Inside Politics: Brexit factory shutdown risk and Starmer committed to Green New Deal

Ministers have failed to agree replacement on EU safety standards system, as Starmer vows to keep 2019 manifesto pledge, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

Superstar. Sky Brown has won bronze at the women’s skateboarding event in Tokyo. Britain’s youngest ever summer Olympian picks up Team GB’s first medal in the competition. Closer to home, the fallout over Brexit continues to roll on, Keir Starmer says Labour is committed to tackling the climate crisis, and the SNP is close to agreeing a deal with the Greens.

Inside the bubble

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Johnson is due to visit Scotland in a rare appearance. He kept a low profile during May’s Scottish Parliament elections amid Tory fears his unpopularity could harm the party’s campaign. Elsewhere Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, will announce which higher education institutions will benefit from the Turing Scheme set up after the UK left the EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme.

Coming up shortly:

-Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard on Sky News at 8.05am

-Universities minister Michelle Donelan on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme at 8.30am

Daily Briefing

TEEN JABS: Teenagers aged 16 and 17 are expected to soon be offered a Covid vaccine, according to reports. This morning’s Telegraph says ministers could green-light the move within the next few days, with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation already having submitted its evidence to Downing Street. At present, vaccines are only offered to children over 12 if they have underlying health issues or live with someone who is at high risk from the disease. A number of Western countries – including the US, Ireland, Germany and France – are already inoculating the over-12s. If approved, the move means some 1.5 million more people will be eligible for inoculation.

GREEN PLEDGE: Keir Starmer says Labour is as determined as ever to tackle the climate crisis. In an exclusive interview withThe Independent, the party leader said he is committed to a “substantial majority” of greenhouse gas emission cuts by 2030, a pledge that featured in the party’s 2019 election manifesto. “Absolutely,” Starmer said when asked if he is standing by the goal. “So the ambition – and not just the ambition, the determination and the commitment – of the Labour Party on the Green New Deal is just as strong now.”

BORIS MIA: Starmer’s comments came ahead of a two-day visit to Glasgow to highlight his party’s climate plans ahead of the COP26 climate summit in November. Writing inThe Guardian, the Labour leader said the vital United Nations talks are at risk of failing because the PM is “missing in action”. “As host of the summit, the world is looking to Britain to deliver,” he said in the paper. “We cannot afford to miss this moment, but I fear we will.”

SYSTEMS FAILURE: The Brexit fall out continues. Factories could be forced to shut as vital parts for British goods such as cars and fridges could fall into a legal limbo as Brexit red tape holds up supply chains, The Independent has learnt. Manufacturing is at risk from serious disruption because the government has failed to devise a suitable replacement for the EU’s safety standards system. This means components needed for use in the UK will not have a suitable “kitemark” to guarantee a product is safe which could force manufacturers and their suppliers to down tools or divert their trade elsewhere, leading figures warn. Without confirmation that these safety and environmental standards are met, products and parts cannot be sold on the UK market.

GREEN DEAL: Nicola Sturgeon is on manoeuvres again. Just days after inviting Johnson to Edinburgh for “showdown talks” (which he snubbed) the first minister is reportedly close to signing a deal with the Scottish Greens, which would leave a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, strengthening the case for a second referendum. The negotiations are reportedly “95 per cent,” done. The deal, which could see the Greens take ministerial seats, would give both parties a clear majority of seats and could be put to Sturgeon’s cabinet as early as next week.

NO SURPRISES: Responding to the reports, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar referred to the Scottish Greens as a “branch office” of the SNP, adding: “This coalition isn’t a surprise, it is just formalising a long-standing reality where Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP hammer our public services with cuts, and the Greens nod along.” Although there is no chance of a formal coalition, the two parties would work – and vote – together on key policies, with the area they share most common ground on being breaking away from the UK. The PM has repeatedly said he will not back IndyRef2 by granting Holyrood a Section 30 Order, a power that lies with Westminster. But Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister, has taken a softer approach recently, saying that the government would countenance a vote if the public wants it. In other news north of the border, most remaining coronavirus restrictions will be lifted on 9 August.

On the record

“Scotland needs a real alternative that is standing up for our national recovery, the NHS and decent jobs – not the same old constitutional arguments.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sawar on reports SNP is close to agreeing deal with Greens.

From the Twitterati

“‘Of course’ Boris Johnson should resign if he broke the ministerial code said Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. In unrelated news almost 30 MILLION have now watched the PM lying to Parliament & breaking the Ministerial code by refusing to correct the record.”

Lawyer and campaigner Peter Stefanovic says 30 million people have now watched his video of PM ‘lying’ to parliament.

Essential reading

• John Rentoul, The Independent: As Boris Johnson falters, Rishi Sunak keeps his eye on the prize
• Marie Le Conte, The Independent: We’d all be better off if politicians stepped away from Twitter
• Matthew Lynn, The Spectator: Rishi Sunak’s warm words won’t persuade workers back to the office
• Sienna Rodgers, The Guardian: The balance of power among Labour’s factions is shifting under Keir Starmer