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    The image was taken during a photo call in the French president’s official Paris residence and swiftly prompted criticism online. However, footage of the incident later suggested the brief gesture was a shared joke, with the Prime Minister appearing to pose for the cameras as the pair laughed. The relaxed atmosphere between the pair was in contrast to comments overnight from the French leader, who had suggested a no-deal Brexit could come at the cost of a historic vassalisation of Britain. The laid-back tone also echoes Mr Macron’s meeting with Donald Trump in November during which he was seen squeezing the US President’s thigh. Mr Macron and Mr Johnson both tweeted warm words following the discussions, held as the PM attempts to re-open talks on the UK-EU Withdra...

    The public decisively rejects Boris Johnson’s threat to crash the UK out of the EU without a deal, undermining his claim to have a mandate for the dramatic step, an exclusive poll for The Independent shows. Only 34 per cent of voters want the prime minister to carry out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October if necessary – while 49 per cent urge him to either delay, cancel Brexit altogether, or stage a fresh referendum. The survey, carried out by BMG Research, also reveals the public is overwhelmingly gloomy about Mr Johnson’s chances of negotiating a fresh deal, with only 19 per cent believing he will. Voters also favour MPs being given a final vote on the Brexit outcome – rather being shut out of the process, as the government intends by 42 per cent to 39 per cent. Guto...

    Remain-supporting Tories have hinted that they could favour installing Jeremy Corbyn as an interim prime minister over a no-deal Brexit. The Labour leader reached out across the political divide to gain support for his plan to lead a caretaker government. His proposal was given a boost as the Conservatives he wrote to agreed to talks on how to stop the UK crashing out of the EU. They stopped short of giving Mr Corbyn’s offer their full backing, but Guto Bebb, who quit as defence minister last year to back a second referendum, said he was open to the idea of an emergency government run by the opposition leader. I think that those who have said they will do anything necessary to stop the long-term damage of a no-deal exit must take seriously this type of offer, said...

    Downing Street believes rebel MPs will try to make a move to stop a no-deal Brexit in the second week of September, with the EU unlikely to respond until after that battle has played out. A senior government source said the date for a parliamentary battle was expected to be 9 September a week after MPs return from their summer break. Boris Johnson may meet key EU leaders, such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, but not Ireland’s Leo Varadkar, ahead of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France at the end of August. However, No 10 is not expecting any breakthrough until the EU has seen what happens in the first weeks of September, when a cross-party alliance of Tory and opposition MPs try to take a no-deal Brexit off the table. The EU is adamant that the backstop is not ...

    Patients are waiting an average of more than two weeks to see their GP, a new survey shows. A poll of UK doctors conducted by Pulse, a publication for GPs, found that the average waiting time is now almost 15 days. Just over 900 GPs were surveyed and 22% said patients had to wait more than three weeks for a routine appointment and 6% said it took more than four weeks until they could see a patient. However, 20% said the average waiting time was less than a week. Dr Richard Vautrey, GP committee chair at doctors' union the British Medical Association said the figures showed "the reality of the capacity issues that many GP practices across the country are facing". He added: "GPs' number one priority is treating their patients and they work incredibly hard to do so,...

    Boris Johnson announced an expansion of controversial stop and search powers for the police as part of a multi-billion pound package to tackle violent crime. They included an extra 10,000 prison places and a sentencing review which could see violent and sexual offenders serve more time behind bars. The roll back of restrictions on police use of stop and search which will prove most controversial, with warnings from criminal experts and community groups that it risked provoking riots similar to those seen in 2011. Dr Mariam Fitzgerald, Professor of Criminology at the University of Kent said the extensive rollout of the practice across London under Mr Johnson’s mayoralty was the “backdrop to the riots in Tottenham”. “These searches had gone through the roof in each ...

    August could be the wettest on record with at least five more days of downpours predicted this week alone. The stormy weather that has blighted Britain could be set to last until the final weeks of the month before normal temperatures resume. The bleak forecast is in stark contrast to the end of July that saw the UK record what is believed to have been its hottest ever day. And after more days of rain, this month could threaten the wettest ever August of 1912 that saw an average of 167.6mm. After a brief let up in the terrible weather on Monday and Tuesday, wind and rain is expected to return by Wednesday. The Met Office warns that while some will dodge the worst of it the remainder of the week will be wet and windy. Meteorologist Sarah Kent told the Daily Star:...

    British diplomats will pull out from the EU’s institutional structures of power in Brussels within days, under plans being drawn up by Downing Street. In an attempt to reinforce the message that the UK is leaving the EU by 31 October, “do or die”, the UK would stop attending the day-to-day meetings that inform the bloc’s decision-making. The move under discussion is said by UK officials to be in line with Boris Johnson’s first statement in the House of Commons, in which he said he would “unshackle” British diplomacy from EU affairs. Critics have countered that the symbolic walkout would merely leave the UK blindsided on decisions and ultimately damage the national interest. EU working group meetings at which British diplomats were expected to take their seats alon...

    Boris Johnson has vowed to come down hard on crime by extending police stop-and-search powers and toughening up prison sentences. The prime minister, echoing the words of home secretary Priti Patel last week, said he wanted criminals to be afraid, rather than the public. He also announced plans to invest £2.5bn to create 10,000 new places to relieve the pressure on overcrowded jails. It follows the government’s announcement that an extra 20,000 police officers would be recruited over the next three years. Mr Johnson revealed the plans for a crackdown on violent criminals in an article for the Mail on Sunday, in which he cited rising knife crime and the recent machete attack on a police officer. We have the impression of a growing culture of insolence on the part ...