Brexit news – live: EU says Boris Johnson's plans to rip up agreement risk peace on Ireland and will lead to no-deal, as Labour warns PM playing 'dangerous game'

Follow the latest updates from parliament as they happened

Brexit briefing: How long until the end of the transition period?

The EU has warned Boris Johnson that plans to rip-up the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement will risk peace in Ireland and lead to a no-deal outcome from trade talks.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, told the UK government that the agreement, which was ratified by the UK last year, was “an obligation under international law”.

It came as Labour said the prime minister was “playing a dangerous game in Northern Ireland” and risking the UK’s international standing.

Here are the day’s events as they happened:

Key Points

• EU warns plan to tear up agreement risks 'peace' in Ireland
• UK ‘will walk out of Brexit trade talks’ if no deal by mid-October
• Anger over reported plans to rip-up Withdrawal Agreement

[7 September 2020 14:57 · Conrad Duncan]

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has responded to an incident this morning in Suffolk, where a 15-year-old boy was shot on his way to school.

“I think we're all shocked and saddened to learn about the incident in which a young person was seriously hurt on their way to school in Suffolk today,” Mr Williamson told the House of Commons.

“Our thoughts are very much with the young person, their family and the whole school community at this very difficult time.”

[7 September 2020 15:09 · Conrad Duncan]

Sinn Fein leader warns Johnson against reneging on Withdrawal Agreement

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has warned Boris Johnson against reneging on the Withdrawal Agreement and going back on any commitments to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Irish leader of the opposition said Ireland could not become “collateral damage” for the UK government during the Brexit process.

“I am deeply concerned that British prime minister Boris Johnson would step away from an international obligation like this,” Ms McDonald said.

“To do so would show total disregard for the lives and concerns of the people of Ireland.”

She added: “The all-Ireland economy, the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement must be protected. There can be absolutely no hardening of the border. The Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish Protocol cannot be abandoned and must be honoured.

“The north voted to remain in the EU and across the community there are very real fears about the threat that Brexit poses to people’s livelihoods and the stability of community relations.

“I am absolutely clear that there can be no reneging on the British government’s obligations to protect people in the north from the damages of Brexit.”

[7 September 2020 15:21 · Conrad Duncan]

Johnson and Macron discuss Brexit and small boat crossings in phone call

Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron have agreed on the “importance of making progress this month” in Brexit talks, Downing Street has said.

A No 10 spokesperson said the two leaders had a phone call earlier today and discussed Brexit, small boat crossings from France to the UK and the condition of Russian politician Alexei Navalny.

“The prime minister set out that the UK's aim is to stop the smuggling operations and prevent boats arriving on our shores, and they agreed to work together in a spirit of co-operation to address the issue,” the spokesperson said.

"The prime minister and President Macron expressed their outrage at the attack on Alexei Navalny and reiterated that Russia must urgently explain how the opposition leader was poisoned with novichok.

“They also discussed UK-French co-operation on tackling coronavirus and on other international issues, including the crises in Libya and Lebanon and the Middle East peace process. The prime minister offered his condolences for French casualties in Mali this weekend.”

They added: “On the negotiations to reach a trade deal with the European Union, the prime minister and President Macron agreed on the importance of making progress this month and reaching a conclusion on talks quickly.”

[7 September 2020 15:29 · Conrad Duncan]

UK government refuses to label Scotland drug deaths as public health emergency

The UK government has refused to declare drug deaths in Scotland a public health emergency, despite the country having the highest reported rate in the EU.

The most recent statistics available indicate 1,187 people died of substance misuse in Scotland in 2018, nearly triple the UK rate and the highest on record.

Our reporter, Laura Paterson, has the full story below:

[7 September 2020 15:39 · Conrad Duncan]

Labour’s shadow home secretary challenges government over fire safety legislation

Labour has called for the government to back an amendment to the Fire Safety Bill which would require ministers to implement recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Inquiry.

[7 September 2020 15:49 · Conrad Duncan]

Department of Education ‘determined’ for exams to go ahead next year, minister says

The Department of Education is “determined” for exams to go ahead next year following the chaotic results season this summer, a minister has said.

“Following the difficulties with awarding grades this summer we are determined that exams should go ahead next year,” Nick Gibb told the Commons.

“We are working with Ofqual, the exam boards and other stakeholders to consider our approach to ensure they are fair.”

When asked by Labour why the government had “ignored” warnings about its calculated grades system, Mr Gibb added: “We were assured by the regulator that, overall, the model was fair, we pressed Ofqual strongly on the appeals arrangements which would address any issues for individual students which arose as a result of the operation of the model.

“No model is as accurate as young people taking the exams themselves.

“But when the A-level results were published on 13 August it did become clear that there were anomalies and injustices in the results that went beyond the anomalies we had been made aware of for which had put in place an enhanced appeal process.”

[7 September 2020 15:52 · Conrad Duncan]

Schools will only ever be closed as ‘absolute last resort’, Williamson says

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has insisted schools will only ever be closed as an “absolute last resort” if local restrictions are introduced.

“On 2 July, we outlined our expectations and what is required for schools in terms of delivery of continuity of education,” Mr Williamson told the Commons.

“That's why we've made an investment of a further 150,000 laptops that will be provided for those communities that are in a position where they're not going to be able to be providing face-to-face teaching within schools.

“But to be absolutely clear - schools will only ever be closed as an absolute last resort because we all understand in this House, on both sides of this House, how important it is for children to be benefiting from being in school with their teachers and learning in the school environment.”

[7 September 2020 16:02 · Conrad Duncan]

Transport secretary announces islands policy for quarantine restrictions

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has told the Commons that some islands will be removed from coronavirus quarantine restrictions separately to countries as a whole.

“The JBC [joint biosecurity centre] and this government are at present unable to introduce regional travel corridors from within the geographical boundaries of a nation-state,” Mr Shapps said.

“However, when a region has natural boundaries like an island, for example, the risk diminishes significantly.

“That presents us with a real opportunity. Our passenger locator form, combined with NHS Test and Trace, will give us a clear picture, and has been starting to give us a clear picture, of exactly where infections are coming from.”

He added: “For the first time we have the data and the capacity to add and remove specific islands from quarantine while still providing maximum protection to the UK public.”

The transport secretary also told MPs that the data showing infections within countries was still “too patchy” to have regional arrangements in place.

“In many cases, the international data is still simply too patchy and, in all cases, there is next to nothing to prevent people from moving around within a country's border,” he said.

[7 September 2020 16:19 · Vincent Wood]

Travel groups welcome island air bridge policy

Travel groups have lined up to welcome Grant Shapps’ announcement that air bridges will be applied to islands independently of mainland destinations when possible. 

A Heathrow Airport spokeswoman said the policy shift "shows the Government understands how critical the restoration of air travel is to this country's economic recovery. The Government needs to build on these developments and show global leadership to establish Common International Standards for testing before flight."

Meanwhile Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: "It's to be warmly welcomed that the Government is amending its quarantine policy - opening up some islands to British tourists again without them having to quarantine. 

"Regional corridors are vital to keep travel and tourism alive and well, and I hope it removes the confusion of different UK governments pursuing different approaches to individual countries. 

"It's sad news for the Greek islands who can't yet open up but I hope this policy provides impetus for them to get their cases under control."

[7 September 2020 16:35 · Vincent Wood]

Dominic Raab summons Russian ambassador over Navalny poisoning

The foreign secretary said he was "relieved" that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's condition had improved after the politician was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.