Brexit news: US warns chlorinated chicken must be on the table for trade deal as UK urged to unite on eve of ‘dark day’
Follow the day's developments as they happened
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said chlorinated chicken must be part of a post-Brexit trade deal, after dodging questions on the US suspect in the death of British teenager Harry Dunn.
It comes as Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey urged Remain voters to come together with the rest of the country after Britain’s “dark day” on Friday, as the nation prepares to leave the EU.
Meanwhile, chancellor Sajid Javid was expected to throw his weight behind the controversial HS2 rail project at a meeting with Boris Johnson and transport secretary Grant Shapps.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Cabinet minister’s ignorance ‘embarrassing’, says Rory Stewart
The former cabinet minister has said cabinet meetings were “pretty useless” and it’s “embarrassing” how little people in cabinet know about their brief.
The independent candidate London mayoral candidate was speaking after a report suggested being a cabinet minister is akin to being a football manager.
The Institute for Government report points out that there have been eight secretaries of state at the Department of Culture Media and Sport since 2010, and 19 housing ministers since 1997.
Asked if cabinet meetings were useful, Stewart told BBC Radio 5 Live: “No, I think many, many of them were pretty useless, because instead of a proper debate, what happens is everyone sticks their hand up, gives their little minute’s speech, and there’s no real sense that you’re moving towards anything. So smaller groups is [sic] absolutely essential, and smaller groups of people who know what they’re talking about and get on with it.”
Stewart said the huge turnover of ministers made it difficult for them to stay across their brief. He added: “I worked with the US government, when I came to the end of my time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it’s completely different there. It’s a much more serious and professional system at the top level.
“We are in danger of becoming a nation of bluffers, and if we’re going to really prosper in the world, we’ve got to get serious.”
Former Tory leadership candidate Rory Stewart (PA)
Fresh union support for Rebecca Long-Bailey and Angela Rayner
The left-wing Communication Workers Union has endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader. Ms Long-Bailey has already made it through to the final round of the race after winning the FBU's vote on Thursday - which gave her the necessary three trade union backers.
She faces Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy on the ballot paper - while Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, is struggling to make up ground.
Ms Long-Bailey said: “I am honoured to be endorsed by one of the leading workplace trade unions in the UK, which has been solidly behind the Labour Party’s transformative agenda.
"As leader of the Labour Party I will stand shoulder to shoulder with trade unions in disputes, and full solidarity to the CWU in their current dispute with Royal Mail.”
Angela Rayner also won the CWU's backing as deputy leader. She has built a significant early lead and currently only faces Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, on the ballot.
EU citizens on flight repatriated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan
On board the flight expected to bring people back from Wuhan will be approximately 150 UK nationals and 50 EU nationals including a number from Spain, No10 has said.
The plane - chartered by the UK government from a Spanish company - will drop Britons off at RAF Brize Norton before flying on to Madrid with the foreign nationals.
Britons in Spain bid sad adios to EU with poems, parties and pints
Spain hosts the largest contingent of Britons on the continent, and their rights are protected by royal decree, but many fear what comes if the UK doesn’t uphold its side of the deal, finds Graham Keeley.
US insists chlorinated chicken must be on menu in any UK trade agreement
Chlorinated chicken must be part of a post-Brexit trade agreement, the US secretary of state says – insisting that will make it a “really good deal” for British shoppers.
Mike Pompeo confirmed that Washington will demand the inclusion of its controversial agricultural products, despite Boris Johnson insisting he will not let them in if they lower standards.
Asked if the row over the chlorine-washed chicken would be “the biggest barrier” to a deal, Mr Pompeo agreed the issue would be “real contentious” – but warned US farmers would demand it.
Consumer group says public 'united in their opposition' to lowering food standards
In response to earlier comments on chlorinated chicken, Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which?, said America was "sorely underestimating how much of a deal breaker food standards are for consumers in this country".
She said: “People are united in their opposition to lowering food standards here, with more than nine in 10 believing it is important that our current rules are maintained post-Brexit.
“Brexit is an opportunity to design a joined up food and farming policy that ensures food is produced to the highest standards – our food safety and quality must not be used as a bargaining chip that could be given away to facilitate trade.”
Calls for public inquiry on Huawei involvement in the 5G network
Conservative Bob Seely told the Commons there needs to be public debate about the Chinese tech giant, with economic and moral implications yet to be discussed.
He said: "We've got it wrong for about 15 years so our answer is 'we got it wrong so let's just brush it under the carpet'.
"We've got Huawei hiring the great and good on their board. We've got a former senior government information officer oiling Whitehall to make Whitehall safe for Huawei.
"I think all these things raise significant ethical, political, economic questions."
Mr Seely later said: "A public inquiry about how we've messed this up so badly could also be a good idea."
Brussels bids farewell to the UK with Union Jack lightshow
New poll shows first lead for Scottish independence since 2015
New YouGov research gave a 51% lead for Yes , putting it ahead for the first time in the firm's polling since 2015.
But in the survey of 1,039 Scots aged over 16, 56% said they would not like to see another vote this year.
Meanwhile 46% of people believe if the SNP win the Scottish Parliament election next year there should still not be another referendum, compared to 41% who believe there should be another poll.
But 44% said they would be keen to vote again on Scotland's constitutional future in the next five years - compared to 39% who are against the idea.
Despite the increase in support for independence, respondents were pessimistic about the economic impact of leaving the UK, with 42% believing Scotland would be worse off, whereas 35% thought the country would be more financially sound.
The poll comes the day before Nicola Sturgeon sets out the "next steps" for Scotland, after her request for powers to hold another vote was denied by the UK Government.
On Wednesday, MSPs voted to endorse another referendum.
Drop in EU nationals after Brexit 'could cause loss of nearly 120,000 jobs in London'
A decline in EU nationals living in the UK after Brexit could lead to the loss of nearly 120,000 jobs in London, a new study has found, prompting warnings the “restrictive and transactional” attitude of the Home Office to European citizens could “backfire”.
Research by academics at the University of Sheffield and the University of Cambridge shows a rise in the number of EU migrants in London has led to an increase in overall employment – contradicting concerns migrants take jobs from British workers.
It said the increase had come about due to factors such as migrants spending their earnings in the local economy, setting up new businesses, contributing to innovation, filling jobs UK workers are unable or reluctant to accept and helping to build overseas trade links.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments