Boris Hits Back After Obama's Brexit Warning

Anti-EU campaigner Boris Johnson has hit back at the Remain side following US President Barack Obama's Brexit warning.

The London mayor, one of the most high-profile figures in the Vote Leave camp, said the rival group "think they have bombed us into submission".

But Mr Johnson suggested they "think it's game over", were "crowing too soon" and could be "ignoring the resilience and thoughtfulness of many middle-of-the-road" voters.

His remarks in his Daily Telegraph column come after the president said Britain may have to wait a decade for a free trade deal with the US if it votes to quit the EU on 23 June.

Mr Johnson claimed a previously undecided senior public servant had been so outraged at Mr Obama's earlier "back of the queue" remark that he had decided to vote to leave.

The potential next Tory leader also launched a fresh attack on the EU, saying the "euro crisis is far from over, and that the EU remains a gigantic engine of job destruction".

And he claimed Prime Minister David Cameron achieved "two thirds of diddly squat" in his negotiations on EU reform in the lead up to the referendum.

UKIP leader and Leave campaigner Nigel Farage has accused Mr Obama of "parroting the Downing Street line" on why the UK should remain in the EU.

Another Out campaigner Michael Gove has warned Britain will be subject to a migration "free-for-all" if it stays in the EU, with millions more people from countries including Turkey and Albania set to join an expanded union in the future.

The Justice Secretary also told the Times that the NHS will face "unquantifiable strain" if Britain remains an EU member.

Mr Johnson has been widely criticised for suggesting that Mr Obama's Kenyan heritage might have given him negative feelings towards Britain.

But Labour former frontbencher Chuka Umunna told Sky's Murnaghan show: "What Boris Johnson said was disgraceful.

"For any Londoner, for our Mayor of London to raise the issue of the President of the United States' ethnicity and then very publicly have to be slapped down by that President for doing so... it's an embarrassment.

"This man is simply not fit to hold the office that he clearly aspires to, which is the Prime Minister of our country."

The London Mayor's comments prompted African for Britain to withdraw its support for the Brexit campaign saying Mr Johnson's comments were deplorable and alarming.

Mr Johnson, whose article contained a reference to Mr Obama allegedly removing a bust of Winston Churchill from the White House, wrote in Friday's The Sun: "Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British empire - of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

But speaking at the Foreign Office alongside the Prime Minister, Mr Obama made clear his admiration for the wartime leader.

"Right outside the door of the Treaty Room, so that I see it every day - including on weekends when I'm going into that office to watch a basketball game - the primary image I see is a bust of Winston Churchill. I love the guy," he said.

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Hunt: Doctors' Strike Risks Safety Of Patients

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has claimed this week's 48-hour strike by junior doctors represents an "unacceptable" risk to patients.

Mr Hunt also appealed to the British Medical Association (BMA) to call off the strike in England, which will cause the withdrawal of the majority of NHS services, and meet him.

On Saturday, a cross-party group of MPs urged Mr Hunt to trial the contested new work contract in a small number of trusts rather than impose it widely without the support of the BMA.

But Mr Hunt has insisted the contract was already being rolled out slowly.

He tweeted: "Labour 'plan' is opportunism - only 11% of junior docs go onto new contracts in August."

In a letter to BMA chairman Mark Porter, he said: "The extreme action planned will be deeply worrying for patients and place enormous additional strain on our NHS at a time of intense pressure.

"I therefore appeal to you one final time to call off strike action that will see doctors withdraw potentially life-saving care, and to meet with me on Monday to discuss a better way forward."

Labour's Heidi Alexander, Conservative Dr Dan Poulter, Lib Dem Norman Lamb and the SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford said in a separate letter to Mr Hunt they wanted an independent evaluation of the so-called "weekend effect" which sees higher mortality rates for patients admitted at weekends.

The MPs wrote: "You will be aware that medical leaders, royal colleges and patient groups have said the imposition or unilateral introduction of the contract is the wrong approach and risks permanent damage to the future of the medical workforce.

"If it remains your intention to introduce this new contract, we believe it should be piloted in a number of trusts/across a number of deaneries and for its impact on patients, staff and the 'weekend effect' to be independently evaluated."

Shadow health secretary Ms Alexander told Sky's Dermot Murnaghan: "I feel very strongly that this whole dispute has gone on for too long.

"It’s really distressing for everyone in the NHS and it's time for Jeremy Hunt to put party politics to one side."

The all-out strike is set to start on Tuesday at 8am and the NHS has already cancelled 125,000 operations and appointments in preparation.

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PM's Anger Over 'Untrue' Tax Claims About Dad

David Cameron has defended his family's financial affairs as he faced MPs two days after publishing his own tax details.

He appeared before politicians for the first time since it emerged he had profited to the tune of over £9,000 from selling shares in his father's offshore investment fund Blairmore Holdings.

News of Ian Cameron's fund came in the leak of the so-called Panama Papers over a week ago.

The Prime Minister maintained Blairmore Holdings was not set up for tax avoidance purposes, and he hit out at "deeply hurtful and profoundly untrue allegations" about his late father.

The PM accepted he should have responded more quickly to the issues raised but added he was "angry about the way my father's memory was being traduced".

According to The Guardian, papers leaked from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca are said to suggest Ian Cameron ran a fund that avoided having to pay tax in Britain by hiring Bahamas residents to sign its paperwork.

