Johnson denies claim he ‘stoked division’ by refusing to condemn fans who booed England taking the knee
The prime minister today offered only the “skeleton” of plans to level up the nation – in a speech billed as a major bid to define his vision for the UK. During a press conference in Coventry, Boris Johnson was asked where, “after two years into the job”, his clear strategy for levelling up was. “I do think that in all fairness there was at least the skeleton of what to do,” he responded.
Mr Johnson said a levelling-up policy paper was expected to be published later this year but the speech is already being panned as inconclusive. The only new proposal appeared to be to “rewrite the rule book” to take a “more flexible approach to devolution” in England.
A significant moment did, however, come when the PM answered a question about the National Food Strategy, published this morning, suggesting his government will not enforce the proposed snack tax set out by Henry Dimbleby. “I’m not, I must say, attracted to tacking on extra taxes to hardworking people,”…
