Brexit news - live: Boris Johnson branded 'liar' over alleged power grab as Keir Starmer grills him over Covid testing at PMQs
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson was branded a “liar” by the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who accused “the prime minister his friends, a parcel of rogues” of an alleged power grab on the devolved administrations.
The stormy exchange at PMQs came in response to the publication of Mr Johnson’s UK Internal Market Bill, which would override elements of his Brexit deal with Brussels and which Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis admitted would breach international law in a “very specific and limited way”.
The prime minister also faced a grilling from Sir Keir Starmer over what he said were “glaring holes” in the government’s coronavirus testing regime, as Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle reprimanded Matt Hancock for failing to deliver a statement to the Commons on new coronavirus restrictions, which were briefed to the media instead.
Meanwhile the government laid down its new coronavirus rules - limiting gatherings to no more than six people from different households - while the PM was urged by MPs to begin his inquest into the government’s handling of the virus in January.
Ministers ‘don’t get’ potential disruption to movement of goods following Brexit, executive of Road Haulage Association says
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, told the Commons Future Relationship with the European Union Committee that ministers "don't get" the potential disruption for the movement of goods between the UK and the EU following the Brexit transition period.
He said: "We've been talking about this for some time now.
"We've been providing warnings of what may happen.
"I think there's almost a kind of self belief in their own rhetoric at the moment, that everything will be OK.
"But the devil is in the detail, and some of the fundamental things that need to change, and some of the things that need to be invested in, are simply not happening fast enough."
Brexit deal for real this time, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister says
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs, has said Brexit is for real this time for traders and businesses
"This time there is no extra time, there is no transition," he said.
"We need a big national effort in the final three months to ensure no one is left behind. The key words are to, from and through.
"If you move things to the UK, if you buy from the UK and if you move things through the UK the status quo will not apply from 1 January.
"We will continue to do everything we can to support Michel Barnier in his efforts to get everything in place in time.
"It must be consistent with the agreement already made."
Mr Coveney added: "I would caution anyone who is thinking about playing politics with Northern Ireland on Brexit.
"Northern Ireland is too fragile and too important to be used as a pawn in the broader Brexit negotiations."
Festival of Brexit: Organisers say event will go ahead and 'bring people together'
The so-called “Festival of Brexit” will go ahead, it has emerged, after organisers called for “daring, new and popular” ideas for the £120m national event, Roisin O’Connor reports.
Initially announced by then-prime minister Theresa May in 2018 as a way of lifting public spirits after Britain left the EU, the event now has a working title of “Festival UK 2022”.
May said she wanted the festival to celebrate “our nation’s diversity and talent”, and to mark Brexit as a moment of “national renewal”.
At the time, many questioned whether Brexit was truly a moment for national celebration, while others slammed the event as a waste of public money.
Recently, there have been calls to instead give the money to an arts sector facing disaster due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Festival of Brexit is actually happening
Event was first announced by then-prime minister Theresa May in 2018
Shadow justice secretary urges Tories to ‘protect the rule of law’
Shadow lord chancellor and justice secretary David Lammy has urged his opposite number Robert Buckland to "protect the rule of law" after the government announced plans to override the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in legislation.
In a letter shared on Twitter, Mr Lammy wrote: "Dear Robert, in your role as Lord Chancellor, you have a sworn duty to respect the rule of law. Maintaining the sanctity of the rule of law has been central to your position for more than 400 years."
He continued: "What steps do you plan to take to protect the rule of law from attack from inside your own government? If you fail to prevent the government from breaking the rule of law, will you stand by your oath to respect the rule of law by breaking cabinet responsibility on this matter?"
Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs
You can watch PMQs live on The Independent's YouTube channel here, as Boris Johnson faces off against Sir Keir Starmer amid a chaotic week for the government.
Government ‘absolutely do want a deal’ with EU, Scotland secretary says
The government’s Scotland secretary, Alister Jack, has said the government "absolutely do want a deal" with the EU.
