Boris Johnson’s top civil servant and security adviser to stand down

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Trouble viewing? View in browser    Daily news briefing Latest updates and essential advice from the news source you trust Boris Johnson's top civil servant and security adviser to stand down The prime minister's inner circle has been accused of undermining his top civil servant, after cabinet secretary and national security adviser Sir Mark Sedwill announced he will stand down in September. He will be replaced by David Frost, currently serving as Mr Johnson's chief negotiator in talks on the post-Brexit trade and security relationship with the EU. Sir Mark's departure comes amid plans for a wide-ranging shake-up of Whitehall, driven by the ambitions of Mr Johnson's top aide Dominic Cummings to streamline the civil service machine. As the prime minister attempts to relaunch his premiership with promises to invest in infrastructure to get Britain out of the coronavirus slump, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has issued a warning that the record of Conservative-led governments over a decade has been "talk, talk, talk rather than build, build, build". In a bid to move the political focus on from the Covid crisis to the recovery, Mr Johnson is set to announce the creation of a Project Speed taskforce on Tuesday to accelerate tens of billions of pounds-worth of investment in railways, roads, hospitals and homes over the next decade. He is also announcing a 10-year schools rebuilding programme, with more than £1bn allocated for the first 50 projects. A number of US states are meanwhile racing to reimpose lockdowns amid a new leap of coronavirus infections that have taken the total to more than 2.5 million – apparently triggered by the push to reopen the economy. While Donald Trump took time out to visit his golf course in Virginia over the weekend, the number of cases in the US hit at least 2,534,981, part of a global total of more than 10 million. Worldwide, more than 500,000 people have now died. Among the worst places to have been struck were rural counties in California, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Florida, which saw confirmed cases more than double in a week, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Podcast The Independent Coronavirus Podcast Subscribe now wherever you listen for all the latest coronavirus news. Listen now The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider a contribution or subscription. Top stories PREMIUM The people will decide how quick this economic recovery will be Sedwill was a roadblock to Cummings's vision for the civil service UK's coronavirus testing strategy has cost lives, warn health leaders More news Happy List 2020: 10 celebs who've done good deeds during lockdown Four killed as gunmen storm Pakistan stock exchange Record Arctic heatwave sees Siberia wildfires increase fivefold Labour sets out plan for mental health support for carers Diane Abbott interview on racism at heart of power Suggested for you Government refuses to abolish coronavirus law used unlawfully Think tank report calls for biggest job creation drive in peacetime Johnson's top civil servant and security adviser to stand down UK coronavirus deaths rise by 36 to 43,550 Follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.