LIZ TRUSS

Some Conservative lawmakers in Britain are talking about ousting their leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, over allegations that he and his staff held lockdown-breaching parties during the coronavirus pandemic.

Britain’s foreign minister has expressed optimism that there is a “deal to be done” to resolve a Northern Ireland trade dispute that has soured the U.K.’s relations with the European Union.

Top negotiators from Britain and the European Union are meeting in hopes of resolving their a thorny dispute over Northern Ireland trade.

Senior British government ministers have expressed support for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson and rejected demands he resign for attending a garden party during the country’s first coronavirus lockdown.

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The U.K. and the European Union are wrangling over Brexit arrangements covering trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that are designed to avoid the return of a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. The current regime is stifling the flow of goods and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected the EU’s proposals to improve the situation. Instead, his government wants to rewrite the arrangements painstakingly agreed to in years of negotiations. The tensions are a reminder th

The U.K. and the European Union are wrangling over Brexit arrangements covering trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that are designed to avoid the return of a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. The current regime is stifling the flow of goods and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected the EU’s proposals to improve the situation. Instead, his government wants to rewrite the arrangements painstakingly agreed to in years of negotiations. The tensions are a reminder th

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the appointment of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to become lead negotiator with the European Union.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is walking a political tightrope as he faces increasing attacks from both friends and enemies amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing questions about his future after almost 100 Conservative lawmakers defied him and opposed new restrictions to help slow the fast-spreading omicron variant.

The Group of Seven economic powers have told Russia to “de-escalate” its military buildup near the Ukrainian border, warning that an invasion would have “massive consequences” and inflict severe economic pain on Moscow.

Top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations were meeting in Liverpool for talks dominated by Russia’s military buildup near its border with Ukraine and what host country Britain called Moscow’s “malign behavior" around the world.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are gathering for a weekend in Liverpool, with the British hosts seeking elusive unity to ease growing tensions with Russia, China and Iran.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is warning that the U.S.-led military organization must prepare for the worst as concern mounts that Russia could be preparing to invade Ukraine.

The British government says it intends to ban the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization.

France’s president offered Britain extra time for negotiations to try to reach a compromise on a troubling post-Brexit fishing spat.

Britons are no longer advised to avoid holidays to destinations including Bangladesh, Gambia and Fiji.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is travelling to the United States with senior Cabinet officials to urge world leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly to take urgent action on climate change ahead of this fall's COP26 climate summit in Scotland.

Britain is unlikely to strike a trade deal with the US before 2023, the International Trade Secretary has conceded, ahead of a trip to the country to build “broader” support for an agreement. A source close to Liz Truss said she was now “playing the long game”, with this week's visit intended to court prominent Democrats, as well as Silicon Valley tech giants that could benefit from a free trade deal with the UK. Ms Truss is understood to believe that a deal is now unlikely until after the US mi

Membership would lower tariffs on exporting goods such as cars and whisky, the government says.

The Government has pulled out of Stonewall diversity training, The Telegraph can reveal, as an exodus over its transgender advice continues. The Cabinet Office confirmed that it and the Government Equalities Office have ended membership of the controversial LGBT charity's Diversity Champions scheme. Officials quietly left last year over “value for money” concerns, but the move has only just emerged in the most high-profile blow for the charity so far. It comes as Liz Truss, the women and equalit

After "eye-watering" losses, "it will take time for the industry to get back on its feet," a Scottish lawmaker said.

Scotch whisky makers are breathing a sigh of relief after the United States agreed to suspend tariffs on one of Scotland’s main exports.

Liechtenstein - another non-EU country - is also included in the post-Brexit deal.

The 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc agrees to open accession talks with the UK.

Post-Brexit trade deals must prioritise high-quality British jobs, the Government has been warned by business groups, consumer rights bodies and unions. The International Chamber of Commerce, Trades Union Congress and Which? are among 11 organisations that have written to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss demanding she urgently codify the UK’s approach to trade. In their letter, the members of this new coalition have set out a framework of nine objectives that they want to see ministers fo

