Today’s political headlines includes Johnson plans early general election and it’s reported he cost the taxpayer \u00a31bn when London Mayor and the Mail calls on the Government to act on the cost of dementia.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Johnson plans early general election Johnson leaves taxpayers with \u00a31bn bill after ignoring expert advice as Mayor Mail<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0calls on Government to act on the cost of dementia 101-year-old writes to Prime Minister over free TV licence cut Government to review waste charges over fly-tipping fees Gove promises to back legal limits on particulates Hancock to ban sale of energy drinks to children Johnson considers plan to suspend Parliament prior to Brexit deadline
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that senior allies of Boris Johnson have claimed that he wants to hold an early general election \u2018while Jeremy Corbyn is still around\u2019. His team is concerned that the small Conservative majority will not be enough to pass legislation and are preparing either for a general election after a vote of no confidence or a snap election after delivering Brexit.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>,\u00a0taxpayers face a bill of almost \u00a31bn, which is still growing, as a result of Boris Johnson\u2019s time as Mayor of London. It accuses him of ignoring expert advice over a series of projects, including his new Routemaster buses, the purchase of secondhand water cannon and plans for an airport in the Thames estuary. Former Conservative mayoral candidate Steve Norris said Johnson was \u2018great on rhetoric but lousy on delivery\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0is\u00a0calling<\/a>\u00a0on the Government to take action \u2018to end the disgraceful neglect of families living with the burden of dementia\u2019, following the revelation that families have spent \u00a315bn in the last two years helping relatives with that illness. It is calling for a cross-party group to tackle the issue, an NHS \u2018dementia fund\u2019 and a Cabinet minister with sole responsibility for developing a plan.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mirror<\/em>\u00a0leads<\/a>\u00a0with a letter to the Prime Minister written by a 101-year-old pensioner, Elsie Hancock, opposing the decision to reduce pensioners\u2019 entitlement to free TV licences. She describes TV as a \u2018lifeline\u2019 for a \u2018lot\u2019 of elderly people who are \u2018already struggling financially\u2019, and asks \u2018what\u2019ll they take next, our bus passes\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that the Government has launched a review of the fees charged by local authorities to residents disposing of waste at rubbish tips. Keep Britain Tidy has warned that fees could lead to an increase in fly-tipping, while the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has described them as a \u2018backdoor\u2019 tax and is considering banning them.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove has pledged to support a \u2018legally binding commitment on particulate matter\u2019, so that nowhere in the country has levels exceeding those set by the World Health Organisation. A bill containing this pledge is being prepared, but Gove has admitted that the final decision on this will be down to the new Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has written to Cabinet colleagues, telling them he has decided to ban selling energy drinks to children under 16. According to the paper this risks bringing him into conflict with Boris Johnson, whose leadership campaign he supports, as Johnson has promised to review all sin taxes and regulations. His letter warns that the Treasury may also oppose the plan.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Sky News<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Boris Johnson is considering scheduling a Queen\u2019s Speech in early November, which would mean proroguing Parliament for up to two weeks in advance, effectively preventing MPs from being able to block a no-deal Brexit in the immediate run-up to the 31 October Brexit deadline. His campaign claims a decision has yet to be made.<\/p>\n