Brexit news – live: Boris Johnson warned six months of port ‘mayhem’ ahead in 2021, even if trade deal agreed
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Boris Johnson’s government has been warned of “mayhem” at Holyhead port when the Brexit transition period ends, even if a UK-EU trade deal is struck.
The Irish Road Haulage Association said the first six months of 2021 would be “terrible” due to the lack of preparations.
It comes as Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that a no-deal Brexit would cause even more long-term damage to the UK’s economy than the coronavirus pandemic.
The influential figure told MPs a deal was in the “best interests of both sides”.
It follows an optimistic assessment of trade talks by Irish premier Micheál Martin, who revealed legal texts were now in play on all areas of the prospective trade deal.
“I would be hopeful that by the end of this week we could see the outline of a deal,” said Mr Martin.
Influential Tory ‘inclined’ to oppose tier system, as Boris Johnson faces growing rebellion
Sir Graham Brady, the highly influential chair of the 1922 Committee, has said he is “inclined” to vote against proposals for regional coronavirus restrictions, amid growing signs Boris Johnson may face a significant rebellion from his own party, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.
Sir Graham said the government had so far failed to provide the impact assessments demanded by 70 Tory MPs to justify placing regions in the tougher tier 2 or 3 of the new system, which he said would be “extremely damaging” to local economies.
MPs are lobbying hard ahead of the allocation of restriction levels on Thursday for their areas to be kept out of tier 2, under which hospitality venues can open only if serving “substantial meals” or tier 3, where they are restricted to takeaways and deliveries only.
Influential Tory ‘inclined’ to oppose coronavirus tier system, as Boris Johnson faces growing rebellion
Tory revolt could leave PM reliant on Labour votes to impose new system
PM criticised for absence at four-nation Cobra meeting
With ministers from across the UK meeting to thrash out plans to deliver a recognisable form of Christmas, Wales’s Mark Drakeford has criticised Boris Johnson’s absence.
The first minister said: “Unfortunately, I'm told that the prime minister will once again not attend the Cobra meeting this afternoon.
“You might think that given the significance of the decisions that we are having to take there that the prime minister might think that was a conversation in which he would choose to be engaged.”
Mr Drakeford has urged Rishi Sunak to “rule out a public sector pay freeze” and to deliver funding across the UK to protect health jobs and support a “fair recovery”.
It comes after Mr Johnson sparked fury by reportedly calling Scottish devolution “a disaster”, in comments he later said were a reference to the rise of the SNP.
Rishi Sunak strikes another pose
Ahead of tomorrow’s spending review, in which Rishi Sunak will set out next year’s budgets for government and grants for the devolved administrations, the Treasury has sent out yet another set of images of the chancellor at work.
The move invited some analysis…
…and also some comparisons…
MPs accept curbs to post-Brexit powers over international legal agreements
MPs have accepted amendments to a bill passed in the House of Lords which will curb the government’s powers to enact international legal agreements after Brexit.
The Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill enables the UK to continue to participate in international agreements which provide ways for determining jurisdiction and enforcement in international disputes covering child custody and maintenance, plus other matters.
But peers amended the bill after expressing concerns that it would give the government the power to enact such agreements by using secondary legislation, known as statutory instruments.
These amendments, which were accepted by MPs without a vote – paving the way for the bill to become law – included introducing a duty on ministers to consult before exercising the power and a five-year sunset clause, which can be renewed.
Breaking: Four nations agree Christmas deal at Cobra meeting
Families will be granted five days of looser Covid-19 restrictions to enjoy Christmas with two other households, after a four-nation agreement was struck, our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have backed the plan put forward by Boris Johnson at the weekend – despite fears that infections will rise.
Refresh our breaking story below for more updates:
Five days of looser Christmas Covid restrictions with three households allowed to mix
Families will be granted five days of looser Covid-19 restrictions to enjoy Christmas with two other households, after a four-nation agreement was struck.
Tory MSP quits party over ‘policy differences’
Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland has quit the Scottish Conservatives citing differences with “the party’s positioning on policy and, indeed, its principles”, less than a year after running to become the party’s leader.
BBC Scotland’s Philip Sim noted that Ms Ballantyne, who will serve as an independent for the remainder of the electoral term, recently defied the party whip to vote against new coronavirus restrictions.
We can see those we love at Christmas – ‘but only for limited period’, Gove says
Michael Gove, who led the four nation Cobra meeting today, has told Sky News: “There is light at the end of the tunnel, but … it is important that we don’t let things go too loose over Christmas.
“That’s why we’re stressing that these household bubbles should be an opportunity for people to meet close friends and family in a very restricted fashion in order to ensure that those we love can be with us at this special season – but only for a limited period, and not in hospitality venues or any of the sort of locations where the virus might spread faster.”
Arlene Foster welcomes Christmas agreement
“We of course recognise how important Christmas time is for so many people in Northern Ireland and the fact we have been able to secure agreement across … the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom is very strong because of course we know that people will want to come together from the four parts of the UK to be together at Christmas,” Northern Ireland’s first minister said.
Keir Starmer accused of threatening free expression with ban on discussing Corbyn suspension
Keir Starmer has been accused of threatening freedom of expression with Tony Blair-style “control freakery” amid growing anger in Labour ranks at a ban on discussing the suspension of former party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Left-wing members of Labour’s National Executive Committee, fresh from a victory in last week's elections, staged a virtual walkout from a meeting on Tuesday morning, accusing the leadership of trying to “censor debate and ignore our processes”.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the details of Labour’s tumultuous day here:
Keir Starmer accused of threatening free expression with ban on discussing Corbyn suspension
Leadership’s censorious approach dubbed ‘threat to the fabric of the party’ by party’s youth wing
‘Humiliating’ for MPs to ask doctor for Commons sick note, Labour MP says
Valerie Vaz has argued that MPs should not be forced to seek a doctor’s note to participate in debates remotely.
“It is in some ways quite humiliating really for [MPs] to have to go to their GP and say please could I have a note for you to say that I am clinically vulnerable, so that I can take part in a debate.”
She added: "[The prime minister] says you have to work from home where possible, we can work from home, we have worked from home as MPs and other MPs want to continue to work from home and that is being denied."
Ms Vaz branded Zoom “horrible”, stating: "Whatever anyone says, it is awful. You have to concentrate, you have to stare. It is just absolutely terrible and what makes you really nervous about the whole thing is supposing you're late ... who is walking around in the background, have you got the right background? It is terrible, are you dressed properly?
“We would rather be here, of course we would, but we can't.”
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