Boris Johnson wades into election campaign with terror warning

Boris Johnson waded into the general election today with a warning that Britain must “step up” its fight against terrorism and other global threats.

In his first major intervention, the Foreign Secretary targeted Jeremy Corbyn’s stance on nuclear weapons and on ordering air strikes against Islamic State leaders. However, Mr Johnson came under fire from his own side with claims that some ministers and MPs want him sidelined during the election campaign.

Speaking on security at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet at Mansion House, Mr Johnson was set to say: “There can be no more important task of a government than to keep its people safe.

“Now is not the time to step back, as some would want, but step up.”

With conflicts in the Middle East and the tense US stand-off with North Korea, Mr Johnson emphasised the need for “clear leadership to navigate this period of uncertainty”.

Seeking to contrast Theresa May and Mr Corbyn’s approaches to defence, he said that the Prime Minister had made it a “priority” to renew Britain’s nuclear deterrent and was committed to meeting the Nato target that defence spending should be at least two per cent of GDP.

Just days ago, Mr Corbyn cast fresh confusion over Labour’s nuclear weapons policy by insisting that “all aspects” of defence would be reviewed if he won power. He did not rule out an air strike to kill IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi but said he would first want to see the appropriate intelligence and how it would help end the conflict in Syria.

Mr Johnson’s intervention came amid reports that some colleagues want him to play a limited role in the campaign, given that he often freely speaks his mind. But Mrs May’s key aides, including her joint chief of staff Fiona Hill, have made clear that the Foreign Secretary will play a frontline role, according to Tory sources.

One said: “Contrary to all the crap being said he will be out and about with the team supporting this Prime Minister to get as many votes as possible.” Meanwhile, Labour today sought to shift the election spotlight away from Brexit and onto the NHS.

It promised billions extra for the health service including a pay rise for doctors and nurses which could hit at least three per cent a year.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth pledged that the party would end the “biggest financial squeeze in NHS history” including the one per cent pay cap for staff.

“We will give the NHS the funding that it needs,” he told BBC radio.

With inflation set to rise towards three per cent, he added: “I would want NHS staff to get a rise which takes account of the cost of living.”

His proposals are for extra spending on wages, and training, to be paid for by raising more from corporation tax than under Conservative plans and reducing the £3 billion spend on agency staff.

He failed to put any detailed figures on his NHS plans despite insisting that all Labour’s spending would be fully costed in its manifesto and wage decisions would be based on recommendations from independent pay review bodies and collective bargaining. The lack of detail left Labour open to the charge of making unfunded spending promises.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said nearly half the NHS budget of more than £100 billion went on staff and added: “Each one per cent on pay costs half a billion pounds...if you are going to do that over the next two or three years, you will also clearly need to raise significant extra sums in tax revenue.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he would like to see a pay rise for NHS staff but the country had been through “a very difficult period financially”. He added that £6.5 billion more was being spent on the NHS than three years ago.