Boris Johnson has claimed the government cannot “magic up overnight” solutions to the problems caused by labour shortages in the economy. (See 2.04pm.) In the latest example of how he is seeking to present the queues outside petrol stations as evidence of how the economy is transitioning to a better model, he also said labour shortages were “a sign of economic robustness”. (See 10.07am.) Johnson has angered lawyers by suggesting that they are partly responsible for the long delay in rape cases going to court. (See 10.07am.) He also said the government would address this by changing the mobile phone disclosure rules. (See 2.04pm.) Johnson has been accused of showing lack of respect to farmers after he joked about their need to cull pigs because of a shortage of butchers and slaughterers. The cull means they cannot be turned into meat. In an interview this morning Johnson made light of the situation, joking about how the pigs were destined to die anyway. (See 8.42am and 3.02pm.) Tom Bradshaw, vice-president of the National Farmers Union, told Times Radio: The feedback we’re getting from our members very loud and clearly is there seems to be no empathy at all. And it’s just a lack of respect for what is going on out there. I’m afraid the cull has started today. We have got pigs that have been killed on farm, because there simply is no way to get them to market. This is a tragic waste of food, which has never happened before. It’s absolutely needless, and we have been highlighting this issue to government for many months, the largest processors have been pushing on the door to try and get a migratory solution. Priti Patel has announced an inquiry into “systemic failures” in the Metropolitan police that allowed a serving police officer to abuse his position to kidnap, rape and murder Sarah Everard. Dominic Raab, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, has said the government will “overhaul” the Human Rights Act before the next election. (See 10.39am.) Raab has claimed levelling up could benefit rich areas in the south of England because it could reduce the “tax revenue pressure” they face. (See 4.04pm.) Johnson has said he believes the BBC will “be around for a long time to come”, in a view contrasting with that of his culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, who has questioned whether the corporation will exist a decade from now. Climate change protesters “crossed the line” between their right to protest and their responsibility towards the rest of the public when they caused huge tailbacks by blocking three key London roads on Monday, the policing minister, Kit Malthouse, has said. Two Windrush campaigners have said they felt humiliated and baffled after being refused access to the Conservative party conference in Manchester despite having been granted full accreditation at a cost of £225 each.