We should have been wearing face masks from the start , '' he said .
Voters also expect the prime minister to honour the manifesto promises of 2019 - regardless of the coronavirus crisis .
Brexit must be done by the end of the year and the investment into their communities must come .
Pauline and her 83-year-old mum Dot , who I got chatting to in the Tudor Cafe in Bylth , were very matter-of-fact about what lay ahead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard for Blyth , '' she said .
But Pauline , who was bringing her mum out to the cafe for the first time in five months , also spoke of the optimism she still felt about her community 's prospects .
`` I really do live in hope .
They are talking about bringing the railway back , we need to bring more shops into the town centre .
`` I 'm on my soapbox because I just feel so passionate about it , '' she said .
`` It 's just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes together and they do it because I think we could bring a lot of people into Blyth .
`` We 've given someone else a chance , let 's see what happens .
You now , that 's all you can do .
People wanted a change . ''
But the economic landscape on which those promises were made has n't just shifted , it 's completely transformed .
In two months the economy has contracted by 25 % ; 18 years of growth gone in a matter of weeks .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and additional public funding committed since 11 March via the furlough scheme , more generous benefits , business grants , public spending , tax deferrals and loans .
The fiscal watchdog predicts government borrowing will reach £370bn this year and says getting the government 's debt down to about 75 % of GDP would require tax rises or spending cuts of about £60bn , every decade , for the next 50 years .
Which raises the obvious question of whether the government has the economic firepower and political will to fulfil the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has cast a long economic shadow on the UK and at some point ministers will have to start clawing money back rather than just dishing it out .
Mr Johnson renewed his vows to the red wall in his Dudley speech at the end of June when he reiterated his `` mission to unite and to level up '' and `` build , build , build '' our way back to prosperity with more economic interventionism .
His own `` new deal '' .
But he knows there is an obvious tension between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the instincts of a party defined in the principles of low taxes , the free market , the small state .
The Conservatives ' political rivals think this is a tension that could hurt Mr Johnson and help them slowly win back support ahead of the next election .
`` The areas that are going to be most hard hit by the job losses are going to be seats Boris Johnson won in the North East and the Midlands , '' says one senior Labour figure .
`` These places risk the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs and more heavily focuses on retail and a manufacturing base as well .
`` There will be a tension between the Tory 2019 intake and the rest of the party - and not just on a philosophical basis but on a practical basis of constituency pressure . ''
Since this crisis began , regional disparities have widened - and things are going in the wrong direction for the North East .
Mr Johnson 's task right now is to try to kickstart the economy .
The task in the coming years is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to close regional gaps .
It was already a Herculean task to achieve and COVID-19 has made it harder still .
`` It 's going to be very , very difficult .
Very difficult , '' agrees Sam Zair , but the promises still stand .
`` I think [ this government ] knows at the back of their minds places such as Bishop Auckland , the North and the rest of the North East towns , they have still got to deliver in this neck of the woods in five years @ @ @ @

Voters say the PM is sticking to his promises on Brexit, but some are less impressed by his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
'They have still got to deliver': Is support for Boris Johnson in red wall seats crumbling?
Special report: How the red wall looks for the Conservatives
We get to Sam Zair's cafe in the centre of Bishop Auckland at about 4pm as he's shutting up shop.
When we last saw him in January, Boris Johnson had just won a landslide victory, snatching dozens of Labour's red wall seats on his promise to "Get Brexit Done" and "level up" the country.
Bishop Auckland was one of his wins and Sam, who'd once been a Liberal Democrat councillor but was now a Brexit and Boris Johnson backer, was optimistic about the prospects for his community.
Image: Sam Zair says the last few months have been 'horrendous'
He's as warm and friendly as I remember when we meet again, but the strain of the past few months is plain to see.
"It's been horrendous," he tells me as we talk about having to close the cafe, opened by his great-grandfather over 100 years ago, during the lockdown.
