Inside Politics: Brexit wars return

Government set to publish draft legislation on Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol as food strategy slammed by critics, writes Matt Mathers

(PA)

The Brexit wars are heating up once again in the summer sun as the government prepares to publish draft legislation on the protocol. Elsewhere, Priti Patel’s Rwanda plan is facing increasing opposition and No 10’s food strategy has been slammed by critics.

Inside the bubble

Commons action gets underway at 2.30pm with defence questions. After that is the remaining stages of the higher education (freedom of speech) bill. Later, there is an adjournment for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Daily Briefing

Brexit wars

Brexit is back with a bang today as the government – after weeks of delay – is set to finally publish its draft legislation to override large chunks of the protocol in Northern Ireland. Ministers will outline plans to remove checks on goods entering NI from GB in the so-called “green lane”. There are also likely to be provisions on governance, the role of the European Court of Justice and state aid.

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, told broadcasters yesterday that he was confident the bill would not break international law and that the government would also publish an overview of the legal advice it had received to back up its position. The legality of the UK’s bid to take unilateral action on the Brexit deal it agreed with the EU has been the subject of much conservation in recent days.

And No 10 is now being urged by opposition parties to reveal the secret sources behind said legal advice. Peter Kyle, the shadow NI secretary, called on No 10 to release the legal advice it received with “transparency about its origins”. Measures in the bill mean London is taking a much harder line with Brussels, as Boris Johnson makes concessions to the right of his party in a bid to recover his shot authority following last week’s damaging confidence vote.

The firmer Brexit stance, and the news that most of the “green crap” is being cut from today’s food strategy (in part due to opposition from emboldened and increasingly vocal backbenchers), suggests that, following the confidence vote, one wheel of the “trolley” is permanently damaged, meaning it is now capable of veering in only one direction.

Some Westminster watchers suspect that the legislation is being used simply to strengthen London’s negotiating position. If the government does press ahead it may clear the Commons (there will be a substantial rebellion among Tory MPs on the left of the party) but face stiff opposition in the Lords, not to mention probable legal action by the EU.

(PA)

Rwanda opposition

Priti Patel’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is coming up against increasing opposition, with the first flight due to take off tomorrow.The number of people scheduled to be on that first flight is now single figures, the BBC reports this morning, amid a slew of legal challenges on modern slavery and human rights claims.

It comes as the court of appeal is set to decide later today whether or not the flight tomorrow will actually take off. Crowds chanting “we are with you” and “refugees are welcome” formed along the perimeter of an immigration removal centre yesterday in protest against the government plans.

Detainees inside Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, close to Gatwick Airport, near Crawley, could be heard chanting in unison with the activists as they shook and banged the outer fence during the protest

Dozens of protesters could be heard shouting “set them free” and “deportations no more” outside the facility, while others carried placards emblazoned with slogans saying “It’s inhumane”, “We stand with you” and “Stop the Rwanda flight”.

On the record

“What we’re going to do is lawful and is correct.”

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, says upcoming Brexit protocol legislation will not breach international law.

From the Twitterati

“We’re all talking about Tiverton like it’s some marginal. If the Tories do lose it will be the biggest majority *ever* overturned in a by-election.

Columnist Sam Freedman on the upcoming by-election in Tiverton.

Essential reading

• Hamish McRae, The Independent: What can the government do about the cost of living?
• John Rentoul, The Independent: Swerving like a shopping trolley is the secret of Boris Johnson’s survival
• Trevor Phillips, The Times: Voters may like Starmer just the way he is
• Bel Trew, The Independent: Two Britons have been sentenced to death – any foreigner in Ukraine is now at risk

Sign up here to receive this free briefing in your email inbox each weekday