His comments came as shadow Scotland secretary Ian Murray branded the government's plans to "break the law by over-riding the Northern Ireland protocol" a "reckless move".
He said: "This reckless move reignites the prospect of us crashing out of the European Union with no deal. The Prime Minister promised the British people an oven-ready deal, it now looks like an oven-ready no deal."
He added: "Does he think that reneging on an international treaty, breaking their promise on a deal and putting no deal firmly back on the table strengthens or weakens the Union?"
Mr Murray went on: "He must surely realise the UK government recklessness only benefits those who want to break up the UK and the consequences of breaking up the UK would be dire for all of our constituents."
Mr Jack replied: "We absolutely do want a deal, we're in serious negotiations again this week because we want to get a deal and that is our intention, but the Withdrawal Agreement was written on the basis that subsequent agreements could be reached through the joint committee and that joint committee process is ongoing and we're committed to it, but in the event that it can't deal with any adverse implications for the Good Friday Agreement, it's important that we have a position that creates a safety net to uphold our commitments to the members of Northern Ireland."
Starmer accuses Johnson of ‘ignoring the problem’ of coronavirus testing
Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of “ignoring the problem” and of failing to give “honest answers” about the problems the government’s test-and-trace system is facing.
“It's got a lot worse in the last week or two – everybody in this House knows it, because they've all had constituents, telling them,” he warned the prime minister.
Sir Keir demanded to know why 75,000 Covid-19 tests “are not being used every day” as people are sent hundreds of miles to get one.
SNP says market bill ‘nothing short of an attack on Scotland’s parliament’
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford branded the UK Internal Market Bill proposals "nothing short of an attack on Scotland's parliament and an affront to the people of Scotland".
He said: "This legislation breaks international law, but it also breaks domestic law. The prime minister and his friends... are creating a rogue state, one where the rule of law does not apply. Why does the PM think that he and his friends are above the law?
Mr Johnson replied: "This UK Internal Market Bill is about protecting jobs, protecting growth, ensuring the fluidity and safety of our UK internal market and prosperity throughout the UK and it should be welcomed, I believe, in Scotland, in Northern Ireland, in Wales and throughout the whole country."
Mr Blackford said: "We saw the PM breaking the law last year with the prorogation of parliament, we've seen the behaviour of Dominic Cummings and we know that this government's prepared to break its international obligations and what the Prime Minister said is complete rubbish and the prime minister knows this."
Coronavirus: Speaker accuses government of 'total disregard' for parliament after new rules given to media before MPs
Lindsay Hoyle has reprimanded the government for failing to deliver a statement to the Commons on new coronavirus restrictions, urging Matt Hancock to apologise to MPs.
After No 10 changed guidance on social gatherings in a briefing on Tuesday evening, the Commons speaker said: “I accept decisions have been taken in a fast moving situation but timings for statements are well known to ministers.
“It’s really not good enough for the government to make decisions of this kind in the way in which show insufficient regard for the importance of major policy announcements being made first to this House and members wherever possible.
“Can I say to him I’ve already sent a letter to the secretary of state. I think the total disregard for this chamber is not acceptable.”
The Speaker said he had written to Mr Hancock and criticised his "total disregard" for the Commons, adding: "I expect the Secretary of State to apologise to members and make sure that this chamber knows first of when he was fully aware of what was going to be said later.
"And let me say, if this minister wants to run this chamber ragged I can assure you now I'm sure a UQ (urgent question) every day might just begin to run him ragged."
Nigel Farage suggests people should ignore government’s ‘draconian’ ban on gatherings of more than six people
The Brexit Party leader has given the first hint of right-wing unease over the new rules, which come into effect on Monday and are aimed at preventing a similar number of infections and deaths as seen at the pandemic’s peak.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details below:
Nigel Farage says public should break law banning social gatherings of more than six
Law ‘will not be respected by protestors and those going to raves, so why should the rest of us comply’, says Brexit Party leader
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