"I felt like I was a failure," he said.
"This business still traded through World War One, the Spanish Flu and World War Two. For three generations my father, my great grandfather, still traded. But this was a different kettle of fish because it had to close down."
When he re-opened on 15 June he was "terrified that no one would come".
Things are slowly getting better but Sam is in no doubt it will be a long haul. "It's the toughest I've ever known in my lifetime," he said.
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"It's going to take a long time before people find the confidence to come back onto the streets and get back to using local businesses again."
Image: David was 'disgusted' that Dominic Cummings went to Barnard Castle during lockdown
The scale of the 2019 electoral earthquake cannot be overstated. Mr Johnson won an 80-seat majority as the Labour party returned its lowest number of MPs since 1935. The Brexit election scrambled political identities.
For the first time ever, the Tory party out-polled Labour when it came to low-income voters and it is now more popular with that group than with high-income voters, according to a recent report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
But now seven months later, Brexit Britain has been scrambled again by a once-in-a-century pandemic which has far-ranging and profound consequences that will play out for years to come.
And it is communities like Bishop Auckland that will feel it the most.
Image: Pauline and her mum Dot think things in Blyth will be 'very hard'
The North East is projected to be one of the worst-hit regions from the fall-out of coronavirus in the medium term, according to a report released in May by the Centre for Progressive Policy.
CPP analysis found that red wall areas have a high proportion of vulnerable local authorities - those it expects to particularly struggle in recovering from the crisis, with nearly half of red wall local authorities 'vulnerable' against 23% across the UK as a whole.
Those seats could see a 12% permanent output loss, against a 5% contraction in the South East.
"To avoid large permanent losses in some of the country's most vulnerable places, the government must return to a revitalised levelling up agenda," the CPP report concluded.
It is a message I hear loud and clear in my many conversations with people across Blyth, Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. Just as it was seven months ago, support in this part of the world for Boris Johnson and his government is qualified and shallow.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:18 Boris Johnson's 'ambitious' road map
Those who ran businesses were grateful for the financial support the government had given to keep them afloat during the shutdown and, in the main, willing to give ministers in Westminster the benefit of the doubt when it came to managing the crisis.
And when it comes to the prime minister himself - whose personal polling ratings have fallen during this crisis - those I spoke to were appreciative that he was sticking to his promises on Brexit and levelling up, but some were less impressed at times by his handling of the crisis.
Michelle, who lives in Blyth and had religiously followed the daily news conferences, said she thought Mr Johnson was "a waffler". David, a retired engineer and Brexiteer who I met in Barnard Castle, says his faith in the government's handling of the crisis has diminished over the course of the lockdown.
He told me he was "disgusted" that the PM's chief advisor Dominic Cummings had come to Barnard Castle at the height of the crisis and he was also doubtful over the government's changing advice on face masks. "We should have been wearing face masks from the start," he said.
Voters also expect the prime minister to honour the manifesto promises of 2019 - regardless of the coronavirus crisis.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:19 PM says there is no 'magic wand' for jobs
Brexit must be done by the end of the year and the investment into their communities must come.
Pauline and her 83-year-old mum Dot, who I got chatting to in the Tudor Cafe in Bylth, were very matter-of-fact about what lay ahead. "It's going to be very hard for Blyth," she said.
But Pauline, who was bringing her mum out to the cafe for the first time in five months, also spoke of the optimism she still felt about her community's prospects.
"I really do live in hope. They are talking about bringing the railway back, we need to bring more shops into the town centre.
"I'm on my soapbox because I just feel so passionate about it," she said. "It's just forgotten. Forgotten. I hope it comes together and they do it because I think we could bring a lot of people into Blyth.
"We've given someone else a chance, let's see what happens. You now, that's all you can do. People wanted a change."
But the economic landscape on which those promises were made hasn't just shifted, it's completely transformed. In two months the economy has contracted by 25%; 18 years of growth gone in a matter of weeks.
