The brash and flamboyant politician, the U.K.'s new foreign secretary, is one of the more cosmopolitan figures on the world stage—but he’s also one of the least diplomatic. By David A. Graham.

The new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has been accused of putting lives in danger after he published an article suggesting a former colleague was a spy "for a laugh". While editor of The Spectator in 2001, Mr Johnson released an article naming a secret service agent using the pseudonym “Smallbrow” as the Daily Mail journalist, Dominic Lawson. The article was based on allegations made in a book by a former spy, Richard Tomlinson. Mr Tomlinson claimed Mr Lawson, who was then editor of the Daily Telegraph, used to provide cover for British secret agents.

If there is a name that is synonymous with tax avoidance in the UK, it is that of the Duke of Westminster. The duke in question was, admittedly, the second duke, who in 1936 won an infamous tax case that permitted him to pay his gardeners in a way that avoided a tax liability. He achieved abiding fame as a consequence of the opinion of Lord Tomlin, who in his judgment on that case said: “Every man is entitled if he can to order his affairs so that the tax attracted under the appropriate act is less than it otherwise would be.

Tory plans to ban councils from running their own public bus services have been given a massive thumbs down by voters. Nearly six out of ten (57%) think Town Halls should be able to set up new public bus companies with 22% opposed in new polling released today. Even among Tory voters twice as many believe councils should be allowed to run their own buses (54% to 25%) - a show of support for local publicly-owned services.

Former PM bumped up salaries of some advisors by £18,000 at a time when public pay sector pay rises were capped at 1%

The government will "push ahead" to triggering Brexit without Parliamentary approval, Downing Street says. In a statement after Theresa May's cabinet gathered at Chequers, Number 10 said ministers agreed on the need for a "unique" deal for the UK. Mrs May told cabinet colleagues to focus on the "opportunities" outside the EU as she reiterated there would be no second referendum. The UK would not stay in the EU "by the back door", she added.

Jeremy Corbyn is on course for a landslide victory in Labour leadership race, according to a new poll showing him leading Owen Smith, his contender, by 24 points.  A YouGov survey for The Times of those entitled to vote in the contest puts the current Labour leader on 62 per cent with Mr Smith trailing on 38 per cent. 

George Orwell said that political language consists largely of "euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness". The same could be said about the post-referendum debate. The phrase "Brexit means Brexit" has seen the government through the summer, but has now reached the end of its usefulness. It was designed to persuade doubting Remainers that the UK really will leave the EU, something Theresa May was once again forced to confirm during her news conference with President Obama here in China.

Jeremy Corbyn believes Britain should reject key aspects of the single market when it leaves the European Union, he has made clear, sparking a fresh row with some of his party’s MPs. In a briefing after prime minister’s questions, a senior Labour source said Corbyn wanted to ditch some of the rules which other member countries see as integral parts of the single market – including restrictions on when governments can bail out failing companies.

The TUC is stepping up attempts to make sure employment rights are not affected by the EU referendum result, amid fears workers are being “shafted”. Workers are still paying the price of the financial crisis, with wages £40 a week lower than before the crash, and they could face a fresh assault on pay and conditions as a result of Brexit, the union organisation said. General Secretary, Frances O'Grady, said she was determined to make sure unions have a voice in the negotiations taking place to prepare the UK for life outside the EU.

Ukip has elected Diane James as its first female leader, amid signs that Nigel Farage will continue to exert a strong influence over the party. The former businesswoman won the contest with 47% of the vote and the backing of key allies of Farage, including the major donor Arron Banks. Her election means six of the political parties represented at Westminster are led by women, with Theresa May at the helm of the Tories, Nicola Sturgeon leading the SNP, Caroline Lucas co-leader of the Greens...

Jeremy Corbyn has pledged the Labour party will investiage the idea of a universal basic income if he wins the leadership election. The policy would lead to a replacement of means-tested benefits with a standard flat-rate payment for all citizens.  Mr Corbyn said Labour would both research and test the policy, which has support from most the party. 

A group of Eastern European countries will veto any Brexit deal that diminishes the rights of their citizens who live and work in Britain, Slovakia's prime minister has said. Robert Fico said the Visegrad Four (V4) - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - want a guarantee that their nationals “are equal” before agreeing to any deal ahead of Britain leaving the European Union.

Edward Snowden has made his feelings known about Theresa May, describing the British Prime Minister as “a sort of Darth Vader in the United Kingdom”. The exiled NSA whistleblower compared Ms May to one of film's most notorious film villains over her Investigatory Powers Bill currently undergoing legislative scrutiny.

There has been little impact of the Brexit vote on the UK economy so far, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). "The referendum result appears, so far, not to have had a major effect," its chief economist Joe Grice said. Official figures have not yet reflected the collapse in confidence predicted by some surveys since the referendum. But the ONS warned that we have not yet had official figures for the service sector, which are due next week.

Theresa May’s government is committed to introducing an ‘Alan Turing law’ and will, in due course, pardon thousands of gay men convicted under historic gross indecency crimes. Sources close to the Prime Minister confirmed to The Independent that Ms May's government is “committed” to introducing the legislation, which will effectively act as an apology while the Ministry of Justice added they would “now find the right legislative vehicle to push this through”. “This government is committed to introducing posthumous pardons...

Britain’s £60-billion pharmaceutical and life sciences industry shelved a report calling for the government to pursue a “soft Brexit” strategy after being warned by ministers that it was too pro-EU. Sir Andrew Witty, head of GlaxoSmithKline, and other industry leaders met ministers from the Brexit department this month. They presented the findings of a two-month consultation calling for the preservation of free movement of goods and scientific talent post-Brexit and a “common regulatory framework” for the drugs industry.

The High Court has banned publication of photographs allegedly stolen from Pippa Middleton's iCloud account. The Duchess of Cambridge's sister took civil court action against a "person or persons unknown" after her account was said to have been hacked. The Sun reported it was offered the images, which included shots of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The UK's trade with the European Union will be "at least as free" after Brexit as it is now, Liam Fox says. The International Trade Secretary said it was in other countries' interests to avoid tariffs which he said would "harm the people of Europe". He also predicted the UK would be a standard-bearer for global free trade and that Brexit represented a "golden opportunity" to forge new links.