Boris Johnson flies to Spain for Marbella villa holiday

Boris Johnson has flown to Marbella to holiday in a private villa on the Costa del Sol, according to reports.

Downing Street did not deny the Prime Minister had travelled to Spain, and declined to say whether he was working at No 10 or in Chequers, as is commonplace.

The PM flew to the holiday resort with pregnant wife Carrie and 17-month-old son Wilf.

It is their first break since travelling to Mustique last year.

Government sources told the Sun on Sunday that Mr Johnson was “exhausted”.

Since his last holiday, the PM has tackled the pandemic, almost died from Covid-19, and welcomed the his son Wilf.

However the break is likely to attract criticism as it comes amid an ongoing fuel crisis and HGV driver shortage, which has threatened supply chains.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has defended Mr Johnson for going away on holiday.

He told Times Radio: “I believe he has gone away. I’m not sure where he’s gone but what I would say is I am in regular contact with him.

“He’s also had a year-and-a-half in which he’s almost lost his life to Covid, his mother passed away very sadly two or three weeks ago and he may have decided to take a short break.

Watch: Kwasi Kwarteng ignores energy crisis questions

“I think that’s something reasonable.

“I’m in regular WhatsApp contact with him, I spoke to him only a few days ago. I’m not sure when he’s supposed to have left the country.”

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said on Sunday that a fast-track scheme to allow 5,000 people to be trained as HGV drivers will be expanded by 2,000 places.

It is hoped the intensive “skills bootcamps” will boost the number of lorry drivers and help stop shortages.

However the free courses lasting up to 16 weeks will not start until next month, meaning they will do nothing to alleviate concerns about shortages this Christmas.

About one in six adults in Britain have been unable to buy essential food items in the last fortnight, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The figure was nearly as high as a quarter for non-essential food items, with a lack of lorry drivers partly to blame for shortages after Brexit cut off a supply of labour from the EU.

With the courses backed by £17 million, the Government pledged that trainees who pass will be guaranteed a job interview with a local employer.

But the first fully-trained HGV drivers will not be “road ready” until February, Downing Street acknowledged.

Watch: Govt say private sector need to step up amid driver shortage

Read More

Head of ‘strictest school in country’ made Social Mobility Commission chief

Cabinet minister defends Johnson for taking mid-crisis holiday

Government should ‘nurse’ businesses through energy crisis – Blackford