The chancellor has committed over £300bn in government support and additional public funding committed since 11 March via the furlough scheme, more generous benefits, business grants, public spending, tax deferrals and loans.
The fiscal watchdog predicts government borrowing will reach £370bn this year and says getting the government's debt down to about 75% of GDP would require tax rises or spending cuts of about £60bn, every decade, for the next 50 years.
Which raises the obvious question of whether the government has the economic firepower and political will to fulfil the promises they made.
The coronavirus crisis has cast a long economic shadow on the UK and at some point ministers will have to start clawing money back rather than just dishing it out.
Mr Johnson renewed his vows to the red wall in his Dudley speech at the end of June when he reiterated his "mission to unite and to level up" and "build, build, build" our way back to prosperity with more economic interventionism. His own "new deal".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:59 Starmer: Johnson has not led us well
But he knows there is an obvious tension between his vision of Rooseveltian economic interventionism and the instincts of a party defined in the principles of low taxes, the free market, the small state.
The Conservatives' political rivals think this is a tension that could hurt Mr Johnson and help them slowly win back support ahead of the next election.
"The areas that are going to be most hard hit by the job losses are going to be seats Boris Johnson won in the North East and the Midlands," says one senior Labour figure.
"These places risk the biggest spikes in unemployment because they are low-skilled jobs and more heavily focuses on retail and a manufacturing base as well.
"There will be a tension between the Tory 2019 intake and the rest of the party - and not just on a philosophical basis but on a practical basis of constituency pressure."
Since this crisis began, regional disparities have widened - and things are going in the wrong direction for the North East.
Mr Johnson's task right now is to try to kickstart the economy. The task in the coming years is to rebuild the national economy while also trying to close regional gaps. It was already a Herculean task to achieve and COVID-19 has made it harder still.
"It's going to be very, very difficult. Very difficult," agrees Sam Zair, but the promises still stand.
"I think [this government] knows at the back of their minds places such as Bishop Auckland, the North and the rest of the North East towns, they have still got to deliver in this neck of the woods in five years' time."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--'Left behind' areas being hit harder by coronavirus downturn, report warns

Around 2.4 million people living in Britain 's `` left behind '' communities risk falling deeper into deprivation because of coronavirus and are receiving less support than other areas , a new report has warned .
The 225 neighbourhoods they inhabit have fewer mutual aid groups - set up to help vulnerable people during the pandemic - and are getting around a third less financial help in grants for local charities .
MPs have formed a new campaign group to support those communities they deem `` left behind '' - meaning they fall in the top 10 % of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a `` Community Needs Index '' developed by the Local Trust charity .
`` COVID-19 has not impacted all communities equally , '' their first report warns .
With higher numbers of people facing financial difficulty because they work in industries hit harder by lockdown and `` underdeveloped '' volunteering services , `` left behind '' areas will suffer more , it adds .
And they `` risk falling further behind '' as government investment , such as the Stronger Towns Fund , is focused on delivering improvements to town and city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the government to local charities , but the amount distributed per 100,000 people in left behind areas is £21,182 - compared to £60,312 across England as a whole , the report said .
It also found that despite volunteering ballooning in some areas , the amount of mutual aid groups equate to 3.5 per 100,000 people in left behind areas compared to 10.6 across England .
Paul Howell , who won Sedgefield for the Conservatives last December , chairs the new all-party parliamentary group for left behind neighbourhoods .
He told Sky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those areas to help them cope with the consequences of coronavirus .
`` One of the biggest problems in my eyes has been the way government spending has been evaluated , they evaluate financial return as opposed to a society return , '' he told Sky News .
`` This has got to be something where you actually put some seeds of growth in that means that we do n't just pop in , do something nice , walk away again and then in five years ' time we 're back where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how we look after or create libraries , community centres , those sorts of things .
