Good morning. Boris Johnson is in New York for the United Nations normal meeting assembly and on the flight over he had a prolonged chat with the journalists accompanying him. They filed his phrases as they landed, late final night time. Listed here are in all probability the three most vital strains.
- He mentioned he would problem the Amazon boss Jeff Bezos on the corporate’s tax report when they meet later today. Requested if he would ask Bezos about Amazon paying a fair proportion of tax within the UK, Johnson replied:
Sure, definitely. However I may even be congratulating him on his large forestry initiative. He’s placing an enormous quantity into planting timber around the globe.
However there was additionally an intriguing line from Johnson when he was requested about feedback that Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the brand new worldwide commerce secretary, made up to now denying the local weather disaster. Johnson defended her, however then he additionally admitted that previously he had been fallacious about local weather change. He informed reporters:
I don’t wish to encourage you, however in the event you have been to excavate a few of my articles from 20 years in the past you may discover feedback I made, obiter dicta, about local weather change that weren’t fully supportive of the present wrestle, however the info change and other people change their minds and alter their views and that’s essential too.
Johnson wrote many issues in his profession as a newspaper columnist which are embarrassing now that he’s prime minister, however when challenged about these articles, usually he simply brushes apart the complaints, or claims that he has been quoted out of context. A full admission of this sort that he was fallacious is comparatively uncommon.
Local weather change denial cropped up very often in Johnson’s columns. There are examples here and here.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: The ONS publishes new figures on Covid charges by demographic group.
11am: Kwasi Kwarteng, the enterprise secretary, holds a summit with vitality business bosses concerning the gasoline provide disaster.
11.30am: Downing Road holds its morning foyer briefing.
Round 2pm (UK time): Boris Johnson holds a gathering in New York with the UN secretary normal, António Guterres. Afterwards they’re anticipated to report a clip for the media.
2.30pm: Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, takes questions within the Commons.
After 3.30pm: MPs will debate the social safety (uprating of advantages) invoice. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the previous Tory chief, and Damian Green, Theresa Could’s former first secretary of state, have tabled an modification opposing the invoice as a result of it doesn’t reverse the proposed £20 per week common profit reduce.
For extra Covid protection, do learn our world reside weblog.
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{Photograph}: Stefan Rousseau/PA
