Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind offshore wind in the drive to produce more electricity in the UK. In evidence to the Commons liaison committee, he said: “You have got to recognise that in the UK we have just failed, for a generation, to put in enough long-term supply”. He went on: It’s been one of those colossal mistakes. Renewables are fantastic: offshore wind – and I stress offshore wind – I think has massive potential. But so does nuclear. Johnson also told the committee that small nuclear reactors could be producing power for the UK by the end of the decade. (See 4.14pm.) The UK government has announced plans to block ferries with crews paid less than the minimum wage from British ports in response to widespread fury to P&O Ferries’ sacking of 800 workers without consultation. The shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said the announcement from Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, meant the government had abandoned the commitment given by Boris Johnson to take the firm to court.
In the chamber, in response to Haigh, Shapps said: She asks about court action and why the government hasn’t taken any. It’s because the government is not in the position to take the court action – that’s for the unions and workers, and we understand the limitations of that and that’s why I’ve described some of the items here. Andy McDonald, a former shadow transport secretary, gave a qualified welcome to the plans.
But the RMT transport union said the measures were “too little, too late”. In a statement its general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: The prime minister repeatedly said to parliament that the government would be taking legal action save British seafarers’ jobs but he has failed to keep his word. This continued lack of action and courage has meant a ferry company owned by the Dubai royal family has been able to break our laws and disrupt our ports and ruin people’s lives with impunity and we will keep pressing the government to ensure justice for our members. What has been announced today is far too little, far too late and we are calling for urgent action for speedier more radical reforms to save the UK seafarer from oblivion. Jamie Wallis has become the first MP to come out as trans, revealing he was diagnosed with gender dysphoria from a young age but wanted to show “how important it is to be yourself”. Ministers have been accused of using more than £100,000 of public money to flood local newspapers and Facebook with “Tory propaganda”, with just weeks to go before the local elections. Eight Russian oligarchs on the UK sanctions list over their links to Vladimir Putin were granted “golden visas” to live in Britain. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has announced that Scotland’s rules on compulsory mask-wearing will remain in force until 18 April. Public satisfaction with the NHS has sunk to its lowest level since 1997, with just 36% of voters content with the way the health service is run and performing. Dominic Raab said he plans to appeal against the Parole Board’s decision to free the mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse.