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Labour leader criticises Prime Minister's U-turn over self-isolation
EU leaders must admit that the Northern Ireland Protocol “has failed” and is creating “very substantial trade problems,” according to DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.
Speaking before a virtual meeting with EU Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic – at which the red tape is expected to be top of the agenda – he added the policy was “having a damaging impact on our economy and on our relationship with the rest of the UK”.
Sir Jeffrey also accused the bloc of “facilitating the Irish Republic in attracting more Northern Ireland companies to use them as their supply chain”, telling the BBC: “If the EU is not prepared to recognise the failings of the Protocol then I think the UK is entitled to take unilateral actions in those circumstances.”
It comes as major UK supermarkets warned that rising costs, because of the Protocol’s implementation, could “force” retailers to switch from British suppliers to EU ones. Representatives from stores including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer have sent a joint letter to the UK government and the European Commission to highlight their concerns.
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Key points EU must admit ‘damaging’ Protocol ‘has failed,’ says DUP leader Emergency road measures pop up in Kent amid freedom day traffic fears Ministers urged to intervene before next step of NI Protocol checks Starmer to back purge of far-left Labour factions – report UK urged to keep Brexit promise and follow EU’s lead on single-use plastic ban Minister insists government not ‘taking anyone for fools’ amid PM isolation drama
Show latest update 1626689794 ‘Triple lock’ pension guarantee ‘safe,’ insists business secretary
The “triple lock” guarantee for pensioners is “safe”, a Cabinet minister has said – despite speculation the pledge could be weakened because of the soaring cost.
In an interview with LBC radio, during which he said he would not take the knee, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said he believed the government should keep to the promise made in the Tory election manifesto to retain the measure, which guarantees the state pension will increase in line with inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent - whichever is higher.
Rising wages could result in an increase far beyond the 2.5 per cent minimum, with the budget watchdog forecasting an extra ￡3bn pensions bill.
“I think it is safe. I mean, I’ve always been of the view that we should stick to the words in the manifesto,” Mr Kwarteng said this morning. “Of course, things have happened, like Covid. Like the fact that we spent ￡350 billion in one year to support the economy. And I think any government, any group of politicians or civil servants will debate how we can raise the money. As far as I am concerned, the triple lock is still here.”
He also spoke about the controversy surrounding Boris Johnson and home secretary Priti Patel, over their failure to condemn fans who booed England players taking the knee. Asked if he would take the knee, the business minister replied “no” and referred to it as a “gesture”.
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 11:16
1626688440 BBC releases trailer for exclusive Cummings interview
The BBC has released a promotional clip for its highly anticipated tell-all interview with Dominic Cummings - and it’s set to be explosive.
Laura Kuenssberg, the broadcaster’s political editor, sat down with the former adviser to Boris Johnson after months of back-and-forth between Mr Cummings, No 10 and ministers he has accused of malpractice.
He is set to talk about his role in government during the pandemic, his relationship with the prime minister and his role in Brexit.
Dominic Cummings: The Interview will air on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer tomorrow at 7pm.
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 10:54
1626686161 EU must admit Protocol ‘has failed,’ says DUP leader
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted that the EU needs to recognise that the Northern Ireland Protocol has “failed”.
Speaking shortly before taking part in a virtual meeting with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic, the DUP leader said the policy was creating “very substantial problems” in terms of trade barriers.
The protocol, which was negotiated as part of the Brexit settlement to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, is set to be top of the agenda.
Unionists strongly oppose the additional checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK as undermining the union.
“We know that not only has there been a diversion of trade where Northern Ireland businesses are now having to locate their supply chains in the Irish Republic, but contrary to what the Protocol actually says, the EU are using the grace periods to facilitate the Irish Republic in attracting more Northern Ireland companies to use them as their supply chain, and that is contrary to what the Protocol says, because it says if there is a disruption to trade then the UK government may take action to correct that,” Sir Jeffrey told the BBC.
“It (protocol) is having a damaging impact on our economy and of course fundamentally on our relationship with the rest of the UK.”
Sir Jeffrey said he wants the EU to agree to negotiate new agreements that “respect Northern Ireland’s place within the UK’s internal market”. He also accused the EU of “destabilising and undermining” the power-sharing arrangements at Stormont, by Northern Ireland politicians having no say in post-Brexit arrangements.
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 10:16
1626683673 Minister insists government not ‘taking anyone for fools’
Nadhim Zahawi has said the government isn’t “taking anyone for fools” as he struggled to defend Boris Johnson’s decision to dodge an instruction to self-isolate – before a humiliating U-turn.
Despite an official statement being issued by No 10 on Sunday at 8am – stating that chancellor Rishi Sunak and the PM would be participating in the pilot scheme allowing them to avoid isolation – Mr Zahawi insisted multiple times that Mr Johnson only “considered” whether to join the scheme.
“The prime minister considered whether they would subscribe to the pilot scheme, but actually rightly opted for self-isolation,” Mr Zahawi claimed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “And then he quite rightly wanted to make sure he sends a very clear message to the nation.”