`` I know there 's been pressures on these sorts of areas in recent times ; we 've got to find a way to get round that and put those sort of structures back in place . ''
Mr Howell said Downing Street had warmed to the idea and there is a now `` different profile '' of Tory MPs lobbying Number 10 after the seismic gains made by the party in the north of England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the opportunity to raise it with the prime minister or the chancellor , the soundings that I get encourage me more to get on with what I 'm doing in the belief - no , expectation - that we will get support from them . ''
A government spokesman said : `` Levelling up every part of the country remains central to the mission of this government , and is key to helping our communities recover from the impacts of coronavirus .
`` Across the country , our Plan for Jobs will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain workers , support all jobseekers to find employment , and through the Kickstart scheme create hundreds of thousands of new , subsidised jobs for young people .
`` We have provided an unprecedented package of almost £28bn to support local councils , businesses and communities in fighting this pandemic .
We 're also creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund which binds together the whole of the UK , tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations . ''
Bridget Phillipson , the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big enough focus on jobs - and offering a `` meal deal '' in the form of subsidised meals out instead of the `` new deal '' Boris Johnson promised .
`` Labour have called for support to be properly targeted , because different parts of our economy face very different challenges in the months ahead , '' she said .
`` Again and again , the government has stuck to a one-size fits all approach .
one that risks wasting taxpayer money and not providing the most bang for our buck @ @

Around 2.4 million people living in Britain's "left behind" communities risk falling deeper into deprivation because of coronavirus and are receiving less support than other areas, a new report has warned.
The 225 neighbourhoods they inhabit have fewer mutual aid groups - set up to help vulnerable people during the pandemic - and are getting around a third less financial help in grants for local charities.
MPs have formed a new campaign group to support those communities they deem "left behind" - meaning they fall in the top 10% of both the government's Indices of Multiple Deprivation and a "Community Needs Index" developed by the Local Trust charity.
Image: There are fewer mutual aid groups in 'left behind' neighbourhoods, the report said
"COVID-19 has not impacted all communities equally," their first report warns.
With higher numbers of people facing financial difficulty because they work in industries hit harder by lockdown and "underdeveloped" volunteering services, "left behind" areas will suffer more, it adds.
And they "risk falling further behind" as government investment, such as the Stronger Towns Fund, is focused on delivering improvements to town and city centres.
Grants have been handed out by charitable foundations to organisations, but the amount distributed per 100,000 people in left behind areas is £21,182 - compared to £60,312 across England as a whole, the report said.
It also found that despite volunteering ballooning in some areas, the amount of mutual aid groups equate to 3.5 per 100,000 people in left behind areas compared to 10.6 across England.
Paul Howell, who won Sedgefield for the Conservatives last December, chairs the new all-party parliamentary group for left behind neighbourhoods.
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He told Sky News ministers should do more to support those areas to help them cope with the consequences of coronavirus.
"One of the biggest problems in my eyes has been the way government spending has been evaluated, they evaluate financial return as opposed to a society return," he told Sky News.
"This has got to be something where you actually put some seeds of growth in that means that we don't just pop in, do something nice, walk away again and then in five years' time we're back where we started...
"It starts with community and how we look after or create libraries, community centres, those sorts of things.
"I know there's been pressures on these sorts of areas in recent times; we've got to find a way to get round that and put those sort of structures back in place."
Image: Paul Howell was one of the Tory MPs who broke Labour's 'red wall'
Mr Howell said Downing Street had warmed to the idea and there is a now "different profile" of Tory MPs lobbying Number 10 after the seismic gains made by the party in the north of England.
"On the occasions I've had the opportunity to raise it with the prime minister or the chancellor, the soundings that I get encourage me more to get on with what I'm doing in the belief - no, expectation - that we will get support from them."
A government spokesman said: "Levelling up every part of the country remains central to the mission of this government, and is key to helping our communities recover from the impacts of coronavirus.
