Boris Johnson news: EU warns it will not accept ‘pig in a poke Brexit deal’ as PM urges bloc to sign by ‘end of summer’
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson held talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in an attempt to revive negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal. No 10 said the prime minister urged the EU to reach an agreement “by the end of the summer”.
It came as Mr Johnson announced he would set up a commission to consider “all aspects” of racial inequality. The review will also consider wider disparities such as issues facing “working class white boys at schools”, Downing Street has said.
Labour’s shadow justice secretary David Lammy claimed the idea was “written on the back of a fag packet” and said it was time for action. Meanwhile, No 10 indicated the review of the two-metre rule may not be finished in time for the proposed reopening of pubs and restaurants on 4 July.
English Heritage reviewing blue plaques in London
A London-wide review of diversity in public spaces will include the nearly 1,000 commemorative blue plaques and statues overseen by English Heritage, the charity has said.
Alongside its ongoing effort to improve recognition of influential black and ethnic minority figures, English Heritage said it wanted to “ensure that the stories and the sometimes painful and controversial actions of those commemorated by the London statues in our care are told in full”.
Plaques that have “problematic connections” will have more detailed, warts-and-all descriptions created digitally on the associated smartphone app, a spokesperson confirmed to The Independent.
“We need to ensure that the actions and the legacies of those commemorated are told in full,” English Heritage’s curatorial director Anna Eavis said in a statement.
More details here:
PM urges EU to agree Brexit trade deal by ‘end of summer’
The UK has urged the European Union to reach a post-Brexit free trade agreement “by the end of the summer” as Boris Johnson held talks with Brussels chiefs.
The UK had previously indicated that it could walk away from talks with the EU if the “broad outline” of a deal was not visible by the June meeting. But officials played down the prospect of “drama” at the summit, which was being conducted by video link.
Johnson was expected to say that the talks need to be “swiftly concluded”, providing the public and business with certainty on the way forward.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “You can expect the prime minister to welcome the fact that the European Commission president has agreed to an intensified timetable for FTA negotiations in July and also expect the prime minister to urge renewed energy and commitment to reach an agreement by the end of the summer.
“The high-level meeting was always envisaged as a moment to push the negotiations forward. We now need to get this resolved and deliver certainty for businesses at home and in the EU as soon as possible.
“We are looking to agree a high quality FTA based on the agreements the EU has already reached with other countries, but whatever happens we will be ready for January 1 when we will take back control of our laws, border and money.”
Hancock failed to respond social care ‘scandal’ warning nine months after deadline
Health secretary Matt Hancock has failed to respond to a parliamentary call to end the “national scandal” of failing social services for almost one year, it has emerged.
Last summer, an inquiry called for an immediate £8bn cash injection to rescue the system, warning that 400,000 people have been stripped of help.
But Hancock broke with convention by failing to respond within two months and 11 months have now elapsed, the House of Lords economic affairs committee has revealed.
“I expect to receive the response to our report imminently,” says a sternly-worded letter to Mr Hancock from Lord Forsyth, the committee’s Conservative chairman.”
EHRC wants ‘urgent action’ on racial inequality
The Equality and Human Rights Commission chairman David Isaac has said the government should take “urgent action” to address racial inequality, and noted that there were already countless reports on the issue.
“We know the scale of the problems we face to tackle the entrenched racial inequality in our country. It is not new. There have been countless reports and the data exists exposing all the issues.”
“Now is the time for urgent action. We need to see a clear and comprehensive race strategy with clear targets and timescales from government. We hope this new commission will help deliver that and we stand ready to work with it.”
EU will not accept 'pig in a poke' agreement
Following the trade negotiation talks with the EU, European Council president Charles Michel warned the bloc would not accept a "pig in a poke" agreement.
He said a "broad and ambitious" agreement was "in our mutual interest".
The EU was "ready to put a tiger in the tank but not to buy a pig in a poke".
The "level playing field" commitments - where the UK would agree to EU standards on the environment, workers' rights and state subsidies - were "essential".
UK has 'very good' chance of securing EU trade deal by end of year, Boris Johnson says
Boris Johnson said he believes the UK has a "very good" chance of securing a trade deal with the EU by the end of the year, "provided we really focus now and get on and do it".
When asked about the review into racism he announced today, Boris Johnson said: "The whole point of having a review is to look at the areas where people feel there's more that needs to be done."
The prime minister added: "I think what we want to do is learn now very fast what fresh changes we need to make.
"What I feel most strongly is that there are so many positive stories that are not being heard.
"Things really are changing
"You're seeing young black kids now doing better in some of the most difficult subjects in school than they were ever before, more going to top universities.
"We need to start telling that story and building up a culture of high expectations, a narrative about success, as well as stamping out the racism and the discrimination that unquestionably exists."
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