Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Mike Gapes asks the foreign secretary how the UK can continue to play a role in sanctions against Russia after leaving the EU.

Mr Johnson says he is giving a lot of thought to this. 

But he stresses there will be "a concerted approach" after Brexit and there "might be scope for the UK to go further". 

Select Committee
Parliament

Chair Crispin Blunt presses the foreign secretary on what happens if there is "no deal" after Brexit negotiations. 

Mr Johnson says he thinks there will be "a great deal" and if not, there are mechanisms for extending the two-year withdrawal period. 

Businesses can be certain that "Britain remains the number one place to invest", he asserts. 

Boris Johnson, who earlier this week accused Russia of behaving in a "barbaric" way by bombing civilian targets in the Syrian city of Aleppo, tells MPs he is in fact a "Russophile". 

This is in contrast with the Russian government branding him "Russophobic". 

Mr Johnson says Russia is doing "many terrible things", adding: "But I don't think Russia today can be compared to the Soviet Union that I remember as a child. I don't think it's as much of a threat to the stability of the world as the former Soviet Union." 

Russia denies attacking civilian targets in Aleppo, including an air raid on a United Nations aid convoy last month for which it has been widely blamed.

House of Lords
Parliament

Proceedings in the House of Lords begin at 11am with the introduction of a new member, Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate.

After the daily questions session, peers will debate controversial government proposals for the expansion of grammar schools. 

Later in the day there will be debates on the importance of independent bookshops and libraries, and the Middle East peace process. 

Select Committee
Parliament

The foreign secretary insists that in Syria it's not a choice between Assad and "a bunch of jihadis". 

He says there is a "significant moderate opposition" but declines to put a number on their forces. 

The Daily Telegraph
Tim Wallace

The Daily Telegraph's business section leads , externalon a call for British businesses to take a more proactive role in promoting "brand Britain".

The paper quotes former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King, who said companies will have to repair the damage done to the UK's global reputation in the wake of the vote to leave the EU.

Read more: Stop moaning and back 'global Britain', external

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Johnson goes on to say the UK must continue to engage with Russia. 

However, he adds that if Vladimir Putin continues on this course, Russia is "in danger of becoming a rogue state". 

He denies that sanctions are having no effect on Russian actions in Ukraine and Syria. 

The Guardian

Image source, Reuters

Paris, Barcelona, Montevideo, Prague, Cologne Bucharest, Warsaw, Rome and Baghdad have at least one thing in common: they've all recently had female leaders. 

That's the focus of a Guardian feature focusing on the challenges female mayors face as women in a male-dominated environment. 

Hillary Clinton's campaign for the US presidency has helped put female leadership in the spotlight in recent months. But can the criticisms Mrs Clinton has faced as a woman at the very top of world politics extend all the way down to the local level. 

Read more: Can Cities by feminist?, external

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Phillip Davies says he's long had concerns about electoral fraud in some parts of Bradford. When will elections take place where identification will be needed, he asks.

Gary Streeter - an MP who represents the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission in Parliament - says it's now a matter for government and Parliament, now that the Electoral Commission has recommended ID should be presented at polling stations, external.

Conservative Jeremy Lefroy also rises to support the measure, saying that ID is needed to open a bank account, but not to vote. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Gapes asks if it's time to "fundamentally reassess" the UK's relationship with Russia.

"We have no quarrel with the Russian people," says the foreign secretary, "and while it's doing terrible things it can't be compared with the Soviet Union I remember as a child."

Mr Johnson acknowledges that "we have a serious problem" with Russia but the UK is leading sanctions against the country. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Of all the "fictions" in the media, Mr Johnson says, reports of conflict between himself, David Davis and Liam Fox are "complete nonsense".

He says his department is "completely supportive" of work done by the Department for International Trade and the Department for Exiting the EU. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Mike Gapes asks Mr Johnson if he sees himself as a citizen of the world, which Theresa May compared in her conference speech to being "a citizen of nowhere". 

Mr Johnson replies: "Yes I do.

"I am a citizen of the UK, and we are all part of the same human species." 

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Johnson says he thinks there is a feeling that the UK cannot allow Aleppo to be "pulverised" and the "mood has changed since 2013".

In 2013, MPs voted against air strikes in Syria. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Asked by Labour's Ann Clwyd about Syria, Mr Johnson calls it "a gross crime against humanity". 

She asks if people should march on embassies of countries involved in the conflict. 

He answers: "It's important not to let a blame game diffuse from the culpability of Assad's regime." 

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Johnson discusses the UK's role in providing humanitarian support in Syria and contributing to diplomatic efforts. 

He adds that "it's right to look again at the more kinetic, military options" even if the UK is "a long day's march" from that scenario. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Philip Hollobone says that the UK's fishing waters have been "invaded" by European trawlermen, and asks what is going to be done to revive the British fishing industry.

Fisheries Minister George Eustice tells him that post-Brexit, fishing will be managed differently. 

He says his department will be working with the department in charge of exiting the EU, and under the UN convention on the laws of the seas, the UK's territorial waters will stretch 200 nautical miles around the coast, and that will be a starting point for discussions. 

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs now have the chance to put questions two Conservative MP Caroline Spelman, who represents the Church Commissioners in the House of Commons.

As the established church, the Church of England is represented by a member of Parliament, to give other MPs the chance to question them.

MPs will also question Tory MP Gary Streeter, who represents the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, external.