"Across the country, our Plan for Jobs will give business the confidence to recruit and retain workers, support all jobseekers to find employment, and through the Kickstart scheme create hundreds of thousands of new, subsidised jobs for young people.
"We have provided an unprecedented package of almost £28bn to support local councils, businesses and communities in fighting this pandemic. We're also creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund which binds together the whole of the UK, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations."
Bridget Phillipson, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, has previously accused the government of not putting a big enough focus on jobs - and offering a "meal deal" in the form of subsidised meals out instead of the "new deal" Boris Johnson promised.
"Labour have called for support to be properly targeted, because different parts of our economy face very different challenges in the months ahead," she said.
"Again and again, the government has stuck to a one-size fits all approach. one that risks wasting taxpayer money and not providing the most bang for our buck."


skynewspolitics--2020-07-19--Russia 'trying to steal or sabotage' vaccine research is 'outrageous'

The foreign secretary has said he is `` absolutely confident '' Russian spies are trying to sabotage or steal UK scientists ' coronavirus vaccine research , calling the action `` outrageous and reprehensible '' .
Dominic Raab told Sky News it was important to call Vladimir Putin 's government out for what he called `` egregious '' behaviour at a time when `` the world is coming together '' to battle the COVID-19 pandemic .
He did not say if any information had been stolen by the hackers uncovered earlier this week by US , Canadian and British intelligence agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow amid another criminal investigation into Russian groups the UK has accused of trying to interfere in last year 's general election .
Mr Raab said the cyber spies trying to steal virus vaccine information were engaged by the very highest levels of the Kremlin .
Moscow denies the claim .
He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday : `` The point is : First of all we 've seen this as part of a wider systematic approach to cyber taken by Russia .
`` And at the time that the world is coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly come up with a global solution for a vaccine , I think it 's outrageous and reprehensible that the Russian Government is engaged in this activity .
`` So what we 're doing with our allies is making sure people know , making sure the organisations know so that they can better defend against it , but also just calling Russia out , we will do this .
`` Now you will see us holding Russia to account and making sure that the world knows the nature of the reprehensible behaviour that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raab added : `` As a leading member of the international community , a permanent member of the Security Council , Russia should be engaged in that collaborative international effort . ''
Russia 's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said the claims make `` no sense '' '' I do n't believe in this story at all , there is no sense in it , '' he told the BBC .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Raab hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of course he will come on and deny the attack on the R & D in relation to vaccines .
`` Russia always does this when it 's behaved in such an egregious way .
They denied responsibility for the Salisbury attack in 2018 and we 're calling them out .
`` It 's important as with Salisbury , as with cyber attacks and the other nefarious behaviours Russia engages in , we are going to hold them to account and call them out .
`` I 'm not surprised in the least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deny it . ''
Meanwhile , Labour 's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News the party `` got it wrong on Russia '' because the leadership under Jeremy Corbyn `` prevaricated and equivocated '' and let an `` authoritarian regime ... off the hook '' .
`` I believe the Conservatives have been especially slow to wake up to the threat that is posed by the current Putin administration and we should have been much quicker to act , '' she said .
While the Foreign Office vows to take strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is underwriting `` to a huge extent '' the activities of Russian state-backed gas giant Gazprom through the UK Export Finance scheme in a `` very confused approach '' , she added , calling for a `` much more strategic approach to Russia '' .
Mr Corbyn has been put in the spotlight after the government said Russia-based hackers helped promote secret documents revealing trade deal talks between the UK and US , dramatically unveiled by the then-Labour leader in the run up to last year 's election .
He was also criticised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referred to by Ms Nandy , which at the time sparked fury from Labour MPs given his apparent reluctance to directly blame Moscow for the nerve agent attack .


skynewspolitics--2020-07-20--PM won't be 'pushed into becoming a knee-jerk Sinophobe'

The prime minister has said he will not be `` pushed into a position of becoming a knee-jerk Sinophobe '' because of deteriorating relations with China .
