Brexit news - live: Boris Johnson attacking ‘rule of law’, say lawyers as Keir Starmer warns of job losses
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The rule of law is “under attack” from Boris Johnson’s internal markets plan for Brexit, according to the Law Society. The solicitors’ body said “we have a choice about what sort of country we want to be and what we want to be known for around the world”.
The controversial proposal to tear up part of the Brexit treaty with the European Union passed its second reading in the Commons on Monday by a majority of 77 despite a rebellion among Tory MPs.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer called on the government to implement a targeted extension of its furlough scheme, as millions of job losses loom.
The Labour leader continued to self-isolate after a family member developed coronavirus symptoms, as he awaited the results from a test he said they were only able to obtain due to his wife’s job in the NHS.
Angela Rayner is set to face off against Mr Johnson in PMQs on Wednesday as a result.
It came as former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of three counts of sexual assault against two women.
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday’s liveblog. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates on UK politics after last night’s vote on the Brexit Bill
Watch: Ed Miliband attacks Boris Johnson over ‘failure’
Ed Miliband took to the desptch box last night with a scathing speech against the prime minister’s plan to break international law through the Internal Market Bill.
The former Labour leader, now shadow business secretary, accused the prime minister variously of incompetence, “legislative hooliganism” and seeking to shift the blame for reneging on the Withdrawal Agreement.
Clips from Mr Miliband’s widely-praised 25 minute speech can be seen below:
Watch Ed Miliband attack Boris Johnson as he accuses PM of trying to ‘get Brexit undone’
'This is his deal, it's his mess, it's his failure,' says shadow business secretary
Starmer calls for furlough scheme replacement
Sir Keir Starmer will today offer Boris Johnson cross-party support for a “genuine national plan” to protect millions of jobs as the government’s furlough scheme nears its end and millions face unemployment and uncertain working conditions.
In an address to the TUC annual conference, the Labour leader will repeat the party’s demand for a targeted extension of the job retention scheme along with a ban on “firing and rehiring” practices which have seen some employees made redundant and then brought back on for worse pay and conditions.
He will tell the prime minister: “Get your priorities right. Get on with defeating this virus.”
Here’s our political editor Andrew Woodcock with more:
‘Get your priorities right’: Starmer urges Boris Johnson to replace furlough scheme
Labour leader calls on ministers to ‘take inspiration from our past’ and work with opposition, unions and business
Government warns of 7,000 lorry queues and Eurostar delays
A leaked report shows the government is preparing for the ‘worst case’ scenario for delays to cross into the European Union with warnings of 7,000 lorry queues in Kent.
The document, prepared by the Border and Protocol Delivery Group, also predicts thousands of passengers could face two-hour delays for Eurostar trains.
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said in a statement the report reflects a “stretching scenario” whereby the worst case outcome is considered as opposed to a prediction.
The leak follows a warning from the Unite union that Britain’s ports would be "chaos and confusion” in the new year unless planned lorry parks and essential customs software are completed.
An essential IT system used by lorry drivers will not be tested until the end of November, one month before the UK’s transition period ends, according to the report.
Patel says she would call police on neighbours breaking ‘rule-of-six’
Priti Patel said she would call the police on people flouting the new “rule-of-six” adding that families should not mingle with friends they bump into on the streeet.
“If I saw something that I thought was inappropriate, then quite frankly I would effectively call the police," the home secretary told Sky News.
“It's not about dobbing in neighbours, I think it's all about us taking personal responsibility. If there was a big party taking place, it would be right to call the police.”
Asked to define “mingling”, which is a criminal offence under the new regulations, the home secretary said it was “people coming together” and that two families of four stopping to chat in the street would be in breach of the law.
Priti Patel says she ‘would call police’ on neighbours breaking coronavirus restrictions?
‘If I saw gatherings or more than six people clearly I would report that,’ says home secretary
DUP minister halted Irish Sea border planning after party meeting
A decision was taken last week by Northern Ireland’s Environment minister to halt planning for border posts in the Irish Sea following a meeting with senior party figures, it has emerged.
Stormont minister Edwin Poots, who was appointed in May to lead preparations for post-Brexit border checks at Northern Irish ports and airports, put a stop to planning days after a meeting with senior Democratic Unionist Party figures in which he was urged to do so, the Belfast News Letter reports.