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Minister insists government not ‘taking anyone for fools’ as he struggles to defend PM over isolation U-turn Minister insists PM only ‘considered’ joining testing scheme – despite official No 10 statement
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 09:34
1626682723 House of Commons itinerary for Monday
Here’s the parliamentary schedule for Monday, including timings for the Commons, House of Lords and Westminster Hall.
House of Commons
2.30pm Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government questions
3.30pm Urgent questions/statements
Nationality and Borders Bill - second reading (day one)
A short debate on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs office in Melton under the Places for Growth Programme
Westminster Hall
4.30pm E-petition 317336 relating to cervical screening
6.15pm E-petition 567681 relating to an amnesty for undocumented migrants
House of Lords
1pm Oral questions
2pm A statement on transport decarbonisation
Skills and Post-16 Education Bill - committee stage (day three)
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 09:18
1626682013 Starmer to back purge of far-left Labour factions – report
Sir Keir Starmer will reportedly support an incoming purge of far-left factions that were vocal supporters of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, in a move that will outrage some in his own party.
After 15 months of being party leader, a role he inherited from Jeremy Corbyn - at which point he promised to stamp out accusations of antisemitism - Sir Keir is pushing to reshape the party and earn back trust lost from voters who did not back Mr Corbyn.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the National Executive Committee, which governs the party, will be asked to proscribe four named groups, according to reports first published in the Daily Mirror. They include: Resist and Labour Against the Witchhunt, which claims antisemitism allegations were politically motivated, and Labour In Exile Network, which expressly welcomes expelled or suspended members.
Socialist Appeal, a group that describes itself as a Marxist voice of Labour and youth, would also become a banned group.
The move will see around 1,000 Labour members auto-excluded from the party, and could result in anyone else found to be a member of any of these groups kicked out.
“Under Corbyn those from the far left fringes with poisonous beliefs and warped world-views were welcomed into the party,” one Labour insider told the Mirror. “Keir is right to stamp out anti-Semitism and toxic extremism and get the party back into the decent mainstream of Labour values.”
“We need to be fighting to form the next government and that means cleaning out the stable,” they added.
An official Labour party spokesperson did not deny the move when asked by the paper.
The Labour leader recently hosted a Q&A with former Labour voters in Blackpool, at which one man blamed Corbyn’s legacy for his decision to vote elsewhere
(Getty)
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 09:06
1626680851 MPs call for ‘long overdue’ council tax revaluation for England
The government is being urged by MPs to carry out a “long overdue” revaluation of council tax property values in England.
The Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee said the tax is becoming “increasingly regressive” to the detriment of more deprived areas. It added change should be part of a wider programme of reform to set local government finances on a sustainable footing.
Town hall budgets, it said, had been “strained” since the coalition government’s austerity cuts in 2010 with three councils - Northampton, Croydon and Slough - having to admit they had run out of money.
MPs believe councils should be allowed to retain 75 per cent of business rates from 2022 and council tax should be reformed with the revaluation of properties and the introduction of additional bands. In the longer term it said the Government should consider replacing council tax and business rates with a new “proportional” property tax.
“Council budgets have been stretched for several years and the social care funding crisis is at the heart of financial pressures for many councils,” committee chairman Clive Betts said.
“Covid-19 has also hit councils hard and, while the government responded to the pandemic with substantial financial support, they now need to come forward with a long-term sustainable way of funding councils and the services they provide.”
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 08:47
1626680273 Welsh Labour MP hits out at Johnson over isolation drama
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 08:37
1626680054 UK government urged to follow EU’s lead on single-use plastic ban
Ministers have been accused of failing to uphold their promise of ensuring UK environmental standards do not drop post-Brexit.
European Union member states are currently legislating to bring in a Brussels directive to ban the most polluting single-use plastics, including cutlery, plates and polystyrene food containers, but the UK government has yet to follow suit in England.
Ministers regularly stated following the 2016 Brexit referendum that the country would uphold high environmental standards even after the split from the bloc, promising to be a world leader in green issues.
But, according to an exclusive report by the PA news agency, some 21 campaign groups – including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, City to Sea and Keep Britain Tidy – are due to challenge Boris Johnson’s government on its commitments, warning that a failure to keep up with EU anti-plastic regulations would be an “awful dereliction of promises to lead on environmental issues post-Brexit”.
In a letter on Tuesday to environment minister Rebecca Pow, they will argue that standards in England are set to drop below both the EU and the rest of the UK if ministers do not act.
An online petition calling for Ms Pow to outlaw such single-use items in England had attracted more than 75,000 signatures by Sunday.
Plastic waste lies on the banks of the River Thames by Hammersmith Bridge
(Getty)
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 08:34
1626679203 Ministers to slash red tape for trade with developing countries
Proposed changes being considered by the Department for International Trade could mean developing countries will face fewer barriers when they trade with Britain.
Officials are seeking views on plans to ease rules on trade with developing nations, including complex rules of origin requirements, which determine whether a good’s inputs qualify it for cheaper tariffs.
Other products, such as rice and trainers, may also have their tariffs slashed, making them more attractive for importers based in the UK, reports our economics editor Anna Isaac.
Government to slash red tape for trade with developing countries UK wants to build on international efforts to give special trade treatment for poorer nations
Sam Hancock 19 July 2021 08:20
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