Boris Johnson acknowledged that the UK has `` serious concerns '' with Beijing 's treatment of its Uighur minority , alleged human rights abuses and the ongoing situation in Hong Kong .
And while he promised to be `` tough '' with China when necessary , the PM said he would not `` completely abandon our policy of engagement '' with Beijing .
`` China is a giant factor of geopolitics , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our lives and in the lives of our children and grandchildren , '' he said .
`` You have got to have a calibrated response and we are going to be tough on some things but also going to continue to engage . ''
A number of backbench Conservative MPs have been calling for a reset in relations with China in light of the Huawei and Hong Kong controversies , as well as the coronavirus pandemic .
Mr Johnson said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will be setting out changes to the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reflect our concerns about what 's happening with the security law '' .
The US , Canada and Australia have already suspended an extradition treaty with the former British colony and the UK is expected to follow suit .
Such a move risks angering Beijing further in the wake of the government 's decision to exclude tech firm Huawei from the UK 's 5G network .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The PM had previously allowed the Chinese company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network before changing course .
Mr Raab has accused China of committing `` gross , egregious human rights abuses '' against its Uighur population in the northwestern Xinjiang province .
Liu Xiaoming , China 's ambassador to the UK , has accused Britain of `` dancing to the tune '' of the US and said Western countries were trying to foment a `` new cold war '' with Beijing .
In an interview with the BBC , the ambassador also rejected allegations of widespread abuses against the mainly-Muslim Uighur people , accusing `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` false allegations '' against China .
He suggested footage , said to be from Xinjiang , showing men , kneeling and blindfolded waiting to be led onto trains by police officers , was `` fake '' .

The prime minister has said he will not be "pushed into a position of becoming a knee-jerk Sinophobe" because of deteriorating relations with China.
Boris Johnson acknowledged that the UK has "serious concerns" with Beijing's treatment of its Uighur minority, alleged human rights abuses and the ongoing situation in Hong Kong.
And while he promised to be "tough" with China when necessary, the PM said he would not "completely abandon our policy of engagement" with Beijing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:13 Raab hints at change to Hong Kong deal
"China is a giant factor of geopolitics, it's going to be a giant factor in our lives and in the lives of our children and grandchildren," he said.
"You have got to have a calibrated response and we are going to be tough on some things but also going to continue to engage."
A number of backbench Conservative MPs have been calling for a reset in relations with China in light of the Huawei and Hong Kong controversies, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Johnson said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will be setting out changes to the UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong "to reflect our concerns about what's happening with the security law".
The US, Canada and Australia have already suspended an extradition treaty with the former British colony and the UK is expected to follow suit.
Such a move risks angering Beijing further in the wake of the government's decision to exclude tech firm Huawei from the UK's 5G network.
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:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The PM had previously allowed the Chinese company to play a limited role in the network before changing course.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said what is happening in China is "deeply disturbing", adding: "We can't turn a blind eye to it. We shouldn't turn a blind eye.
"What we have argued for is sanctions in this country against Chinese officials who have been involved in human rights abuses. That's something that could be done straight away."
Image: China has imposed a controversial new national security law on Hong Kong
Sir Keir said he thought it was "inevitable" that the UK's extradition treaty with Hong Kong will be suspended.
Mr Raab has accused China of committing "gross, egregious human rights abuses" against its Uighur population in the northwestern Xinjiang province.
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, has accused Britain of "dancing to the tune" of the US and said Western countries were trying to foment a "new cold war" with Beijing.
In an interview with the BBC, the ambassador also rejected allegations of widespread abuses against the mainly-Muslim Uighur people, accusing "so-called Western intelligence" of making repeated "false allegations" against China.
He suggested footage, said to be from Xinjiang, showing men, kneeling and blindfolded waiting to be led onto trains by police officers, was "fake".