AS China’s malign influence continues to grow, there is worrying evidence they’ve got some powerful friends in the UK.

It’s now known that some influential and well paid figures sit on the Board of Huawei, the telecommunications company answerable to the Chinese state.

First up was a further meeting of the Defence Select Committee. We took oral evidence from a number of Service personnel. Two senior officers led the session. The first was Major General Stickland, who joined the Royal Marines in 1987.

Dear Chancellor,

We are writing to you as a group of MPs representing coastal constituencies. As the National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) told the DCMS Select Committee on Tuesday 19 May 2020, the impact of Covid-19 will have a detrimental effect on constituencies like ours.

Up early and out into the park for a long run in sunshine. Much fewer people about. Into the House, which is a very strange place at the moment. Watched PMQs on the TV in my office as it was not possible to get into the Chamber. Starmer probing on job losses post COVID.

Any trade deal the UK strikes must be fair and reciprocal to our farmers, and must not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards.

Up to London to attend our Defence Select Committee. Over the airwaves came welcome news from the PM. A spending boost of £5 billion will see investment in homes and infrastructure.

It may seem a bit premature to make a speech now about Britain after Covid

when that deceptively nasty disease is still rampant in other countries

when global case numbers are growing fast

and when many in this country are nervous – rightly – about more outbreaks

Dear colleagues

Today I outlined a “New Deal” for Britain which delivers jobs, skills and infrastructure for our country in this unprecedented time.

On 23 June, the Prime Minister set out further changes to lockdown measures in England to enable people to see more of their friends and family, help businesses get back on their feet and get people back in their jobs.

The news that Leicester is to be plunged back into lock-down as concerns grow over a significant rise in Covid-19 cases is disheartening. If these spikes can be controlled locally, all the better, as we simply cannot shut the country down again.