David Cameron said he sold all his shares in 2010 - the year he became PM - because "he did not want any issues about conflict of interest" and made clear he had paid all UK taxes due.

He said the Government should always support people who want to own shares and make investments to support their families lawfully.

"This is a Government and this should be a country that believes in aspiration and wealth creation.

"So, we should defend the right of every British citizen to make money lawfully.

"Aspiration and wealth creation are not somehow dirty words, they are the key engines of growth and prosperity in our country."

As he spoke in the Commons, it emerged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had published his full tax return for the last financial year and had to pay a fine for filing it late.

Meanwhile, Chancellor George Osborne published details of his tax return for the year 2014/15.

London Mayor and potential future Tory leader Boris Johnson paid nearly £1m in tax in four years, a summary of his tax returns showed.

But Mr Cameron said he did not want all MPs to publish their tax returns.

The PM has announced new laws to crack down on tax cheats in response to the Panama Papers leak.

He unveiled plans for legislation making it a criminal offence for companies to fail to stop staff aiding tax evasion.

The PM said Blairmore Holdings, incorporated in Panama but based in the Bahamas, was not a family trust but a commercial investment fund for any investor to buy units in.

And he said UK investors paid all of the same taxes as with any other share, including income tax on dividends.

He quoted tax lawyer Graham Aronson QC as stating this was "a perfectly normal type of collective investment fund".

No 10 originally said the PM's financial affairs were a "private matter" and it was only several days and several Downing Street statements later that Mr Cameron revealed he had profited from selling shares in Blairmore Holdings.

Inheritance tax issues have also been raised by two £100,000 payments made to the PM by his mother Mary in 2011 after the death of his father, who had already left him £300,000.

Mr Cameron said it was "natural human instinct" for parents to want to pass things on to their children.

"As for parents passing money to their children while they are still alive, it is something the tax rules fully recognise," he said.

The revelations came as, in an unprecedented move for a Prime Minister, he released details of his income and tax information on Saturday night going back six years - but not the full tax returns.

Mr Corbyn dismissed the PM's Commons statement as a "masterclass in the art of distraction" and accused him of failing to appreciate the public anger over the "scandal of destructive global tax avoidance" revealed by the Panama Papers.

He said: "There is now one rule for the super-rich, another for the rest.

"How can it be right that street cleaners, teaching assistants and nurses work and pay their taxes, yet some at the top think that the rules simply don't apply to them."

On 12 May, the PM will host a London Anti-Corruption Summit aimed at stepping up global action to expose, punish and drive out corruption in all walks of life.

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Corbyn, Osborne and Johnson Reveal Taxes

Jeremy Corbyn has revealed he was fined £100 for a late tax return - as George Osborne and Boris Johnson publish their financial affairs.

Mr Corbyn published last year's return, as the row over offshore tax avoidance continued in the wake of the Panama Papers leak. 

The Labour leader's return was published as it emerged that Mr Osborne paid £72,210 in tax on last year's income of £198,738.

Of his total income, £44,647 comes from share dividends in the family wallpaper firm and £33,562 from renting out his London home.

The rest of his earnings - £120,526 - come from his role as the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, a summary of Mr Johnson's affairs showed he earned £1,985,901 between 2011 and 2014, paying £916,481 in tax.  

The latest revelations come after David Cameron published his tax return over the weekend.

Mr Corbyn's 10-page tax document, which was handwritten, showed the date of submission as 2 February, 2016.

The deadline for paper submissions was 31 October and for online submissions 31 January.

Returns filed up to three months late attract a fine of £100 - with higher penalties if longer.

The document also indicated that he declared £1,850 of additional income beyond his Parliamentary salary.

Mr Cameron attacked Mr Corbyn for taking so long to reveal his return to the Commons. 

The PM said it had been "convenient" that the Labour leader had failed to publish in time for scrutiny before Prime Minister's Questions.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell released his details in January during the row over the back tax paid by the internet giant Google.

Mr McDonnell earned £61,575 and paid £14,253 in tax.

Mr Cameron has also set out new measures to make it harder for people to hide the proceeds of corruption offshore.

In a Commons statement, Mr Cameron said it was right that those who aspired to run the nation's finances declare their own tax affairs.

"I am not suggesting that this should apply to all MPs," he said.

"I think there is a strong case for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, and for the Chancellor and shadow chancellor, because they are people who are or who wish to be responsible for the nation's finances."

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Government Criticised Over £9.3m Pro-EU Leaflet

The Government has printed 27 million glossy 16-page leaflets explaining why "remaining in the European Union is the best decision for the UK" - to be sent out from next week.

The £9.3m cost will be taxpayer-funded and comes in addition to the specific provision for a mass mailing for both the official Leave and Remain campaigns.

The spending consists of nearly £6m on printing and delivering the leaflets, and nearly £3m on targeted digital promotion of an online version.

Number 10 says it is responding to a public desire for more information from the Government about the 23 June referendum.

Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary said: "This referendum will be a huge decision for our country, perhaps the biggest we will make in our lifetimes and it's crucial that the public have clear and accessible information."

She said that independent polling commissioned by the Government indicated 85% of people wanted more information from them to help make an informed decision.

The use of taxpayers' money has infuriated many Leave campaigners.

Brexit-friendly MPs had successfully amended the referendum legislation in Parliament to ensure no such leaflet could be distributed within four weeks of the referendum debate.

