Brexit news - live: Medicine charter flights and drug rationing may be enforced if UK leaves EU with no deal, government admits
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A no-deal Brexit could see charter planes used to fly in drugs to prop up the NHS and medicines given priority access through gridlocked ports, health secretary Matt Hancock has said.
The minister also revealed the government was consulting on plans for chemists to ration medication so that patients can retain access to vital treatments in the event of shortages caused by the UK’s withdrawal.
His remarks come as embattled prime minister Theresa May was criticised by backbench Tory rebels and the DUP over her “desperate” comprise efforts to attract support for her beleaguered deal.
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The Indy's Europe Correspondent Jon Stone on an interesting geographical correlation...
Lizzy Buchan here on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has suggested a second referendum could well follow the defeat of Theresa May's "worst of all worlds" deal.
Corbyn's comments come as his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, rejected a warning by Unite leader Len McCluskey that remain-backing Labour members would regard the party's support for a final say as a betrayal.
Asked during a visit to Glasgow this morning whether he agreed with Mr McCluskey, Mr McDonnell said simply: “No.”
If there were to be a second referendum, it was “inevitable” the choice for voters would be remain versus Theresa May’s deal, the shadow chancellor said, adding: “And if it was, I would vote remain.”
"My speech yesterday [in the House of Commons] was a sincere attempt to try and bring all parties together to try and agree a Brexit which will protect jobs and the economy," he continued.
“If we can’t get that, we need a general election because we can then change the team that will then do the negotiations. If we can’t do that, well, I think people will recognise we have no other option but to consider another public vote and people will respect us for doing our best to implement the spirit of the referendum.
“We’ve got to resolve this issue. We can’t go on like this.”
Amen to that.
Here's Matt Hancock again, elaborating on his comments this morning about Britain's post-Brexit healthcare prospects.
Over in the DUP camp, deputy leader Nigel Dodds has welcomed the government’s minister for the cabinet office, David Lidington, to Northern Ireland but said ministers need to be using their time to correct "fatal flaws" in the Withdrawal Agreement.
"Rather than a roadshow selling the fundamentally flawed Withdrawal Agreement, I would prefer the Government would listen to MPs all on sides of the House Commons and finally acknowledge the backstop is dangerous for Northern Ireland and the entire United Kingdom.
"The Withdrawal Agreement is an international legally binding Treaty which would place a customs and regulatory border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain contrary to the direct pledges of the Prime Minister. It leaves the entire United Kingdom trapped in the backstop arrangements until the EU decides to release us. These are not just my observations but also the view of the Government’s Attorney General as stated in his recently published legal advice to Cabinet."
"I understand why businesses want certainty about the future trading relationship with the EU but this is not the best of both worlds for Northern Ireland. Even the Chancellor of the Exchequer has had to admit the backstop is a bad arrangement for the economy and the Union. And the Prime Minister herself now says no one likes it!"
"I want to see a sensible deal and we can get one. This is not a binary choice between this Withdrawal Agreement and no deal. It is time for the Government to recognise the genuine opposition to this Withdrawal Agreement and seek fundamental change by getting rid of the backstop. With London, Dublin and Brussels all stating categorically that they will not build a hard border in any circumstances, there is no need for this backstop arrangement.”
Brexit has turned the country's politicians into Roald Dahl's Mr and Mrs Twit, says The Indy's sketch writer Tom Peck:
Boris Johnson's war analogy earlier has seen him come under fire (appropriately), with Layla Moran of the Liberal Democrats branding him a "deserter".
"If he really wanted to avoid this utter humiliation, he'd back the only sensible way to break the Brexit deadlock in Parliament. That means supporting the people having a final say with the option to keep the benefits of EU membership," she said.
"That would be the real victory for Britain."
Just two parliamentary constituencies back the PM's Brexit deal, a YouGov survey has found
Back in Northern Ireland, David Lidington has insisted the government's confidence and supply agreement with the DUP is not in danger despite party leader Arlene Foster breaking ranks over the Irish border backstop.
"As with any minority government there are going to be squalls and difficulties in a Parliament where the government does not have an automatic majority in either House, but that is not something new to British history," he said.
Mr Lidington also pointed out that MPs have a public duty to act in the national interest.
"The choices are not going to go away as a consequence of postponing the vote.
"The European Commission, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, other leaders, have all said, very plainly, this is the deal that is available.
"They on the EU side have made concessions to get here, both sides have moved.
"And Michel Barnier, the EU's negotiator, has had a lot of flak from Governments in Paris, the Hague and other capitals, for making too many moves to help the UK, as they see it.
"So they are not going to move, so the choice becomes if not this deal, what else?
"No other deal is available, therefore it is either crash out, which would do serious damage to businesses large and small, or it is reverse the decision and decide to stay in the European Union after all, which would, I think, come as a heavy blow to very many millions who voted to leave two years ago."
Britain should use risk of food shortages in Ireland to get better Brexit deal, says Priti Patel.
Indy Political Correspondent Ben Kentish on remarks by the Tories' former international development secretary being branded "morally reprehensible".
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