Wednesday briefing: 'Pure rubbish', says EU to Johnson's claims

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/24/wednesday-briefing-pure-rubbish-says-eu-to-johnsons-claims

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Top story: Brussels predicts ‘challenging times’

Hello – Warren Murray with you on the first day of the Boris Johnson era.

The EU has dismissed as “pure rubbish” claims by the incoming PM that the UK is already prepared for a hard Brexit via a series of “side deals” with Brussels. A senior official said there were only emergency arrangements made by the EU to keep basic functions going on its own side of the border. The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has responded to the elevation of Boris Johnson by calling for them to work “constructively” for “the ratification of the withdrawal agreement” – Theresa May’s deal, which Johnson has repeatedly described as dead. The next head of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said there were “challenging times ahead” and both sides had a “duty” to deliver a deal.

In the US, Donald Trump has heaped praise on Johnson, calling him “Britain Trump” during a speech to teenagers in Washington. The former mayor of London will take over as PM after May resigns today. He swept to a convincing victory over Jeremy Hunt – winning two-thirds of ballots cast by the 87.4% of Tory party members who voted. As Johnson prepares to make cabinet appointments, friends insist that Hunt, the foreign secretary, will not accept any sort of demotion.

Speaking after the result was announced, Johnson returned to his campaign promise to “deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn”. Saying “some wag” had pointed out that this made up the acronym “dud”, he joked that the “e for energise” had been left off the end. “I say to all the doubters: dude, we are going to energise the country!” But our editorial says: “Mr Johnson’s victory is the culmination of more than two decades of Conservative folly, which began when the party embraced populist Europhobia … The party has finally got a leader it deserves. Mr Johnson plays the clown. But the circus will move on, only to leave a broken country in its wake.”

Midweek catch-up

> Three bathers are missing in the Thames and a man’s body has been found at the Cotswold Water Park in Gloucestershire. Public Health England has warned people to “take care and follow local safety advice” if swimming in the hot weather. Temperatures topped 30C on Tuesday and could hit 38C this week.

> Two teenagers previously thought missing have been named as murder suspects in the shooting of Australian Lucas Fowler, 23, US citizen Chynna Deese, 24, and the killing of an unidentified man along a Canadian highway.

> China has tried to blame the “black hands” of the US for unrest in Hong Kong. Activists have pledged to stand up to masked attackers who put dozens of people in hospital and are suspected to have come from mainland China. Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing administrator, Carrie Lam, has made only weak criticism of the attack and instead criticised protesters.

> A million more households in England living in “fuel poverty” could get help from the government to boost energy efficiency and cut their bills – but campaigners say the programme needs to be drastically ramped up to make a difference.

> An apple a day keeping the doctor away may be partly down to it carrying more than 100m bacteria, researchers say. They found organic apples harbour more diverse and balanced bacteria, which could make them healthier and tastier.

Tech oligopoly targeted – The US justice department is opening an antitrust review into the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple amid growing complaints over their reach and power. Some have already been grilled in Congress over their grip on markets. The Federal Trade Commission is expected to confirm today that Facebook will pay roughly $5bn in a sweeping settlement over breaches of privacy after it shared information belonging to 87 million users with Cambridge Analytica.

Secretive Saudi stake in media – The Evening Standard and the Independent are accused by the British government of being partly owned by the Saudi Arabian state through “unconventional, complex and clandestine” deals. Evgeny Lebedev sold 30% stakes in them to offshore companies fronted by businessman Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel. The papers say they are unsure who employs him. The government is arguing in court that the Saudi government could exert editorial influence over the news outlets and there are national security implications. Lawyers for Lebedev, who has close ties to Saudi Arabia, are trying to stop the government investigating the sale.

Remembering Peterloo – The public will help mark the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo massacre at St Peter’s Field in Manchester. Peterloo was a peaceful protest for parliamentary reform and political representation that was broken up by a deadly cavalry charge on 16 August 1819. The events led to the founding of the Guardian. For the anniversary, an immersive experience will weave together eyewitness accounts of those present at Peterloo in 1819 with the music and words of contemporary protesters and poets. Three free, ticketed performances will each bring together 1,000 members of the public with about 150 musicians, performers and volunteers.