London mayor and 'Out' campaigner Boris Johnson said he was concerned the leaflet would be "biased" and "hysterical" - and called it a "crazy" waste of money.

"If this thing was genuinely going to help people understand what is going on in the debate, there might be a case for it," he said.

"But given that I think it's very likely it will be very biased and hysterical and warning unnecessarily about the risks of leaving the EU, I think it's a complete waste of money.

"If you are going to use taxpayers' money you should allow people to put the other side of the case as well."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage told Sky News: "We saw it all 40 years ago - the Wilson government did exactly the same thing. It's legally questionable and morally it was the wrong thing in '75 and it's the wrong thing now."

The Government has also been obliged to delay the mailout in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland until May, in order to avoid a clash with elections.

There are precedents for a mailing such as this from the Scottish referendum - and the earlier EU referendum in 1975, when the Government sent a similar document  to all households.

The 1975 leaflet had a personal letter and picture of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Today's leaflet does not feature David Cameron at all.

The argument in the rather dry document focuses mainly on the economy, risk and uncertainty. It claims household shopping prices could go up, mobile phone roaming charges increase, and jobs put at risk. 

It aims to sell the PM's "special status" negotiation in Brussels from February, and warns of a "decade of uncertainty".

A Number 10 insider said: "It's not designed as a campaigning document.  It is a straightforward sober representation of the Government case".

The Leave campaign could try to block the mailing using the courts.

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Govt Moves To Close Terrorism Bail Loophole

The Government has moved to shut down a legal loophole blamed for letting terror suspects "waltz out of the country".

An amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill would make it a criminal offence for some terror suspects to skip the country between being arrested and being charged.

The measure follows the UK's senior counter-terrorism officer, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, claiming police bail is a "toothless" regime because terror suspects who break bail conditions cannot be prosecuted.

It was also prompted by the case of Siddhartha Dhar, who fled to Syria 24 hours after his release on bail and is thought to have replaced Mohammed Emwazi, known as "Jihadi John", in videos threatening the UK.

The new offence would apply to suspects arrested over a range of crimes, including membership of a proscribed organisation, fundraising in support of terrorism, and encouraging terrorism.

Anyone convicted would face a maximum of 12 months in jail and a fine.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "We are determined to give the police the tools they need to fight terrorism and keep people safe.

"This tough new criminal offence will help stop suspected terrorists from fleeing the UK to join Daesh (Islamic State).

"We have already taken action to deal specifically with the problem of foreign fighters, including introducing powers to seize and hold the passports of those suspected of planning to leave the UK and take part in acts of terror.

"The measure will help the police protect people from the threat of terrorism - it underlines the Government’s determination to tackle those who would do us harm or threaten our way of life."

Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham urged stronger action last month, saying: "People will find it truly shocking that terror suspects on police bail can waltz out of the country without any real difficulty."

Giving evidence to the Commons Liaison Committee in January, the Prime Minister had made clear the Government's intention to do more work to address the issue.

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Jeremy Corbyn To Appear At Glastonbury Festival

Jeremy Corbyn is to join the likes of Adele and Muse by appearing at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

The Labour leader accepted an invitation to speak in the Left Field, where pop and politics are brought together.

The line-up of speakers and groups at the Left Field is being arranged by the singer and activist Billy Bragg.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has also been invited to speak.

Union leaders have taken part in debates at Glastonbury in previous years but Mr Corbyn will be the first party leader to appear.

Many people attending the festival will be there on 23 June, the day of the European Union referendum.

However, it is understood Mr Corbyn has avoided a potential diary clash by speaking at the weekend.

The event runs from 22 to 26 June.

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Call For PM To Act On Tax Havens After Leak

David Cameron has been urged to take "real action" against offshore tax havens after a huge data leak revealed details about UK clients of a Panama-based law firm.

Six members of the House of Lords, three former Conservative MPs and dozens of political party donors are reported to be among those named, along with world leaders, as having hidden offshore assets.

The PM's late stockbroker father, Ian, is also reported to be identified in more than 11 million files leaked from the database of Mossack Fonseca, the world's fourth biggest offshore law firm.

There is no suggestion that any of those named in the so-called 'Panama Papers' have done anything illegal.

The PM's spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Mr Cameron's family still had money invested in offshore funds.

"That is a private matter, I am focused on what the Government is doing," she said.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has requested the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) give it access to the leaked data and promised to "act on it swiftly and appropriately".

The Prime Minister has previously promised to "sweep away" tax secrecy.

In 2011, he said: "We need to shine a spotlight on who owns what and where the money is really flowing."

Next month he hosts an international summit in London that will focus on the conduct of tax havens.

Following the disclosure of the 'Panama Papers', a host of politicians have called on Mr Cameron to act.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "Cameron promised and has failed to end tax secrecy and crack down on 'morally unacceptable' offshore schemes; real action is now needed."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron wants an independent investigation. He argued UK Government had "failed to act until forced to by a scandal" over tax havens.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said at the anti-corruption summit "pressure will rightly be on for him to abolish all of the UK's tax havens".

Meanwhile, HMRC tax enforcement chief Jennie Granger said: "HMRC can confirm that we have already received a great deal of information on offshore companies, including in Panama, from a wide range of sources, which is currently the subject of intensive investigation.

"We have asked the ICIJ to share the leaked data that they have obtained with us. We will closely examine this data and will act on it swiftly and appropriately.

