Boris Johnson news: PM discusses Brexit with Trump in phone call, after critical date for commons bid to block no-deal revealed

John Bolton arrives in UK as rebel MPs plot against prime minister

Diane Abbott says no-confidence vote 'has to be an option'

Rebel MPs are plotting to rewrite the Commons rulebook and rip up parliament’s standing orders in a bid to prevent Boris Johnson from forcing through a no-deal Brexit, The Independent has learnt.

It comes as No 10 pinpoints Monday 9 September as the critical day for a legislative battle with the cross-party campaign to block a no-deal departure.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott suggested Labour was gearing up to table a no-confidence motion in the PM.

Green MP Caroline Lucas, meanwhile, apologised after not including any people of colour in her proposed all-female “emergency cabinet”.

The fractured British political scene also played host to John Bolton, the US’ National Security Adviser, who arrived in the UK to meet with British officials.

Speaking following a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a visit to London, Mr Bolton said the US could focus on certain sectors like manufacturing and car-making where the two countries may agree, and work out more complicated areas later.

Mr Bolton said US trade negotiators think this is acceptable under World Trade Organisation rules.

Mr Bolton also said issues like security in Iran, and fears over Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s 5G network could wait until after Brexit to be resolved.

A Downing Street statement said: “The Prime Minister joined a meeting at Downing Street today between senior officials and US National Security adviser John Bolton.

“They discussed the close UK-US trading relationship and our shared commitment to an ambitious free trade agreement once the UK leaves the EU.

“They also spoke about Brexit and a range of other issues – including Iran, Hong Kong and 5G.”

If you would like to see how the day’s events unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:

[12 August 2019 10:18 · Adam Forrest]

Caroline Lucas has called for an all-female “emergency cabinet” to resolve the Brexit crisis.

Safe to say the response has been largely cynical, with one of the leading women contacted by Lucas – Labour MP Emily Thornberry – turning down her invitation.

Here’s Tom Embury-Dennis with more.

[12 August 2019 10:27 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson has been accused of “unevidenced electioneering” over his crime policy proposals.

The Reform think tank responded after the prime minister ordered an urgent review of sentencing policy which could mean violent and sexual offenders could serve more of their sentences behind bars.

Charlotte Pickles, Reform director, said: “Boris Johnson’s criminal justice reforms are a monumental waste of money. His proposed sentencing reforms ignore evidence that shows that longer prison sentences are ineffective at deterring crime or reducing re-offending.

“His unequivocal embrace of stop and search is dumbfounding – research shows it does little to prevent violence.

“Intelligent investment is clearly need, but these pledges are costly election baubles, not a serious attempt to make this country safer.”

[12 August 2019 10:49 · Adam Forrest]

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced that government funding for on-street electric car charging will double, with an extra £2.5m given to local authorities to install more charge points on residential roads.

Here’s all the details.

[12 August 2019 11:16 · Adam Forrest]

Green MP Caroline Lucas has been criticised for the lack of diversity of the list of 10 female MPs she attempted to enlist in her proposal for an all-female cabinet.

Labour MP Clive Lewis said: “One genuine question: Where are the BAME women politicians?”

Neil Findlay, a Labour MSP, asked why the Greens “want to see a white, middle class, single gender government picked by their sole member of parliament”.

The left-wing commentator Ash Sarkar said it appeared Lucas had “forgotten that black and brown women are MPs too”.

Lucas said the 10 women she wrote to “simply represent the nations of the UK and the leadership of the relevant political parties/groupings”.

Some on social media noted that Diane Abbott was the more senior Labour figure than Emily Thornberry, who was included on Lucas’ list.

Others pointed out that Heidi Allen, also on the list of 10, doesn’t represent a party grouping, sitting as part of a looser group of independents.

[12 August 2019 11:30 · Adam Forrest]

Nigel Farage said the Queen Mother was an “overweight, chain-smoking gin drinker” in a series of incendiary remarks about members of the royal family, it has been claimed.