The UK’s equalities minister is pushing for Government departments to withdraw from the Stonewall diversity scheme amid concerns it may not provide value for money. Liz Truss, the women and equalities Minister, has told officials she does not think that Whitehall departments should be signed up to the programme, which costs around £2,500 a year and gives employers access to resources to make them more "inclusive". Membership of the Stonewall "diversity champions" scheme gives companies training about pronouns and gender-neutral spaces and helps to qualify for the LGBTQ charity’s workplace equality index. Described as "the definitive benchmarking tool for employers to measure their progress on lesbian, gay, bi and trans inclusion in the workplace," Stonewall claims its index makes companies more attractive to prospective employees. Members also get access to an "LGBTQ-inclusive jobs board" for diverse employers. The Times reported Ms Truss was concerned that the civil service already has an in-house diversity and equality scheme, and believes the additional cost of the Stonewall membership cannot be justified. Any decision on Government departments’ membership of the scheme will ultimately be made by the Cabinet Office, not by Ms Truss. Her concerns come after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the employment dispute service Acas withdrew for "cost reasons". An EHRC spokesman said the body had "extensive expertise in this area" and had concluded that the diversity champions programme "did not constitute best value for money". Figures show that Stonewall earned £3.27m in 2019 from the diversity scheme and other related programmes directed at schools and multinational companies. According to the charity, its flagship diversity champions scheme has 850 members, including 250 Government departments and public bodies, including police forces, local councils and NHS trusts. Last year’s winner of the Stonewall Top Employer award was Newcastle City Council. The council’s deputy leader said the gong rewarded "everybody in our city who shows us every day that we are all equal and that our great city accepts everyone". In a statement released after previous reports about its diversity champions scheme, Stonewall said it had been the victim of a "sustained attack" of "misinformation" and denied claims that its work stifled free speech in the workplace. "We believe these attacks are threadbare and deliberately organised and coordinated to undermine support for our work to ensure every LGBTQ+ employee can thrive at work," it said. It added that it was "up to individual employers how they meet their statutory requirements" to support diversity and equality.

Cummings hits out at ‘disastrously misconceived’ initial Covid strategy Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds 'to marry next summer' Priti Patel: Britain must replace ‘broken’ immigration system with ‘firm but fair’ approach Cox's sister selected as Labour candidate for Batley and Spen by-election Coronavirus latest news: British woman dies in Cyprus after rare 'blood clot incident' following AstraZeneca vaccine Boris Johnson is expected to give the green light to reopening come June 21, as a medical expert declared the "pandemic is over" if jabs halt hospitalisations. Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said this morning that if vaccines are able to stop people going into hospital, "then the pandemic is over because we can live with the virus". His words come ahead of the Prime Minister being poised to signal at some point this week that Britain is on track to lift all final lockdown restrictions next month. In the coming days Mr Johnson will give the public an update on the latest data surrounding the Indian variant of coronavirus, including case numbers and hospital admissions. Professor Pollard told the Today programme: "It doesn't matter if most people are kept out of hospital because then the NHS can continue to function. And life will be back to normal." Follow the latest updates below.

A proposed trade deal between the UK and Australia will damage Northern Irish farmers, Boris Johnson has been told in the latest warning that the agreement threatens the Union. Edwin Poots, Stormont’s agriculture minister and the incoming leader of the DUP, said a zero tariff, zero quota free trade deal between London and Canberra posed "a high level of risk" to his region’s beef and lamb trade. In a letter to George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, Mr Poots voiced his "strong opposition" to any deal that removed all barriers to the UK market for Australian farmers. The intervention came after the SNP and Plaid Cymru aired concerns about the impact of a deal on Scottish and Welsh farmers.

Boris Johnson told to cut farmers' red tape to offset 'damage' from Australia trade deal 'Quite a few' countries on cusp of green list, says Boris Johnson Duke of Cambridge: The BBC fuelled my mother’s paranoia Coronavirus latest news: Indian variant is 'major issue' and could delay June 21 reopening, says government adviser A zero tariff, zero quota trade deal between the UK and Australia would damage Northern Ireland's beef and sheep trade, Stormont's incoming DUP leader has warned. Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland's agriculture minister who will take over as leader from Arlene Foster, said the prospect of such an agreement posed a "high level of risk" to farmers across the UK. Mr Poots' "strong opposition" to the proposed zero tariff, zero quota deal comes amid reports from Downing Street that "negotiations are still ongoing" after a Cabinet rift over the deal took hold. Ministers are split between free traders pushing for full liberalisation to boost the flow of goods and sceptics who are concerned about cheap Australian meat imports impacting British farms. Mr Poots outlined his concerns in a letter to UK Environment Secretary George Eustice, in which he said: " The prospect of such a deal presents a high level of risk to Northern Ireland and UK farmers." He added: " T he UK should maintain tariff protection at present levels for all agricultural products where the UK has a significant production interest." International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will today speak to Australian trade minister Dan Tehan as they race to seal the terms of a free trade deal within three weeks

Boris Johnson has signalled his support for a trade deal with Australia that scraps all tariffs on meat imports, saying it would offer British farmers a "massive opportunity" to export their beef and lamb. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister weighed in on the row engulfing his Cabinet, which is bitterly split over how much access to offer Australian farmers in a bilateral free trade agreement. He will chair a meeting of Cabinet colleagues on Thursday morning to thrash out the Government's red lines on the issue ahead of the final round of negotiations with Canberra. Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, backed by the Brexit minister Lord Frost and Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, are inclined to agree to zero tariffs and zero quotas on agricultural goods in order to secure a deal. They favour phasing out tariffs over a decade, allowing UK agriculture time to adjust. However, George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, and Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, are concerned about a backlash from British farmers who fear being undercut by cheap Australian meat imports. The two ministers are understood to want a longer 15-year period to phase out tariffs, with some levies remaining after that deadline. Mr Eustice is said to have put forward a "compromise" proposal that would allow tariff-free imports, but with quotas attached. However, Alexander Downer, a former Australian foreign minister dismissed that idea outright, telling Times Radio: "Zero tariffs with quotas isn't free trade, and that's not going to happen. Australia would never agree with that." At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Johnson came under attack from both SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs who voiced their alarm over the impact of the prospective trade deal on Scottish beef farmers and Welsh lamb farmers.