"Our message is clear: there are no safe havens for tax evaders and no-one should be in any doubt that the days of hiding money offshore are gone. The dishonest minority, who can most afford it, must pay their legal share of tax, like the honest majority already does."

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Nothing Ruled Out In Steel Crisis, Says Javid

The Business Secretary has refused to rule out nationalising Tata Steel plants as the Government struggles to deal with the possible collapse of the entire British steel industry.

Sajid Javid said that while nationalisation was not the preferred option, "nothing" had been ruled out.

It will raise hopes at Port Talbot and elsewhere that the Government may be prepared to step in.

:: Public Sector Told To Buy British Steel

Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Javid said: "I don't think nationalisation is a solution to this. Having said that, I also think it wouldn't be prudent to rule anything out at this stage, but I think that nationalisation is rarely an answer in these situations.

"I do feel, though, for lots of reasons after talking to Tata and many others involved in this, that there will be enough time to find the right buyer working with the Government and being able to take this forward.

"We will look at everything we can do to allow a sale going ahead and I wouldn't rule anything out at this stage."

The Conservative cabinet minister reiterated that the Government's aim was to find a buyer as soon as possible for Tata's UK business.

But he revealed Tata had accepted finalising any deal could be a lengthy process, potentially giving the Government more time.

"They know it is not just a matter of weeks. When they talk about weeks, that's the period you would take to get so-called expressions of interest. Then it will take much longer than that to work out a deal," Mr Javid said.

He added: "I want to see steel making continuing in Port Talbot, I want to protect as many jobs as possible, I want to find a buyer for the whole of the business.

"Tata will issue an offer document very soon. Alongside that, the UK Government know - I've known for a while - that we're also going to have to offer support to clinch that buyer and give that steel plant a long-term, viable future."

Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle has said it is crucial for the Government to protect the assets of the UK's steel industry in the event a viable buyer is not found.

She told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "Look what they did in Redcar. They sat on their hands they destroyed one of the most modern blast furnaces in Europe and the coke ovens went with it.

"We must not make same mistake with steel industry."

Mr Javid also defended travelling to Australia, instead of being in Mumbai where Tata made the decision. 

He argued while he had learned weeks ago the plant in Port Talbot could face closure, he did not expect the announcement it would be sold.

Upon hearing on Tuesday that Tata was selling his British operations, Mr Javid said he immediately made the decision to return to the UK and visit steelworkers in Port Talbot.

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Most Young Back EU But Unlikely To Vote - Poll

Apathy among young voters could deliver a boost to those campaigning to quit the European Union, a poll has indicated.

A survey has suggested 53% of 18 to 34-year-olds want to stay in the EU, in comparison to 29% who want to leave.

But the same poll, published in The Observer, found only around half (52%) of young Britons are certainly going to vote in June's referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.

Among Britons aged 55 and over, 81% are definitely going to vote on 23 June - and as 54% of this age group want to leave the trading bloc, there are fears the final result may be skewed in their favour.

Government strategists are privately admitting that the prospect of low turnout among young adults is a "central problem" for the Remain campaign, the newspaper reported.

Overall, the Opinium poll suggested the Leave campaign currently has a four-point lead over those who wish to Remain.

Pollster Adam Drummond told The Observer: "This shows how important turnout levels are going to be, particularly given the disparity between how likely the young and the old are to vote.

"Young people are much more pro-EU but much less likely to bother voting, meaning that a key element of Remain's coalition is looking flaky."

Meanwhile, the majority of UK-based aerospace, defence and security companies believe the UK should remain in the European Union, according to an industry body.

ADS Group has claimed 70% of its members think staying in the trading bloc would be better for their businesses - as it gives them access to free trade on the continent, as well as research and development funding which makes the UK more competitive on the world stage.

The industry body's members collectively employ 310,000 people in Britain and generate £31bn in exports each year, and several firms say an In vote gives the UK an ability to influence and shape EU regulations.

Airbus, one of the companies that ADS Group represents, said in February that its UK-based operations would be less competitive if the country opted to leave the EU in June's referendum.

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Javid In Port Talbot To Face Steelworkers

Business Secretary Sajid Javid has arrived in Port Talbot to meet workers - as a Sky Data poll suggests two-thirds of people back nationalising the UK's steel industry.

Mr Javid's visit comes amid intense criticism of the Government's response to a decision by Indian conglomerate Tata Steel to sell its UK assets, putting as many as 40,000 British jobs at risk.

Ministers have been accused of prioritising trade links with China over support for the steel industry - amid claims the UK has blocked European Union moves to impose tougher tariffs on cheap imported Chinese steel.

A Sky Data poll carried out today suggests 66% of people would support nationalisation - a measure David Cameron has said is "not the right answer" - with 34% against.

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg claimed Chancellor George Osborne had "put his special relationship with China above the UK's best interests".

Meanwhile Axel Eggert, head of the European Steel Association, which represents every steelmaker on the continent, said Britain was the "ringleader" of a group of countries blocking attempts to prevent Chinese steel dumping.

Speaking in Manchester, Mr Osborne said the Government was "leading the way in convening meetings of ministers to deal with the steel situation" and working "to make sure there are tariffs on unfairly cheap steel". 

He said "everything that is practicable and possible" was being done to help steelworkers and their families in the UK.

The Government faced further embarrassment as reports emerged that Tata Steel is in talks over the possible purchase of parts or all of German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrup's European steel operations.

Mr Javid has also faced calls to step down after it emerged he took his daughter on an official visit to Australia - which he was forced to cut short - while the crisis was playing out in Mumbai.

He will meet workers and management at Port Talbot  - insisting the Government is "on their side" - as well as members of the Welsh Government and trade unions.

"I'm going to Port Talbot to meet staff and management, who are understandably extremely anxious about their future," Mr Javid said ahead of the meeting.

"I will listen to them, and I want to reassure them myself that the Government is on their side in working hard to achieve a long-term solution for them, for the region and for the wider UK steel industry.

"Whilst we can't change the status of the global steel market, we can and are playing a positive role in securing a sustainable future."

Mr Javid will promise to deliver a cross-Whitehall response to the crisis, working with Treasury minister Lord O'Neill, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns to find a buyer for Tata Steel's assets.

But trade union Community said steelworkers will be "shocked" at the length of time it has taken the Government to respond to Tata Steel's decision.

A spokesman for the union said: "Steelworkers across the country will be shocked that it has taken this long for the Government to finally wake up to the crisis facing our steel industry.

"Community, the steelworkers' union, has always been keen to work constructively with government, but Sajid Javid cannot simply arrive at Port Talbot and read out his list of 'achievements' - this week's news is proof that Government action thus far has been woefully inadequate.

"The Government must commit to safeguarding the skills and assets of Britain’s steel industry. The UK simply cannot afford to lose our steelmaking capacity."

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Business Secretary Flies Back Into Steel Storm

Sajid Javid, once seen as a Tory rising star and potential future party leader, has had plenty of time to reflect that being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be the kiss of death for a political career.

After all, it is estimated that after spending just 34 hours in Sydney while the British steel industry went into meltdown he has now spent 45 hours on aeroplanes flying to and from Australia.

Whatever possessed the Business Secretary to go to Australia - on what looks like at best a gentle fact finding mission and at worst a junket - instead of Mumbai to lobby Tata steel bosses, he is paying a heavy political price now.

His globe-trotting would not be quite such a serious blunder if he had not taken his eldest daughter Sophia, 16, with him and planned to extend his visit by several days so he could go on a holiday with her.

No wonder Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil and now making a name for himself as the new MP for Aberavon and a doughty fighter for the threatened Port Talbot steelworks, is livid with Javid.

"We've known for several weeks that 29 March was D-day for British steel which is why I, Roy Rickhuss (boss of the steel union Community) and others went to Mumbai,” Kinnock junior told Sky News.

"We feel that a minister should have been with us. Instead Sajid Javid jetted off to Australia and now it seems he did so not entirely for work-related reasons.

"It just characterises the incompetence and indifference the government has shown towards the British steel industry since 2010, it reflects a broader pattern."

That has clearly touched a raw nerve with the millionaire ex-banker.  A senior source close to the Business Secretary told Sky News: “This is absolutely ridiculous!

“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has done more to help the UK steel industry than Sajid Javid.

“The fact he has just spent almost 24 hours in the air, flying half-way across the globe, proves how seriously he takes what is going on at Port Talbot. It is frankly insulting to suggest that his focus is anywhere other than securing a viable long-term future.

“Mr Javid has been completely transparent regarding his daughter accompanying him on this trip and has covered her costs entirely. There is no suggestion whatsoever that there was any cost to the taxpayer and all proper processes have been followed.”

The 'Sophiagate' fiasco could not have come at a worse time for the soon-to-be jet-lagged Business Secretary and his Tory leadership ambitions, however. A survey on who should be the next Conservative Party leader carried out for The Independent puts him on just five per cent with the public and two per cent with Tory members.

But Mr Javid is not alone in feeling the heat in the row over the future of the steel industry. Few senior Tories emerge with credit from the events of the past few days.

George Osborne broke his silence on the steel crisis during talks with G20 finance ministers in Paris and made the questionable claim that the Government had intervened in the battle to save Port Talbot.

“Faced with a situation where the steel price collapsed and the real possibility that Port Talbot could have closed overnight, we intervened to buy breathing space and will do whatever we can to find new buyers so Port Talbot and the steel industry has a long term future,” said the Chancellor.

Intervened? What he meant, I’m told, was that the Government has been working with Tata to seek to avoid an outright closure and ensure a breathing space to try to find a buyer, no more than that.

Not quite intervening in the Michael Heseltine sense, then. When he was appointed President of the Board of Trade by John Major, “Hezza” told the 1992 Tory conference he would intervene “before breakfast, before lunch, before tea and before dinner” and then on the next morning he would start again!

I wonder what the 83-year-old Lord Heseltine makes of the present Tory government’s handling of this steel crisis.

Another Tory veteran, Ken Clarke, who launched the privatisation of British Steel in a Commons statement in December 1987 when he was a DTI minister, has not been terribly helpful to David Cameron and George Osborne during the current row.

“I know South Wales well,” the veteran bruiser said in an interview. “I’ve driven past Port Talbot many times.”

At least he didn’t say, as Sajid Javid might, that he had flown over it in an aeroplane.

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Armed Forces Helpline Sees Big Rise In Requests

A confidential helpline has seen an 85% increase in requests for help from serving troops, an Armed Forces charity has said.

Forcesline received 21,983 requests for help last year - a 6% increase on 2014.

But the most striking increase was amongst serving personnel, with more than 3,000 calling Forcesline compared to 1,600 the year before.

