BORIS Johnson has ripped up plans for a series of foreign trade trips this year so he can stay in Downing Street to prioritise his levelling up agenda.
No10 aides drew up a plan for a number of far-flung visits over the next few months to key countries where rapid agreements are hoped for with a Japan trip top of the list.
Boris Johnson has ripped up plans for foreign trade trips this year so he can stay in Downing Street to focus on domestic policies
But the PM postponed the Tokyo plan and sent Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab there this week instead.
In a dramatic departure from many of his predecessors, who used the early months of their premierships to globe-trot, the PM has ordered his travel plans are kept to a minimum this year.
That has even meant a long-expected trip to Washington DC to launch landmark trade talks with Donald Trump has been postponed from this month to March at the earliest, and may be pushed back still further.
The American delay risks angering the US President further, who is already pushing Boris to wrap up a trade deal before he faces elections in November.
Allies say Mr Johnson has prioritised driving through his key domestic priorities instead.
The PM already thinks bold plans to turn around struggling northern towns will involve an awful lot of heavy lifting to ensure the machine of government is delivering, one senior No10 source said.
The source added: We got elected by the Red Wall seats. We must deliver for them, and Boris sees that as the most important task of his premiership.
On a visit to Australia to also discuss a trade deal, Dominic Raab promised a package of UK support for areas ravaged by its bushfires.
The Foreign Secretary revealed the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew is supporting an emergency collection of plant seeds in a bid to regrow the forests.
He flies on to Japan tomorrow for more trade deal talks.
Dominic Raab promised UK support for areas of Australia ravaged by bushfires while on a visit to discuss a trade deal
