Boris Johnson has come under further pressure to cut ties with Huawei after Donald Trump warned the US could stop intelligence sharing with countries that use the Chinese firm. The US President was said to have made a phone call from Air Force One to Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany, to issue a warning about use of Huawei. With Germany considering its position on the Chinese telecoms company, Mr Grenell said the President "called me from AF1 and instructed me to make clear that any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardise our ability to share intelligence and information at the highest level". Huawei has repeatedly denied claims that it presents a security risk to the West, while last month the UK permitted Huawei to play a limited role in the network. 4:19pm The Licence Fee: "In reality it is just a compulsory tax" Robert Halfon tells me that as he sees it, people pay into the BBC "but have no control over it whatsoever, from the way it is run to the content it puts out". "I think that people should be given the choice," he said. "If you want it to carry on as is, it should have a vote every ten years." Mr Halfon added fee payers should get a say on who the chairman is, who the governors are and who is on the board. He also said they should be able to vote on the annual report and have a say on the direction of the BBC, "like shareholders do". "They say we are like shareholders but in reality it is just a compulsory tax," he said. 3:28pm Robert Halfon proposes referendum on future of BBC The Tory MP and former minister said he has been campaigning since 2011 to give licence fee payers a vote on the future of the BBC. He says licence fee payers should get to vote on one of three options: Keeping it as it is Voluntary subscription Funded by adverts ‘No way, Huawei" Bob Seely, who is part of a group of Tory MPs opposed to Huawei, has urged the Government to "listen to our allies" in response to Donald Trump"s latest warning to Germany (see post 12.09) against working with the Chinese telecoms giant. The Government is doing the right thing by having a foreign and defence review. That review needs to include modern threats and security concerns, one of which is access to our Critical National Infrastructure. It’s quite clear that many of our allies are taking a different approach than us to high-risk, high-tech in our Critical National Infrastructure. They are concerned about our potential decisions. They are saying ‘no way, Huawei.’ We need to listen to our allies. Mr Seely added that while it was right to disagree with the US over certain issues, this was not one of them. 1:43pm No 10 urged to condemn comments made by Dominic Cummings" hire Downing Street has been critised for refusing to condemn an adviser who once suggested enforcing the uptake of contraception to stop unplanned pregnancies "creating a permanent underclass". Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said it was "disgusting" that No 10 both "failed to condemn Andrew Sabisky"s appalling comments, but also seems to have endorsed the idea that white people are more intelligent than black people". "Boris Johnson should have the backbone to make a statement in his own words on why he has made this appointment, whether he stands by it, and his own views on the subject of eugenics," he said. Nicola Sturgeon also commented on the row, saying: "These are really not acceptable headlines for any government to be generating (or allowing to be generated). "They need to get a grip fast and demonstrate some basic but fundamental values in the terms of our public debate." 1:05pm Have the Commons authorities not heard of Ikea? More on our post from 11.05am about the new furniture that appeared in Portcullis House this morning. It is understood that the furniture bill amounted to £27,766, excluding VAT, with the funds taken from an existing budget. Eight armchairs worth more than £1,000 each from manufacturer Orangebox are among the new pieces, according to the PA news agency. Other pieces include four teal sofas, six tan leather chairs and several coffee and side tables. A House of Commons spokesman said: "Portcullis House is a hugely popular and valued building on the estate used by MPs and staff for dining, cafe facilities and as a meeting place. "In recent years Portcullis House has become a central point for parliamentary business. In view of the increasing demand, we have adapted the courtyard to increase its capacity." 12:29pm How do moveable barriers operate? As mentioned earlier (see post 9.18am) Grant Shapps has pledged to introduce moveable barriers on Kent"s motorways so that the M20 can be kept open at times of disruption. Curious to see how such a barrier operates? Donald Trump fires warning shot at UK over Huawei The president has stepped up his warning that the US could withdraw intelligence co-operation from countries such as the UK which allow Huawei into their 5G networks. Mr Trump told one of his ambassadors that "any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardise our ability to share intelligence and information at the highest level". The Chinese telecoms firm is regarded as a high-risk vendor by the UK but is being allowed to play a limited role in the country"s 5G infrastructure. With Germany considering its position on Huawei, Mr Trump phoned his ambassador in Berlin from the presidential Air Force One jet to issue a warning about the use of the firm. Last night the ambassador Richard Grenell tweeted that the president "just called me from AF1 and instructed me to make clear that any nation who chooses to use an untrustworthy 5G vendor will jeopardise our ability to share intelligence and information at the highest level". 11:52am No 10 refuses to clarify Boris Johnson"s position on eugenics The Prime Minister"s deputy official spokesman refused to say if Boris Johnson agreed with eugenics or if black people were less intelligent than white people. It comes after Mr Johnson was urged to fire Number 10"s latest recruit, Andrew Sabisky, over his comments about eugenics - the study of hereditary traits. When pressed by journalists over whether the Prime Minister agreed with Mr Sabisky"s comments the spokesman said Mr Johnson"s "views are well documented". 