The Brexit Party leader – in a speech in Australia to Sydney’s Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday – reportedly ridiculed comments by the Duke of Sussex that he and wife Meghan planned to have a “maximum” of two children for the sake of the planet.

And Farage – who described the Queen as an “amazing, awe-inspiring woman” – said he hoped she would live a “very, very long time” to stop the Prince of Wales becoming king.

Media were not present at the event, but The Guardian said it had heard a recording of part of Farage’s speech.

“When it comes to her son, when it comes to Charlie Boy and climate change, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Her mother, Her Royal Highness the Queen’s mother was a slightly overweight, chain-smoking gin drinker who lived to 101 years old,”  he reportedly said. “All I can say is Charlie Boy is now in his 70s... may the Queen live a very, very long time.”

In reply to a question about women choosing not to have children because of climate change, Farage said: “Well, if I want the Queen to live a long time to stop Charlie Boy becoming king, I want Charlie Boy to live even longer and William to live forever to stop Harry becoming king.

“Terrifying! Here was Harry, here he was this young, brave, boisterous, all-male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem.

“And then – a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan – he was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we've seen for 100 years.

“And then he met Meghan Markle, and it’s fallen off a cliff. We’ve been told in the last week that Meghan and Harry will only have two children... and we’re all completely ignoring the real problem the Earth faces.

“And that is the fact the population of the globe is exploding but no one dares talk about it, no one dares deal with it, and whether Prince Harry has two kids is irrelevant given there are now 2.6 billion Chinese and Indians on this Earth.”

[12 August 2019 11:37 · Adam Forrest]

If you missed one of the weekend’s big stories, the chancellor Sajid Javid is considering putting special 50p Brexit coins into mass circulation to mark the UK’s planned withdrawal from the EU on 31 October.

But the idea has already sparked a backlash from Anti-Brexit campaigners, who have pledged to boycott the coins, and return any of the special 50p pieces handed over at the tills.

Here’s Vincent Wood with more of the details.

[12 August 2019 11:49 · Adam Forrest]

Households have already spent £4bn on stockpiling goods in preparation for a possible no-deal Brexit, new research suggests.

One in five of us has started hoarding food, drinks and medicine, spending around £380 each, according to a survey by Premium Credit.

The survey also found that around 800,000 people have spent more than £1,000 on stockpiling, ahead of the 31 October deadline. However, the amount spent is £600m less than in the build-up to the original March 31 deadline.

If the UK leaves with no deal, businesses predict there will be short-term supply problems, which the government says it is mitigating.

[12 August 2019 11:56 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson has been accused of “unevidenced electioneering” with his latest law and order policies, but the prime minister still has the power to get serious people around a table at No 10.

He is hosting leaders from police, probation and prison sectors to discuss the criminal justice system in Downing Street this morning.

Boris Johnson convenes meeting on crime at No 10 (PA) 

[12 August 2019 12:04 · Adam Forrest]

Here’s our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn with more on Diane Abbott’s suggestion Labour are getting ready to table a motion of no confidence in Boris Johnson’s government in early September.

[12 August 2019 12:30 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson has told leading figures in the criminal justice system that young people must be prevented from getting on “the conveyor belt to crime”.

The prime minister said “you cannot just arrest your way out of a problem” as he addressed a group assembled in No 10, including the most senior police officer, Cressida Dick.

Johnson said “faster justice” was required and cited pledges including increasing prison capacity and employing more officers.

“But no matter what we do with the criminal justice system we also have to recognise that you cannot just arrest your way out of a problem,” he added. “And I think all police officers, all representatives of the criminal justice system, will know that.

“You have to address the whole problem and, number one, you’ve got to stop young people becoming criminals, stop them getting on what used to be called the conveyor belt to crime, turn their lives around earlier, give them opportunities, hope and encouragement that they need.”

Home secretary Priti Patel was among the group alongside Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ms Dick invited into the State Dining Room in Downing Street, as was Sir Brian Leveson, who previously held the title of the most senior criminal judge in England and Wales, and Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC.