He was the leader whose mission was to push forward Brexit at all costs – even if that meant abandoning EU legal protections in a host of areas, including the environment.

So for those working to improve the perilous state of animal conservation and welfare, it was a welcome surprise when Boris Johnson turned out to be something of a reformer.

Who would have thought that the self-proclaimed clown would be such an asset? Mr Johnson promised in 2019 to use Brexit to champion animal welfare, and under his leadership the government banned ivory sales and glue traps, increased prison sentences for animal cruelty six months to five years and introduced one-off fines.

My colleague Jane Dalton see you:

Boris Johnson received copies of the first edition of Winston Churchill’s books on the Second World War on Tuesday as gifts from his Cabinet colleagues.

The books of Churchill, a hero of Mr Johnson, were presented to the Prime Minister by his entire cabinet, a Downing Street spokesman said.

“At the end of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister received gifts to thank him for his service to the country, including first editions of Winston Churchill’s books on the Second World War,” the spokesman told reporters.

Labor is due to release the long-awaited Forde report on Tuesday into challenges to a leaked dossier on the party’s handling of the anti-Semitism crisis.

The report, a copy of which is currently in the hands of the party’s general secretary, David Evans, will be presented to the party’s national executive committee later today.

Keir Starmer commissioned the inquiry early in his leadership after the publication of a leaked dossier containing evidence that Labor officials worked to undermine then-leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Our political correspondent Peter Jon reports:

Labor MP Jess Philips has slammed Boris Johnson for removing Tobias Ellwood’s Tory whip, saying she hoped the same ‘attitude was in place for sexual harassment complaints’ in an apparent reference to the disgraced Tory MP’s treatment Chris Pincher.

Mr Pincher resigned as Deputy Chief Whip after he allegedly touched two colleagues at a social event while drunk.

He was eventually suspended from the party, which is expected to remain in place until Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievances Service completes an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

Responding to reports that Mr Ellwood has lost the whip, Ms Phillips adds: ‘Johnson once again shows that Johnson is the only person he cares about protecting.’

Conservative leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch made a double U-turn on whether she supported climate change goals, backing and then backtracking on the policy.

Ms Badenoch, a right-winger who has focused her campaign on culture war issues, drew criticism after she described net zero goals as “unilateral economic disarmament” at the start of the contest.

There is scientific consensus that the Earth will face catastrophic levels of climate change unless carbon emissions are reduced to net zero by 2050 – with some calling for an earlier target.

Our political correspondent Peter Jon has this report:

Speculation swirls over Tobias Ellwood’s whipping as reports emerge suggesting other Tory MPs were paired off because they were unable to attend last night’s vote – an offer not offered to Mr. Ellwood who claims he could not return in time from a meeting with the President of Moldova.

Conservative Party members care little about achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 ‘because 90% of them will die’, a Tory MP has claimed.

Chris Skidmore has admitted that a poll that puts the climate emergency at the bottom of the list of people who will choose the next Prime Minister is “rather depressing”.

But he said it could be overturned if the debate was recast – to underscore the need to take immediate action to cut emissions, rather than by mid-century.

Our Deputy Political Editor Rob Merrick reports:

Nadine Dorries has said suggestions the Prime Minister was trying to suppress a vote for Penny Mordaunt by stripping the whip in Tobias Ellwood were ‘totally wrong’.

She responded to such a claim on Twitter, saying, “This is totally untrue and frankly completely ridiculous.

“Every MP from every party is under no illusions about the price to pay for not voting on a motion of confidence in the government. It is a very clearly defined and historic red line.

“Tobias could have voted like everyone else.”

Tobias Ellwood said he was “very sorry” to lose the Tory whip but argued he was unable to return from a meeting with the President of Moldova due to “unprecedented disruption”.

In a statement, the senior MP said: “Following my meeting with the President of Moldova yesterday, I was unable to secure a return trip due to unprecedented disruption here and United Kingdom.

“I am very sorry to lose the Whip, but I will now continue my meetings in Ukraine to promote the Prime Minister’s efforts here and specifically seek to ensure the port of Odessa is reopened – so that vital grain exports can resume. “

Boris Johnson has defended his government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 – which has become a major point of debate in the Tory leadership race.

As he chaired his final scheduled cabinet meeting, Mr Johnson told ministers: ‘Who can doubt we were right to be the first major economy to go net zero?’

“It can be old-fashioned sometimes to say this, but it’s the right thing to do.”