11:34am Foreign Office looking at "number of options" A No 10 spokesman said: "We sympathise with all those caught up in this extremely difficult situation." They added that the Foreign Office is working up a number of options, including a repatriation flight. 11:33am No 10 confirms FCO considering repatriating 78 Britons on Diamond Princess cruise ship The Prime Minister"s deputy spokesman has confirmed that the Foreign Office is looking into a repatriation flight for the 78 British citizens on board the cruise ship which has been struck by the virus. It comes after those Brits trapped on a cruise ship rife with coronavirus accused the Foreign Office of abandoning them. 11:05am "I"m not a skinflint but..." Therese Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has noted that "sofas and luxury armchairs" have been installed in the Atrium in Portcullis House. "I"m not a skinflint but really?" she says on Twitter. "I hope these are donated." On a serious note she takes aim at the House authorities who "don"t provide appropriate office chairs or lighting for a working environment". John Pienaar to move to Times Radio The veteran BBC journalist announced this morning that he will jump ship to the Murdoch enterprise after nearly 30 years at the broadcaster. Mr Pienaar will become the Drive Time presenter at the new Times Radio station. The end of Operation Brock It was only October last year when motorists suffered misery when half of a motorway was turned into a "lorry park" to test it for no deal Brexit preparedness. On a Monday morning at 6am Highways England introduced Operation Brock on the M20 in Kent, resulting in long tailbacks on the motorway. It involved traffic on a 13-mile stretch of the M20 being diverted onto a 50mph contraflow system so that the coast-bound carriageway could be used for lorries heading for the Channel crossings. While Operation Brock required a month of overnight closures, the new solution can be deployed in just hours and has been chosen as a long-term solution to Operation Brock. Mr Shapps said: After listening to frustrated residents and businesses affected by Operations Brock and Stack, we"ve invested in a new solution to boost Kent"s resilience and keep its vital road network moving, even at times of disruption. 9:18am Moveable barriers for Kent Grant Shapps has pledged a new moveable road barrier that can be set up within hours and will ensure Kent"s roads keep moving at times of cross-Channel disruption. After the fall out around Operation Brock, which was designed to divert a 13-mile stretch of the M20 onto a 50mph contraflow system so that the coast-bound carriageway could be used for lorries heading for the Channel crossings, the Transport Secretary has sought to find a long-term solution to the congestion. The specialist vehicle will drop mini, evenly spaced, concrete blocks onto the road, creating a moveable barrier along the M20 in the space of three to four hours, compared to Operation Brock, which required a month of overnight closures to implement and resulted in long tailbacks. By using this method it means the M20 is kept open at times of disruption, while also allowing the motorway to retain three lanes, a hard shoulder and 70mph speed limits in both directions during normal traffic conditions. Grant Shapps said: After listening to frustrated residents and businesses affected by Operations Brock and Stack, we"ve invested in a new solution to boost Kent"s resilience and keep its vital road network moving, even at times of disruption. This state-of-the-art technology can be deployed quickly, simply and safely, ensuring motorists across the county can get to where they need to be with minimum fuss, whatever the circumstances. 9:00am Environment Secretary doubles down on effectiveness of Government"s flood defences Mr Eustice cited demountable barriers along the river Severn "that have provided a lot of protection which prevents water from the Severn coming into communities" as an example of how the Government has worked to protect properties from flooding. In this most recent event around 20,000 homes have been protected by our flood assets. I know that"s no consolation to the 400 homes who have suffered flooding this time, but it does show that the investments we made and the steps we take to manage these events is actually working and helping these communities. 8:45am Weirdos and misfits The newly appointed Environment Secretary, George Eustice, was sent out to bat for the Government this morning fielding questions on both flooding and internal staffing. Mr Eustice was asked specifically about Andrew Sabisky, who was hired as a new adviser by Dominic Cummings, as part of his recruitment drive to bring "weirdos and misfits" into Number 10. Fellow aides have expressed concern about working with Mr Sabisky after comments he made about contraception being enforced to avoid unplanned pregnancies and the "creation of a permanent underclass" were unearthed. "I don"t know who that individual is. I have seen the reports that someone is alleged to have those views but I"m not going to get drawn on that," Mr Eustice told Sky News. "I"m not going to get drawn on the comments of that particular individual. That is a matter for Dominic Cummings and Number 10, and I"m sure you can talk to them." 8:31am Politics today Good morning. Storm Dennis continues to batter the country causing devastating flooding, loss of life and severe delays on trains and tubes. For rolling coverage of the storm keep an eye on our live blog. Meanwhile, Parliament is in recess so watch out for MPs posting holiday pics on their Instagram and Twitter profiles. Tonight David Frost, the UK’s chief EU trade negotiator, will address the Université libre de Bruxelles, where it is though he will set out the UK’s preferred trade deal and will demand the same terms as Canada, South Korea and Japan. Meanwhile at 8pm the three lLbour leadership hopefuls will take part in a televised debate on channel 4.