Inside Politics: Boris Johnson warned his Brexit deal becoming ‘unworkable’
Supermarkets tell government they are struggling to cope with mountains of ‘impenetrable’ red tape, writes Adam Forrest
Shock, horror! The Tower of London’s ‘Queen’ raven has gone missing and is feared dead – sparking doom and gloom among the superstitious. A 350-year-old legend has it that all resident ravens must be kept at the tower or the kingdom will fall. It certainly feels like we’re living in a cursed kingdom at the moment. There is more Brexit chaos to cope with – as a logistics giant suspends deliveries to the UK and supermarkets despair at Boris Johnson’s “unworkable” deal. The PM is also under pressure to explain how he’ll keep the kingdom safe from a new Covid variant from Brazil.
Inside the bubble
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:
Michael Gove chairs a meeting of the COVID O group today, where top ministers are set to agree on a suspension of flights between the UK and Brazil. The government’s choice to lead the BBC, Richard Sharp, will be grilled by MPs on the DCMS committee at 2.30pm. Expect questions about his relationship with Rishi Sunak, whom he worked with at both Goldman Sachs and the Treasury.
Daily briefing
RETURN I WILL, TO OLD BRAZIL: Boris Johnson has warned of the danger posed by a new Brazilian variant of Covid. He told a committee of MPs the government was putting “extra measures” in place to protect the country from the variant – only to be unable to name any of the measures when grilled by senior Labour backbencher Yvette Cooper. According to The Times, the government will announce today that all direct flights between the UK, Brazil and neighbouring countries in South America will be stopped. Expect ministers to be interrogated on this morning’s splash in The Telegraph – which claims Covid hospital patients can be discharged into care homes without being tested. Care providers are “deeply worried” about the draft government guidelines. And there may be fresh questions on the pilot 24/7 vaccination programme. The PM pledged to launch a round-the-clock service soon – despite warnings from his own vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi that it would be “impossible” to implement on a large scale. Promises, promises.
HAPPY TRAILS: Brexit is not going well. The latest mess? German logistics giant DB Schenker has suspended shipments from EU to UK indefinitely – citing “significant problems” with customs red tape. Meanwhile, the umbrella body for supermarkets told MPs the trade deal is currently “unworkable”. Andrew Opie, director of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), was scathing of the government’s last-minute delivery of the deal, which had resulted in mountains of “impenetrable” administration – and has led to shortages on supermarket shelves. A leading DUP MP Ian Paisley said it was an “insult” for the PM to describe the disruption as mere teething problems. To add insult to insult, the UK fisheries minister admitted she had been too busy with her Christmas plans to bother reading the Brexit fishing deal when it was published last month. Victoria Prentis told a Lords committee she had been “very busy organising the local nativity trail”. The SNP want Prentis trailing out the door – the party has demanded her resignation.
USELESS ARTICLE: So what happens if the “teething problems” don’t get sorted? Boris Johnson was condemned for suggesting he might trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol if it became necessary to stop supermarkets running short of food – as he attacked the “absurd” bureaucracy his own deal has created. Article 16 allows the EU or the UK to “unilaterally take appropriate safeguard measures” if its application leads to serious economic difficulties. But Tory MP Simon Hoare warned Joe Biden wouldn’t like it. “It would do huge damage to the Good Friday Agreement … and damage the relationship between our country and the US.” Biden may want to see a bit of contrition from Johnson in the months ahead. There was none of it on Wednesday, when the PM stood by his claim that Donald Trump potentially deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Asked by MPs on the liaison committee about his over-the-top praise for Trump, Johnson said it vital to have “the best possible relationship with the president of the United States”.
FOOD, INGLORIOUS FOOD: If Johnson still has to ingratiate himself with Biden, he also has some work to do in getting Marcus Rashford onside. The star footballer summoned the PM to the phone once again – and demanded a “full major review” of the free school meal system. Education secretary Gavin Williamson said he was “absolutely disgusted” by the photos of measly food parcels sent out to low-income families – and announced that schools will instead be able to offer weekly £15 vouchers through a national scheme from next week. The minister also promised to “name and shame” any food suppliers still providing sub-standard packages. Keir Starmer claimed the “disgraceful” packages were based on the government’s own advice – but Johnson insisted they didn’t reflect guidance, blaming the “scandal and disgrace” on catering companies. The PM added that it was the decision of the schools on whether or not to adopt £15 vouchers or food parcels – saying that 75 per cent opt for vouchers.
WHAM BAM THANKS VAN-TAM: It doesn’t look like the local elections due on 6 May will be delayed. At least not yet. The bar for postponing remains “quite high”, said Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith. She suggested she’s not in favour of any delay – believing it’s still possible to hold the polls safely in the spring. Too optimistic? Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said England would probably have to remain in lockdown until “mid to late spring”. In an interview with The Sun, reporter Kate Ferguson revealed she had a Van-Tam t-shirt and told the boffin she was a big fan. Elsewhere, Gavin Williamson revealed that A-level and GSCE students in England could be required to take externally-set “mini” exams as part of their assessment this summer – despite the cancellation of formal exams. Williamson insisted the dreaded algorithms would play no part in the process. But head teachers said the “devil was in the detail” when it came to the latest plans.
IMPEACHES AND DREAM: The House of Representatives has impeached Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” – making him the first president to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans (more than predicted) sided with Democrats for the big vote. Can we dream of a repeat in the Senate? It would need a two-thirds majority to convict the demagogue and trigger a bar on him holding public office again. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell made clear his trial will not happen until after Joe Biden is inaugurated, but it sounds like he is taking the process very, very seriously. McConnell said in a note to colleagues that he had not made a final decision on how he would vote – but he is reportedly “furious” and “done” with Trump. According to The New York Times, Trump had to be talked out of turning up in the House on Wednesday to defend himself. Can you imagine the spectacular theatre if he represents himself in the Senate trial?
On the record
“The lockdown measures we have in place … are starting to show signs of some effect.”
Boris Johnson is optimistic curbs are reducing Covid cases.
From the Twitterati
“If you keep telling ppl there won't be any red tape … don’t be surprised they are seriously ticked off when they realise that none of it was true.”
Customs expert Anna Jerzewska on the mounting anger over Brexit disfunction.
“In terms of tangible Brexit dividends so far, I’ve seen thoroughly debunked stories about VAT on tampons and the ‘win’ that UK drivers can avoid speeding fines in France … It’s remarkably little, as utopias go, isn’t it.”
…and the Best for Britain group dismisses the so-called upsides.
Essential reading
John Rentoul, The Independent: What does Gavin Williamson have to do to get sacked?
Andrew Grice, The Independent: Keir Starmer will have to be much bolder to have an impact with voters
Anoosh Chakelian, New Statesman: Why the government is failing to feed people during the pandemic
Elliot Hannon, Slate: Mitch McConnell’s impeachment endgame with Trump
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