Forcesline was set up by SSAFA, formerly known as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association, at the Army's request following the deaths of four recruits at Deepcut Barracks.

It was agreed that the helpline should be completely confidential and operate independently from the chain of command.

Air Vice Marshal David Murray, chief executive at SSAFA, said: "Those who serve in our Armed Forces are by their very nature resilient characters.

They are then trained to be the most robust versions of themselves, so for some, asking for help can be a real challenge.

"Therefore, the increase in the number of troops coming to SSAFA for help, although not a cause for panic, is reason for concern.

"It is interesting that the service men and women who are contacting us are choosing to come to SSAFA, rather than their own chain of command, as the 'grin and bear it' attitude within the serving community remains strong."

He added: "Our Armed Forces are protecting our national security each and every day and it is imperative that their welfare remains a priority.

"These men and women are exposed to high levels of pressure, unique to their professions, each and every day. They will continue to need encouragement to come forward with their problems and assurance that seeking help will not affect their career.

"We must not allow any of our troops to feel that they need to deal with their issues on their own. They have been there when our country has needed them and we must be there when they need us."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman the Government "is absolutely committed to the wellbeing of our Armed Forces". 

"We enshrined the Armed Forces Covenant in law and have introduced a raft of measures designed to improve service life," he said.

"The Government works in close partnership with the Service charitable sector on these issues and we value contributions such as this."

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Vote Leave Apologises Over Wrong Names On List

Two entrepreneurs named on a letter backing the campaign to leave the European Union have denied signing up.

Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross and Phones 4U co-founder John Caudwell were among 250 leading business figures named on the list of corporate figures.

A spokesman for Vote Leave said: "Mr Ross's name was included on our supporters list in error. We apologise for any inconvenience that has been caused."

But he said Mr Caudwell, whose spokesman told Sky News he had not put himself forward for the latest initiative, "has been listed as a supporter of the campaign since he signed up in October".

Other backers of the letter include former HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan, JD Wetherspoon pub boss Tim Martin, hotelier Sir Rocco Forte and Patisserie Valerie chairman Luke Johnson.

Remain campaigners insisted that British business supported a vote to stay in the EU in the June 23 referendum - and pointed to the lack of any FTSE100 executives on the list and the few women.

A survey of small and medium-sized firms commissioned by Vote Leave found that 32% said the EU hinders businesses like theirs, while 25% said it helped them and 40% said it made no difference.

The YouGov study was dismissed as one-sided by Lucy Thomas, deputy director of Britain Stronger in Europe.

She said: "Survey after survey has shown that businesses of all sizes and from all sectors overwhelmingly back Britain remaining in the EU.

"It is telling that Vote Leave's poll doesn't even ask the most important question about whether Britain should remain in the EU because they know most businesses - large and small - disagree with them.

"Instead they resort to leading questions about regulation."

BT chairman Sir Mike Rake said: "Virtually every poll in recent months has found between 60% and 90% of businesses small, medium and large want to remain in the EU, with only a small minority who want to leave.

"Whilst over-regulation is acknowledged to be an issue, several studies have shown that this is in no small part due to gold-plating by UK regulators.

"Our best course is to remain in the EU, constructively engaging to improve its competitiveness."

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Teachers Scoff At Defiant Education Secretary

Education secretary Nicky Morgan has insisted to teachers there will be no be "pulling back" from plans to reform schools in England.

To shouts of "rubbish" and derisory laughter, Mrs Morgan asked teachers to "do their bit" to represent the profession favourably and work with the Government, who she claimed had a mandate.

Addressing the NASUWT union in Birmingham she said: "The education system should extend opportunity to young people and serve to improve the life chances of every single young person in this country.

"Our White Paper will take that vision forward and sets out how we will improve the education system in this country.

"I want to be clear there will be no pulling back from that vision, there is no reverse gear when it comes to our education reforms."

It was the first time a Conservative Education Secretary has addressed the NASUWT conference since 1997.

But plans to make all state schools in England academies by 2020 are opposed by teaching unions.

Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, thanked Ms Morgan for coming to speak but urged her to abandon the plans.

She said: "Once again Nicky, the Chancellor's announcements are unravelling. Don't allow yourself to become the next IDS (Iain Duncan Smith). Listen to the concerns being raised.

"If you want education excellence everywhere, then recognise there are outstanding academies, outstanding community schools, outstanding foundation schools, outstanding voluntary-aided schools, which prove academies do not have the monopoly on excellence."

Ms Morgan faced most criticism when she urged the NASUWT to take a more positive line about the profession rather than talk of "crisis".

She said: "The teaching unions have a choice - spend the next four years doing battle with us, doing down the profession you represent or stepping up, seizing the opportunity provided by our White Paper."

Another teaching union, the NUT, will ballot its members on strike action over the plans to make all state-run schools into academies.

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250 Business Leaders Back UK Exit From EU

The Vote Leave group has published a list of 250 business leaders who are backing the campaign for Britain to leave the EU.

It includes former HSBC chief executive Michael Geoghegan, Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoons and Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross.

Vote Leave has also announced its Business Council will be chaired by John Longworth, who resigned as director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) earlier this month.

It followed his suspension for saying the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU despite the BCC maintaining a neutral position.

Mr Longworth said he was "delighted" to be joining the Brexit campaign, adding: "This is the most important political debate of a generation.