Today in Focus podcast: Bound for no deal?

Boris Johnson will enter Downing Street this afternoon as prime minister with Britain hurtling to the Brexit deadline of 31 October – and parliament rising this week for summer recess. Rowena Mason and Daniel Boffey map out the coming months as Johnson’s plan comes into contact with the harsh realities in Brussels. Plus: Rebecca Nicholson on comedy and canned laughter.

Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen https://audio.guim.co.uk/2019/07/23-67025-20190724_TIF_Boris.mp3

Lunchtime read: Cue laughter

“Not a single one of the nominees for this year’s outstanding comedy series award at the Emmys comes pre-loaded with laughter,” writes Rebecca Nicholson. “Fleabag, Barry, The Good Place and even the delightfully silly Schitt’s Creek all leave you to do the work yourself. If it’s funny, you may crack up. But they aren’t about to tell you where and when to do it.

“Yet a new study has revealed that the addition of a laugh track does make jokes seem funnier. A research team at University College London put 40 ‘dad jokes’ to volunteers and found every one was considered funnier when it was accompanied by the sound of another person laughing. Laugh tracks are effective. We are more easily manipulated than we like to think, more sheep-like, and more pliable. But Scott’s study also suggests that laughing is better as a communal experience. Of course it is, because it’s contagious.”

Sport

Shane Lowry, having comfortably converted the opportunity that came his way at the Open Championship, believes the sight of his name on leaderboards will draw a fresh level of respect now from the finest golfers. If the Tokyo Olympics opened today, Great Britain would place fifth in the overall medal count and the gold-medal count, according to a forecast. Adam Peaty has backed the decision by the British bronze medallist Duncan Scott to snub Sun Yang on the podium after the controversial Chinese swimmer’s victory in the 200m freestyle at the world championships in Gwangju.

Real Madrid beat Arsenal in a penalty shootout after Gareth Bale had made a goalscoring return to the Spanish side in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the International Champions Cup. Joe Root’s new-look England XI to face Ireland at Lord’s includes two debutants and two spinners and three members of the side will be playing their first home Test. Newcastle United have announced the signing of the Hoffenheim striker Joelinton for a club-record fee, believed to be in the region of £40m. And a Twitter user who claimed to be an anonymous Championship footballer intending to come out as gay has appeared to reverse his decision after admitting he is “not strong enough to do this”.

Business

Nissan is planning to cut 10,000 jobs across the world as the carmaker tries to turn itself around after a turbulent year, according to Japanese media reports. The cuts, which are expected to be announced on Thursday, will increase fears that jobs will be lost at the company’s factory in Sunderland. As Britain’s bosses urged Boris Johnson to avoid a no-deal Brexit, the pound barely moved after the Tory leadership result was announced and stayed flat overnight at $1.243 and €1.116. The FTSE100 is also expected to open flat this morning despite overnight gains in Asian markets.

The papers

Many of the front pages use a photograph of Boris Johnson on the steps of No 10 looking like he is giving a bizarre salute. Several make reference to the “dude” moment in his victory speech when he outlined his plans to “Deliver Brexit, Unite the UK, Defeat Corbyn, Energise Britain”. The Telegraph carries that line. “I’m the dude*” it says, with an asterisk to direct you to the acronym’s meaning.

The Sun riffs on Hey Jude: “Naa naa naa na-na-na-naa Hey Dude! Don’t make it bad”. The Times has “Johnson goes to work”. Several papers mention it is his lifelong dream: “An ambition fulfilled. But what next for Britain?” asks the Guardian. The i has “Power at last”.

The Mail features the saluting picture of Johnson and compares the gesture to something from Morecambe and Wise. Its headline is a play on a song performed by the beloved duo: “Now bring us sunshine!” The Express carries a warning for “EU bureaucrats and doom-mongers … Hang on to your hats, here comes Boris!” The Mirror is unimpressed and has dug through the archives to find some less flattering pictures of Johnson, including the infamous shot of him in a blue helmet and harness, dangling from a zip wire. “Boris Johnson, prime minister. It’s really not funny any more” is the headline. The FT leads with: “Johnson wins race for No 10 as IMF warns over no-deal Brexit”.

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