Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Sunday 21 Jul 2019

1. Five EU states try to woo Boris over new Brexit plan

Five EU countries are secretly speaking with Boris Johnson’s allies in the hope of agreeing a new Brexit plan that would avoid a no-deal disaster. Politicians and diplomats from Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands have held talks with two of Johnson’s cabinet allies in recent days. Johnson hopes to secure 60% or more of the vote when the results of the Tory leadership contest are announced on Tuesday.

2. Javid under pressure over cash-for-passports scheme news

The Home Office is embroiled in a cash-for-passports scheme as it is revealed that Russian and Chinese millionaires can buy access to British passports by exploiting a flawed government arrangement fast-tracking the super-rich. Video footage shows legal and financial advisers boasting about their role in securing scores of “golden visas” for millionaire foreign clients. There is now pressure on Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, to act.

3. British Airways suspends flights to Egyptian capital

Passengers have expressed frustration after British Airways and Lufthansa temporarily suspended flights to Cairo for security reasons. BA announced yesterday that its services to and from the Egyptian capital would be cancelled for seven days “as a precaution”. Passengers turned away at Heathrow last night were confused and angry. “Someone knows something we don't,” said one.

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4. Journalist behind Sir Kim Darroch scoop works for Brexit Party

A 19-year-old has claimed he is the journalist behind the scoop which revealed Sir Kim Darroch’s views of Donald Trump. Steven Edginton said: “I am sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists but this was not a Brexiteer plot to topple Sir Kim.” However, Edginton admits that he works for the Brexit Party. He says was “unable to sleep” as the storm around the revelations erupted.

5. Arron Banks threatens Netflix over new documentary

Arron Banks has issued a legal threat against Netflix in relation to The Great Hack, a new documentary about the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the abuse of personal data. London law firm Kingsley Napley, acting on behalf of Banks, his company Eldon Insurance, and Leave.EU, said that their clients were concerned it would include “false and defamatory allegations” about them.

6. Justin Bieber tells Trump: let those kids out of their cage

Justin Bieber has told Donald Trump to release the migrant children detained on the southern border. The pop singer compared the plight of the children to that of the American rapper A$AP Rocky, who is in custody in Sweden. Tweeting about Trump’s support for the rapper, Bieber wrote: “I appreciate you trying to help him. But while your [sic] at it Donald Trump can you also let those kids out of cages?”

7. UK tells Iran to reverse its seizure of British tanker

Jeremy Hunt has urged Tehran to reverse its “illegal” seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf. The Foreign Secretary said the move “raises very serious questions” about the security of British and international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran has published new footage of the capture on Friday of the Stena Impero.

8. Labour MPs angry after former chief whip expelled from party

Several Labour MPs have protested after a local constituency party voted to expel former chief whip Hilary Armstrong from the party for accusing Jeremy Corbyn of a lack of leadership over antisemitism. Redcar Labour MP Anna Turley tweeted: “If this is true it is disgraceful.” Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott said the expulsion was “astonishing”.

9. Rose West ‘in tears’ as she is moved from triple murderer

Rose West has reportedly moved prisons after a triple murdered threatened to kill her. Joanna Dennehy had said as she was sent to West’s prison, Low Newton, Co Durham: “I'll f***ing kill Rose West”. According to reports, West was reduced to tears when she realised she would have to leave the jail. “Rose West lived a life of luxury in there,” a source told the Mirror.

10. Renters to be allowed to look up blacklisted landlords

The government plans to allow renters to look up blacklisted landlords in a database. Under the new proposals, tenants could gain access to a register, currently only available to local authorities, which would allow them to search landlords by name to check their track records. Housing campaigners have welcomed the news, saying such a move would “offer renters a better chance of protecting themselves and their family”.