Inside Politics: Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill passes first hurdle

The prime minister may have won the initial vote on his Internal Market Bill – but the Tory rebellion continues to grow, writes Adam Forrest

Boris Johnson is facing mounting criticism over his plan to break international law (AP)

Looks like David Bowie identified the wrong planet. It’s just possible there’s life on Venus, after scientists made the truly astonishing discovery of a “bio-signature” gas on the second rock from the sun. Any signs of life on Planet Tory? Is there some breath left in the cold, barren party taken over by the desolate forces of Boris Johnson and Brexit? A huge majority of Conservative MPs voted obediently in favour of the PM’s law-breaking bill the Commons last night. But there were also some sparks of defiance in parliament to keep hopes of a rebellion alive.

Inside the bubble

Our political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will have a chance to speak in parliament on the latest unemployment figures (out this morning). Then the UK internal market bill starts its first day of line-by-line scrutiny (no fireworks expected). In the committee corridor, the constitutional affairs committee publishes a report on what to replace the Fixed-term Parliaments Act with, and the culture committee questions senior executives from Netflix, Sky and Channel 5 about the future of public service broadcasting.  

Daily briefing

RUSSIAN ROULETTE: Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill cleared its first hurdle by 340 votes to 263, a majority of 77. The PM ratcheted up the anti-EU rhetoric in the Commons – accusing the bloc of putting a “revolver” on the table by threatening to block food exports from GB to NI. Johnson pretended to be shocked by the “extreme lengths” Brussels was willing to go to. Despite the pressure, there appears to be growing support for Bob Neill’s amendment – 10 former Tory ministers are thought to back the idea of giving parliament a final say on any overrides to the withdrawal agreement. No 10 has hinted the whip could be removed if the rebels don’t back down. David Cameron became the fifth former PM to condemn Johnson’s plans and Tory MP Rehman Chishti quit as Johnson’s special envoy. Former chancellor Sajid Javid also joined the rebel ranks, saying he could not support the bill unamended.

MOTHER OF ALL QUEUES: Some more mildly terrifying news on the disruption in store at the end of the transition period. The latest “reasonable worst-case scenario” report, drawn up by the Border and Protocol Delivery Group, predicts queues of up to 7,000 lorries in Kent by early February – and two-day delays for UK freight to cross to the EU. The confidential document, dated last week and leaked to The Guardian, also forecasts an extra two hour wait for passengers on Eurostar trains next year. Little wonder opposition MPs want a trade deal to mitigate the turmoil. Ed Miliband accused the Johnson of “legislative hooliganism” as he stood in for Keir Starmer (self-isolating after a member of his family developed Covid symptoms). Could rising unemployment sway some wavering Tories? Figures out this morning show another 36,000 fell off payrolls in July, as the overall rate rose to 4.1 per cent.

TEST MATCH: Nicola Sturgeon is demanding an “urgent” showdown meeting with UK ministers about mounting problems with the coronavirus testing. Scotland's first minister says she has “serious concerns” about test shortages and the delays to results preventing her from assessing the true scale of the outbreak. She’s not the only one who is worried. NHS Providers – the body representing hospital trusts in England – said staff are having to self-isolate rather than work because of the test shortages. Keir Starmer will have to give his speech to the TUC from home today after a member of his household showed possible symptoms of the virus (the family secured tests via the hospital where his wife Victoria works). The Labour is expected to call on the chancellor to replace the furlough scheme with new support to avoid the “scarring effect” of mass unemployment.

NOT CAUGHT BY THE FUZZ The tabloids didn’t struggle to find photos of large groups of young people out socialising on Monday – despite the new rule of six restrictions. But there was little evidence of any enforcement action by police officers. Policing minister Kit Malthouse said concerned Britons should report their neighbours for any suspected breaches of the new limits on social gatherings. He said the government had yet to decide on “reporting mechanisms” – but in the meantime residents could use non-emergency number (101) to “report issues”. National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt denied the idea enforcement would rely on people “grassing up” their neighbours. The PM’s spokesman suggested officers would start handing out fines when they saw repeated breaches.

DRONING ON: Defence secretary Ben Wallace said drones could replace troops in future wars – and warned that Britain’s enemies have “adapted far more quickly than us” to technological change. Standing beside a new quadcopter drone carrying a torpedo on the HMS Tamar, Wallace promised Britain’s armed forces will be reshaped to be “fit for tomorrow’s battles, not fighting yesterday’s” under a major review of defence policy and spending. Home secretary Priti Patel is doing the media round this morning, and is expected to announce that over 100,000 people have applied to join the police in the past year. No doubt she’ll also be quizzed on her promised crackdown on migrant crossings and neighbours grassing each other up over the rule of six.

COOL AS YOU LIKE: Donald Trump has idly waved away concerns about climate crisis on his visit to California – the US state worst hit by wildfires. Asked what he thought the phenomenon and the science of climate change, the president said: “It’ll start getting cooler, you just watch ... I don’t think science knows actually.” Trump blames the fires on poor forest “management”. Joe Biden called his rival a “climate arsonist”. Meanwhile, a top administration health official accused career government scientists of plotting against Trump, as he encouraged the president’s supporters to arm themselves for the upcoming November election. Michael Caputo said (without evidence) that health experts with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention were harbouring a “resistance unit” to the president.

On the record

“It is his deal, it is his mess, it is his failure. For the first time in his life, it is time to take responsibility and to fess up.”

Ed Miliband wants Boris Johnson to own the turmoil.

From the Twitterati

“Can’t remember the last time a British prime minister got ripped apart as comprehensively as Boris was taken apart by Ed Miliband. Tory MPs aren’t going to put up with much more of this.”

The Mail’s Dan Hodges gets a bit carried away with Ed’s performance…

“Imagine surviving Covid only to get murdered by a Miliband.”

…while satirist James Felton almost feels sorry for the PM.

Essential reading

Jane Morrice: Johnson’s Brexit mess is a real threat to peace in Northern Ireland

James Moore, The Independent: The rule of six is worth it to keep hold of semi-normal life

Tim Montgomerie, New Statesman: No 10 faces an ugly humbling unless it changes its ways

Steve Coll, The New Yorker: The case for dumping the US electoral college system

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