The decision to halt works followed an interview with Arlene Foster on Sky News in which she stated she would implement Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal creating the new trade border in the Irish Sea and suggested more money from London would offset damage caused to the Union.
Ms Foster is understood to have been present at the meeting where planning was urged to come to a stop although it is not clear what position she held during.
Brexit Bill ‘hugely damaging’ to international reputation, says former US ambassador
The Internal Market Bill has been described as “hugely damaging” to the UK’s international reputation by the former UK ambassador to Washington.
Kim Darroch — who was forced to resign as US ambassador last year after critical remarks he made about Donald Trump’s administration were leaked — said the Bill, which would violate the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the European Union last year, would damage chances of getting trade deals with the US and Brussels along with causing enduring damage to the UK’s international standing.
“It’s potentially hugely damaging to our international reputation. It puts at risk future international agreements, if people think the Brits are just going to say: we didn’t like this on reflection, and we would like to rewrite this part unilaterally,” the former diplomat told The Guardian.
Following a warning from US speaker Nancy Pelosi that there will be "absolutely no chance" of a trade deal with Britain passing congress should the UK government override the Withdrawal Agreement, Mr Darroch said: “The UK-US deal is at risk because, even if Donald Trump is reelected, it’s quite hard to see the Republicans taking back the [House of Representatives].
“And as long as the House is in Democratic hands, the leadership have made it clear that a UK-US free trade deal wouldn’t be possible if we put at risk the Good Friday agreement."
Mr Darroch also suggested some damage may already have been done by the UK government’s apparent willingless to break international law even if the Bill were to be withdrawn, saying: “If we were to back down or find a way through with the EU, that would limit the damage, but the fact that we contemplated it is still damaging.”
‘Rule of law is under attack,’ solicitors warn
A leading solicitors body warns that the UK is nearing a “historic change of direction” after the controversial Internal Market Bill passed its first vote in parliament last night.
“The rule of law is under attack,” said Simon Davis, president of the Law Society, which represents the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales.
“In 2014 the department for education published guidance on promoting fundamental British values in schools, including the rule of law.
“To hear, therefore, this country proposing to breach an agreement just entered into, breaking international law, even if in a “specific and limited way” has been shocking."
Echoing earlier warnings from figures in the US and Brussels that the government risks damaging trust in the UK, Mr Davis said: “It is because of our commitment to the rule of law that our system of justice is respected globally, that countries want to do trade deals with the UK and that we can comment on state oppression in Belarus with credibility.
“We have a choice about what sort of country we want to be and what we want to be known for around the world. I fervently hope we will still be respected as a country which prides itself on upholding the rule of law.”
Brexit bill allows UK to 'stay true’ to Northern Ireland, Patel claims
Priti Patel has defended the government’s controversial Brexit Bill, claiming it allows the UK to “stay true” to the people of Northern Ireland.
The Internal Market Bill, which passed its first vote in the House of Commons last night, would allow the UK to breach the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU last year — which included provisions for border checks on goods travelling over the Irish Sea — but the home secretary argued today that the Bill means the government can “deliver” on manifesto promises to Northern Ireland.
“When it comes to preserving the integrity of the UK and clearly delivering for the people of Northern Ireland when it comes to the Good Friday Agreement, we've said from day one ... that we would always stand by our word and not compromise when it comes to unfettered access in goods and services but also standing by the Good Friday Agreement,” Ms Patel said on BBC Breakfast.
“We are ensuring the UK Internal Market Bill stays true to that principle, that is why we are bringing this Bill forward.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the home secretary said: “We want to reach an agreement still with the EU and we are going to concentrate as a government to work to achieve that, but through this Bill right now we want to have the safeguards and mechanisms in place to ensure we stay true to the people of Northern Ireland.”
"Fat-tongued, slack-jawed, wide-eyed and wobbling, Boris Johnson sat on the front bench of the House of Commons and faced down his inevitable humiliation with the kind of dignity only he can."
Here’s Tom Peck with his take on Ed Miliband’s damning attack on the prime minister in the Commons last night:
Boris Johnson’s humiliation by Ed Miliband was the culmination of a lifetime of lies about the EU
Johnson’s lies about the withdrawal agreement were easy for Ed Miliband to lay bare. Their damage will be much harder to undo
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