"Many firms struggle with relentless interference from the EU and rules that are stacked in the favour of a select number of businesses.

"If we Vote Leave, liberated from the shackles of EU membership, jobs will be safer… and we can look forward to faster growth and greater prosperity in the future."

His comments were echoed by Vote Leave's chief executive Matthew Elliott.

"Brussels hinders smaller businesses, particularly those firms who can’t afford to lobby Brussels to curry favour," he said.

"Jobs, wages and our economy will thrive when we take back control and Vote Leave."

A survey of small and medium-sized firms commissioned by Vote Leave found that 32% said the EU hinders businesses like theirs, while 25% said it helped them and 40% said it made no difference.

The YouGov study was dismissed as one-sided by Lucy Thomas, deputy director of Britain Stronger in Europe.

She said: "Survey after survey has shown that businesses of all sizes and from all sectors overwhelmingly back Britain remaining in the EU.

"It is telling that Vote Leave's poll doesn't even ask the most important question about whether Britain should remain in the EU because they know most businesses - large and small - disagree with them.

"Instead they resort to leading questions about regulation."

BT chairman Sir Mike Rake said: "Virtually every poll in recent months has found between 60% and 90% of businesses small, medium and large want to remain in the EU, with only a small minority who want to leave.

"Whilst over regulation is acknowledged to be an issue, several studies have shown that this is in no small part due to gold-plating by UK regulators.

"Our best course is to remain in the EU, constructively engaging to improve its competitiveness."

The referendum, which follows a new deal on EU membership negotiated by David Cameron, will be held on 23 June.

:: YouGov surveyed 1,002 SME decision-makers online between 14 and 21 March.

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Prevent Strategy 'Used To Target Young Muslims'

Teachers are to debate calls to boycott the Government's counter-terrorism strategy amid fears it targets young Muslims and makes them vulnerable to attack.

At its annual conference in Brighton this weekend, the National Union of Teachers will vote on a motion calling on the Government to withdraw the Prevent duty from schools and colleges.

The motion states the strategy is being implemented "against a background of increased attacks on the Muslim community and risks being used to target young Muslim people".

Critics of the policy claim there have been too many high-profile cases where pupils were wrongly referred to police for comments made during classroom discussions.

Since last July teachers have been legally obliged to report any suspected extremist behaviour to police as part of the Government's anti-radicalisation strategy.

And a Sky News Freedom of Information request has revealed the number of referrals is increasing month by month.

:: In September 2015 the number of under-18s referred was 133, of whom 43 were recorded as Muslim, and there were 99 under-16s, of whom 29 were Muslim;

:: In October the number of under-18s referred was up to 216, of whom 79 were Muslim, and there were 160 under-16s, of whom 65 were Muslim;

:: And in November the number of under-18s referred reached 378, of whom 117 were Muslim, and the number of under-16s was 298, of whom 95 were Muslim.

Sky News spoke to Rahmaan Mohammadi, who was questioned by anti-terrorism police at home when he was 16 because he wore a "Free Palestine" badge to school.

He has now been invited to speak at the NUT conference.

As well as wearing pro-Palestine badges and wristbands, Rahmaan was in possession of a leaflet advocating Palestinian rights by pressure group Friends of al Aqsa.

He had also asked for permission to fundraise for children affected by the Israeli occupation.

He denies that he is a radical or in danger of being radicalised and insists his concerns for the people of Palestine are purely humanitarian.

In another case, it was revealed in January that a 10-year-old Muslim boy was quizzed by police after he mistakenly wrote that he lived in a "terrorist house" rather than a "terraced house".

And last month, a 15-year-old boy was referred to police after clicking on the UKIP website in the classroom to research immigration.

Defending its action over Rahmaan Mohammadi, Bedfordshire Police told Sky News: "A Prevent officer and Channel officer from our Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit visited the teenager after receiving a referral regarding concerns that he was at risk of radicalisation.

"The officers spoke to the boy in question and were satisfied that he was not at risk and he was given advice and support.

"We are committed to protecting young people from radicalisation and will always follow up on concerns passed to us to ensure anyone at risk is properly safeguarded from harm."

Mohammed Khaliel, founder of Islamix, an organisation that promotes relations between Muslims and non-Muslims, also works with the police and is a school governor.

He told Sky News: "Prevent isn't perfect but we need something to prevent extremism in schools."

Rejecting the criticism of its policy, a Government spokesman said: "We make no apology for protecting children and young people from the risks of extremism and radicalisation. It's irresponsible to draw attention to such 'sensationalist' cases and undermine the efforts of teachers who use their judgement and act proportionally.

"Prevent is playing a key role in identifying children at risk of radicalisation and supporting schools to intervene."

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Chancellor Warns Drinks Firms Over Sugar Tax

The Chancellor said the firms would be better placed spending the next two years focusing on how to reduce sugar in their products and should not "waste time" on mounting a legal challenge.

Giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, Mr Osborne said he was happy the tax was legally sound and would robustly defend any action.

He said: "Many companies are doing the right thing and reducing the sugar content in their drinks and that is to be applauded.

"Other companies are saying either this sugar tax isn't going to happen or they are going to challenge it in the courts.

"I would say, if they want to have an argument about the sugar tax, bring it on.

"We are going to introduce a sugar tax. It's not a threat or a promise, it's the way it's going to be.

"And I think it is the right thing for this country. I think it will make a huge improvement to childhood health."

