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Northern Ireland protocol latest: Boris Johnson vows unilateral action despite EU warnings | The Independent

2022-05-17 00:00:00.0 独立报-英国政治原网页

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Boris Johnson says legislative solution needed for NI protocol

Boris Johnson has confirmed he will press ahead with legislation to override the Northern Ireland protocol, despite warnings from Brussels that it will breach the UK’s international legal obligations and a plea from the Bank of England not to spark a damaging trade war with Europe.

Speaking after a day of meetings with the leaders of the country’s five main political parties, where he sought to make progress on the impasse over the post-Brexit arrangement, the prime minister said his government did not want to “scrap” the protocol, but “fix” it.

“We don’t want to scrap it. But we think it can be fixed. And actually, five of the five parties I talked to today also think it needs reform,” said Mr Johnson on Monday.

But the risky move looked unlikely to break the deadlock over the formation of a new power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) insisting that it wants “decisive action” from the PM before it will drop its boycott.

Recommended Northern Ireland business chiefs urge PM to pull back from plan to ditch protocol Labour urges MPs to back windfall tax warning household savings being ‘crunched’ Partygate: Time to rethink fixed penalty notices, says Jacob Rees-Mogg Britons struggling with cost of living should get a ‘better job’, says minister

Key Points Boris Johnson vows unilateral action in Brexit row Major Brexit statement in Parliament today Labour to pressure Tory MPs with windfall tax Commons vote

Show latest update 1652767843 Labour urges MPs to back windfall tax

Labour has renewed its call for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies as the party claimed household savings were being “crunched” or “disappearing altogether” as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, prepares to table an amendment to the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday, urging MPs of all political stripes to back a tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies.

The government is facing intense pressure over the issue, and last week Boris Johnson did not rule out a windfall tax, despite repeating his view it would deter green investment after months of resistance.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details:

Labour urges MPs to back windfall tax warning household savings being ‘crunched’ ‘Savings are being crunched or disappearing altogether’

Stuti Mishra 17 May 2022 07:10

1652766643 Government to bring Troubles legacy proposals

The UK government is set to bring forward legislation on the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The secretary of state for Northern Ireland said late on Monday that the government would introduce the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill on Tuesday.

It comes the day after prime minister Boris Johnson visited Northern Ireland in a bid to restore power-sharing, amid ongoing fall-out over the Northern Ireland protocol.

UK Government set to bring forward Troubles legacy proposals It comes the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Northern Ireland in a bid to restore power-sharing.

Stuti Mishra 17 May 2022 06:50

1652765192 Labour to pressure Tory MPs with windfall tax Commons vote

Conservative MPs are facing fresh pressure to support a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers in a bid to cut energy bills.

Labour on Tuesday will seek to force a Commons vote on its amendment which expresses regret at the omission of the policy from the Queen’s Speech.

It comes as MPs debate “tackling the short-term and long-term cost of living increases” on day five of the Queen’s Speech debate.

Richard Wheeler has more:

Labour seeks to increase pressure on Tory MPs with windfall tax Commons vote BP and Shell reported bumper profits earlier this year as energy prices skyrocketed.

Stuti Mishra 17 May 2022 06:26

1652763192 ICYMI: Britons struggling with cost of living should get ‘better job’, says minister

Britons struggling with the cost of living crisis should consider taking on more hours at work or moving to a better job, a minister in Boris Johnson’s government has said.

Home Office minister Rachel Maclean said the government wanted to see people help themselves more in the long term — arguing that they could use their local job centre in a bid to boost their pay.

“Over the long term we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better — whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a better-paid job,” she told Sky News.