Public told to abandon summer holidays abroad Wembley could be used for vaccination drive in fight against Indian variant Analysis: Cummings’s campaign should not be taken lightly Michael Deacon: There’s a problem with Cummings's criticisms Coronavirus latest news: Follow updates in our live blog Boris Johnson has been warned that the opportunities of Brexit are at stake amid a major Cabinet row over the Australia free trade deal. Ahead of a crunch meeting tomorrow, senior ministers are split over the issue of granting Australian farmers zero-tariff access, amid fears that lamb and beef imports could harm the British farming industry. George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, is fighting to extend a transition period - during which tariffs would gradually reduce to zero - from 10 to 15 years in order to shield British farmers and give them more time to adjust. He is also said to favour maintaining tariff rate quotas, which would only allow a certain quantity of Australian imports to benefit from lower tariffs. He is backed Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, along with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, who fear a backlash from Scottish beef and Welsh lamb farmers. However, allies of Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, have hit back at Mr Eustice, claiming that a failure to agree terms could scupper future deals with the US and other major economies, in turn squandering the opportunities of Brexit. One source questioned why Mr Eustice had voted to leave the EU if he intended to resort to protectionism, while another accused him and Mr Gove in The Sun of being "more Waitrose than Redwall." Ms Truss is backed by Lord Frost, the former Brexit negotiator and minister in charge of EU relations, as well as Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, who warned that a failure to strike an agreement with Australia would make other deals "very challenging." The Prime Minister is said to side with Ms Truss on the issue, but will be forced to try and broker a compromise on Thursday when the Cabinet committee in charge of trade deals meet. Follow the latest updates below.

Labour accuse the government of a "sell-out" amid reports of a Cabinet rift over free trade deal.

The move could be part of securing a free trade deal with Australia and countries in Asia.

The deals will create new jobs in the health and tech sectors, Boris Johnson says.

The British government says the troubles are “teething problems,” but companies say they are causing serious pain. A post-Brexit U.K.-EU trade deal means goods can still move without tariffs or quotas, but businesses face new costs, paperwork and barriers. British, Irish and Northern Ireland politicians all expressed alarm at the plan, and the EU dropped the idea. Trade expert David Henig of the European Centre for International Political Economy said the British government was not levelling with people. “They are saying ‘teething problems’ when it is actually a permanent economic shift,” he said.

Japan and Britain signed a bilateral free trade deal Friday in the the first such major post-Brexit deal, reducing tariffs on Yorkshire lamb sold in Japan, as well as auto parts for Japans Nissan plant. (Kimimasa Mayama/Pool Photo via AP)TOKYO – Japan and Britain signed a bilateral free trade deal Friday in the the first such major post-Brexit deal, reducing tariffs on Yorkshire lamb sold in Japan, as well as auto parts for Japan’s Nissan plant. “How fitting it is to be in the Land of the Rising Sun to welcome in the dawn of a new era of free trade,” British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told reporters at a signing ceremony in Tokyo. Japan's existing free trade agreement with the European Union includes Britain only until the end of this year, as it exits the EU. Motegi visited Britain in August, his first overseas trip amid the coronavirus pandemic, and stressed the importance for reaching a trade deal quickly.

LONDON – The U.K. secured its first major post-Brexit trade deal on Friday after signing an agreement with Japan just as discussions with the European Union appeared to be on the verge of collapse. The government said U.K. businesses will benefit from tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan and that it will give British businesses a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. While the U.K. left the EU this year, it is still trying to agree on new trade relations when current deals expire at the end of the year. Concerns over a post-Brexit deal have risen in the past few days as relations between the U.K. and the EU soured. Supporters of Brexit have said that one of the benefits of unshackling the British economy from the EU is that it allows the country to sign trade deals with whoever it wishes — the EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all its members.

The Department for International Trade said the new regime will see tariffs eliminated on 62 billion pounds ($76 billion) of imports. Global Tariff, it will apply to all countries that the U.K. does not have a trade agreement with. Under the new tariff plan, the U.K. will see 60% of trade come in tariff-free, compared with 47% currently. While welcoming aspects of the new plan, business lobby groups are worried about how the trade talks with the EU are going. The EU accounts for around half of all U.K. trade, so it is consequentially more important for the British economy.