Boris Johnson news: PM faces Tory rebellion over HS2 go-ahead, as EU chief ridicules ‘Australia-style’ Brexit trade plan
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Your support makes all the difference.EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was “a little bit surprised” to hear Boris Johnson propose an “Australian-style” Brexit – suggesting it would amount to a no-deal scenario at the end of 2020.
It comes as retail chiefs warned consumers to expect price hikes and food shortages at the end of the Brexit transition period – even if a deal is forged. It follows an admission by Michael Gove there would be trade “friction” and checks on goods at the border.
The PM faced backbench Tory anger after telling the Commons HS2 had been given the “green signal”. Jeremy Corbyn mocked Mr Johnson’s plan for a bridge connecting Scotland and Northern Ireland – noting his record of failed “shiny” projects.
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Cummings makes bizarre ‘PJ Masks’ remark
Dominic Cummings has sidestepped questions over his influence, HS2 and an imminent cabinet reshuffle by launching into a bizarre recital of lines from the cartoon superheroes PJ Masks.
Doorstepped by a BBC reporter outside his north London home, Boris Johnson’s most senior adviser also suggested the children’s superheroes would do a “greater job” than all of the cabinet put together.
Questioned whether the high-speed rail project was to be given the go-ahead later today, he said: “The night time is the right time to fight crime. I can’t think of a rhyme.”
EU president tells Boris Johnson his latest Brexit plan is just no-deal
Boris Johnson's suggestion that Britain could trade with the EU on the same terms as Australia would amount to a no-deal, the president of the European Commission has said.
Ursula von der Leyen said she was "surprised" to hear the prime minister propose an "Australian-style" Brexit because "the European Union does not have a trade agreement with Australia".
Mr Johnson made the comments in a speech last week where he rejected suggestions the UK could align to EU rules to gain more market access – the bloc's key requirement.
Brexit deal could leave Northern Ireland in different time zone
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal could lead to Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK falling in different time zones for half the year, peers have warned.
The European Parliament voted last year for a proposal to scrap the twice-yearly changing of the clocks to accommodate extra daylight hours.
Under an EU directive, all 27 states currently switch to summer time hours on the last Sunday of March and back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the last Sunday of October – a pattern the UK follows.
Downing Street responds to European Commission president remarks
Asked about Ursula von der Leyen’s comments about an Australia-style trade deal, a No10 spokesman said: “In terms of the future arrangement which we are looking for, it is set out very clearly in the manifesto on which the prime minister was elected.
“We are looking for a Canadian-style free trade agreement. It is the kind of agreement which the EU has reached in the past so we are not seeking anything novel. We hope to be able to achieve that but if we can’t, as the PM said last week, we will leave on the same terms Australia currently has.”
"This government’s relentless betrayal of Windrush descendants proves it " - Rebecca Long-Bailey
Ending the hostile environment has to include tackling its most violent and inhumane manifestations, not simply tinkering around the edges, writes Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey
Are the Brexiteers about to be kicked out of Boris Johnson’s cabinet? - Sean O'Grady
"It was Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who, supposedly, came up with the term “useful idiots” to describe those too dim to realise that they are being used for some political purpose or other. There is some doubt as to whether Lenin in fact coined the term, or even used it, but it is useful shorthand nonetheless. It comes readily to mind when contemplating the ministerial reshuffle Boris Johnson is due to announce on Thursday.
"For the rumours are strong that some of the most notable casualties will be the Eurosceptics courted by Johnson during his long quest for the premiership, then liberally rewarded with jobs in cabinet. Some of the most prominent members of the European Research Group were given senior positions – bought off – as a result of Johnson’s rise to power."
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