Latest updates: Dame Sarah Gilbert’s comments come as government awaits JCVI decision on whether to approve large-scale programme of Covid booster jabs
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10.19am BST
Britain’s economic recovery from the winter lockdown virtually stalled in July despite the removal of most pandemic restrictions, amid a fall in retail sales and the impact of “pingdemic” shortages in the workforce.
The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product (GDP) grew by only 0.1% in July from a month earlier, as the government’s end to most restrictions in England failed to offset the fallout from the coronavirus Delta variant. GDP was lower than the 0.6% growth forecast by City economists, and a sharp slowdown compared with June when the economy grew by 1%.
Related: UK economic recovery stalled in July amid worker shortages
10.18am BST
Oliver Dowden said the UK would do nothing to infringe on international law following French criticism of suggestions home secretary Priti Patel has sanctioned tactics to turn back migrant boats towards the continent to stop them from making the journey to the UK.
Asked whether he could confirm the tactic had been approved, the culture secretary told Sky News:
Firstly, in relation to these migrants, it is worth remembering they are coming from a safe country, which is France.
This has been a persistent problem for a long period of time. The home secretary is rightly exploring every possible avenue to stop that.
That’s precisely the point that the Home Secretary raised with her opposite number about what exactly the French were doing in return for this money.