Mr Osborne announced measures that will see a tax of 18p-24p per litre on sugary drinks in his Budget last week to come into effect in 2018.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies released new analysis showing that more than 90% of households consume more "added sugar" than recommended, and that soft drinks accounted for 17% of those purchases.

Families with children consume around 50% more of their added sugar from soft drinks than childless households.

The Chancellor was giving evidence after measures in his Budget started to unravel when he was forced into a climbdown over £4.4bn cuts to Personal Independence Payments.

The move triggered the resignation of work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith, pitching the Conservatives into a civil war.

Mr Osborne admitted: "Clearly, if we are going to make reforms to disability benefits we have to go about it in a better way than we did.

"It did not command support, as was perfectly obvious, and that's where I think the lessons need to be learned."

However, he repeatedly dodged questions over whether Mr Duncan Smith had, as he had claimed, put up a fight to ensure the cuts to the disability benefits were not included in the Budget.

The Chancellor insisted that the decision was made collectively based on research carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions after a significant increase in the cost of disability benefits to Government.

He said: "It was a collective decision-making process as evidence by the fact the announcement was made by the DWP."

Mr Osborne added he was sorry Mr Duncan Smith had gone but because of the nature of their jobs there were always going to be arguments.

Former shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves pointed out to Mr Osborne that he had failed to hit his own welfare cap in any single year and was £20.8bn short of hitting it.

The Chancellor refused to rule out  making further cuts to welfare spending in the Autumn Statement after being pressed by the Labour MP Rachel Reeves nine times.

She said: "I think anybody listening to this will have to conclude that it is entirely possible that you will make further cuts to welfare in the Autumn Statement."

"That is not the conclusion I would draw from listening to me," the Chancellor replied.

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Boris Ticked Off Over 'Exaggerated' EU Claims

Boris Johnson has been told his claim there was an EU directive that specified the dimensions of coffins was "a figment of your imagination".

The London Mayor was accused of pedalling EU myths on Brussels banning balloon blowing for under eights and the recycling of teabags without qualification.

Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee Andrew Tyrie said Mr Johnson was guilty of either exaggeration or misrepresentation in making his case for the UK to leave the EU.

Mr Tyrie asked the mayor, who was giving evidence on the impact of a decision for the UK to leave the EU: “Do you think it might be prudent that you add qualifications to these comments?”

Mr Johnson responded by saying there was a "huge effort" to suggest that everything the Vote Leave campaigners said  about the EU was "mythical".

He said it was propaganda by the remain campaign which sought to misrepresent the arguments of those who want to leave the EU.

He said that an EU directive that meant things that had come into contact with animal products such as milk and meat could not be recycled had been interpreted by a council in Cardiff as a ban on recycling teabags.

Mr Johnson was also accused of using anecdote rather than supporting his claims with more solid research and "busking" his way through his arguments.

The mayor's performance was being touted as a Prime Minister test – he is the frontrunner to take over the Tory leadership after David Cameron.

Mr Johnson said that the EU deal was "morphing into political union" and was no longer just about the promotion of free trade.

He said that it was now able to legislate on a raft of human rights issues, that had nothing to do with free trade.

He cited the case of the daughter-in-law of the radical cleric Abu Hamza, who had a criminal record but could not be deported because of a ruling made by the European Court of Justice - and not the European Court of Human Rights.

She had tried to smuggle out a mobile phone sim during a prison visit but it was ruled she should not be returned to Morocco because she had a British son.

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Leaving EU A Security Risk, Says May

The UK would be under greater threat from terror plots if voters opted to leave the European Union, the Home Secretary has warned.

Theresa May said Britain's membership of the EU gave intelligence service access to important information.

It also made it easier for British police to catch criminals and extradite suspects, she added.

Staying in the EU also meant the UK had access to the Prum convention for sharing fingerprints and DNA, which will reduce the time it takes to find a match from143 days to 15 minutes.

:: Brussels Terror Attack: Live Updates

Speaking to The Times newspaper just before the bomb attacks in Brussels that killed 34 people, Mrs May said: "I think this is an issue people should look at more broadly, but on the security front there are good reasons for us to be members of the European Union.

"The UK threat level is at severe, which means a terrorist attack is highly likely. We know that since November 2014 seven terrorist plots have been disrupted in the UK. What’s important is that we work with other to ensure that we can respond."

Britain's membership of the EU has become a subject of debate in the wake of the terror attacks after UKIP used them to advance the argument that Europe’s open borders had increased the threat.

:: Fugitive Brussels Suspect Is 'IS Bombmaker'

The party’s defence spokesman Mike Hookem said that "Schengen free movement and lax border controls are a threat to our security".

Nigel Farage came under fire for being "shameful" on Tuesday after retweeting a comment from the newspaper columnist and novelist Allison Pearson which said: "Brussels, de facto capital of the EU, is also the jihadist capital of Europe. And the Remainers dare to say we're safer in the EU!"

:: UKIP Uses Brussels Attack To Make Brexit Case

On Tuesday evening former Conservative leader Michael Howard joined the debate saying that the passport-free Schengen zone acted as a "welcome sign" for terrorists and made Europe "less safe".

However, the Prime Minister said it was "inappropriate" to advance the argument for the UK leaving the EU by using the terror attacks in Brussels.

He and the 27 other European leaders on Tuesday signed a joint declaration which said the terror attacks "strengthen resolve to defend Europe's values".

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