Brexit news – live: EU says ‘genuine urgency’ needed to resolve protocol row following Brussels talks
Follow the latest updates below
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The EU has said there is still “a genuine urgency” to resolve a dispute with the UK on the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol, following talks between Lord Frost and Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Friday.
Although the bloc acknowledged some “progress” was achieved in the discussions, it said the UK should accept its “big move” to reduce checks across the Irish Sea.
“We now need to press on and get this crucial issue across the line. This is a real test of political goodwill,” Brussels said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Brexit minister Lord Frost stipulated that “significant change” was still needed regarding post-Brexit arrangements in the territory. He did not rule out London triggering Article 16 to achieve its purposes.
Both sides have clashed about the level of customs checks and the oversight role played by the European Court of Justice in the province.
Elsewhere, Ryanair has confirmed that it will leave the London Stock Exchange next month, citing expenses caused by Brexit.
Leftist freedom of speech ‘non negotiable’ – Dorries told
PM Boris Johnson has had to remind culture secretary Nadine Dorries that left-wing people have a right to freedom of speech.
It comes after the Tory MP had complained that she was not able to air her right-wing views on social media without being criticised.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “The prime minister supports the idea of independent thinking and intellectual freedom, and that that should be non-negotiable.”
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the full story
Boris Johnson slaps down Nadine Dorries over freedom of speech online
Culture secretary says social media has been ‘hijacked’ by left-wingers who keep challenging her views
Politics talk show host Andrew Marr leaving BBC
Andrew Marr has announced he is ending his political talk show at the BBC and moving to Global in the new year.
The host of Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, where politicians have been interviewed on a weekly basis for 16 years, said he was “keen to get my own voice back”.
He has been with the BBC for 21 years in total.
Global tweeted that Mr Marr will be presenting new shows on LBC radio and ClassicFM, a new weekly podcast, and will also write a regular column for LBC’s website.
Labour says Javid holds share options in health AI
Sajid Javid is facing scrutiny for holding share options in a tech firm that provides artificial intelligence (AI) software to the health sector.
The health secretary was also paid the equivalent of more than £150,000 a year by Californian firm C3.ai from October last year until June when he rejoined the Cabinet.
Labour questioned whether he has broken the ministerial code because he continues to have an “option for 666.7 common shares per month”, according to the MPs’ register of interests.
Mr Javid reports these options to be worth around £45,000 but is said to have begun the process of divesting after taking the job of health secretary earlier this year.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner alleged it is a “clear conflict of interest and breach of the ministerial code” and wrote a letter to PM Boris Johnson’s adviser on ministers’ interests, Lord Geidt, to raise her concerns.
“In September, the Secretary of State’s department announced that the use of ‘artificial intelligence’ would shorten waiting lists in our NHS,” she said.
“The Department of Health and Social Care announcing that it is going to spend taxpayers’ money on [AI] could clearly be perceived as beneficial to an [AI] company, and to the value of shares in an [AI] company such as C3.ai.”
She pointed to the section of the ministerial code that states ministers “must scrupulously avoid any danger of an actual or perceived conflict of interest” between their role and their private financial interest.
Sturgeon welcomes Gove’s comments on NI protocol
Scotland’s first minister has welcomed Michael Gove’s suggestion that the UK will most likely not trigger Article 16.
Nicola Sturgeon said she was pleased the government is now focused on “getting a resolution”.
“For my part, I think that there are credible and serious proposals on the table, and if there is a political will and a desire to find agreement that should be possible,” she added.
UK and EU must improve relations, says Taoiseach
The UK and the EU must “turn the corner” on their Brexit feud and improve their relations, the Taoiseach has said.
Micheal Martin told reporters in Cardiff that the first step in this process would be resolving issues relating to the operation of the protocol.
“Inevitably, there will be a long period of adjustment and change,” he said.
“There’s now a need to turn the corner in the relationship. And by that I mean the macro geopolitical issues are such that we need the European Union and United Kingdom in alignment, working together on the big issues that affect the globe.”
Mr Martin added that the alliance between the US, the EU and the UK at Cop26 boded well. “That’s the spirit that should inform our approach in terms of a sustained constructive relationship between Europe and UK into the future,” the Irish leader said.
Sign up to our new Brexit newsletter
Brexit may officially be over, but it continues to cause massive upheaval.
Adam Forrest will examine the debate from both sides in The Independent’s new Brexit and beyond newsletter, which will be sent to your inbox each Thursday, complete with all the latest development from this long-running drama.
Sign up here:
The Independent launches new Brexit and beyond newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter to receive updates direct to your inbox every Thursday
‘Genuine urgency’ needed to resolve Brexit impasse, says EU
There is still “a genuine urgency” to sort out a post-Brexit row on the Northern Ireland protocol, the EU has said.
Although the bloc acknowledged that “progress” had been made today on topics like customs, it added that the dispute needed to be sorted quickly.
“We now need to press on and get this crucial issue across the line. This is a real test of political goodwill. The EU, for its part, is confident that our proposed solution, addressing all concerns raised by industry, would bring much-needed clarity and foster a positive political momentum,” the bloc said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Brexit minister Lord Frost said Britain still wanted “a significant change from the current situation” on the ground in Northern Ireland.
“If no such solution can be found, we remain prepared to use the safeguard provisions under Article 16, which are a legitimate recourse under the protocol in order for the Government to meet its responsibilities to the people of Northern Ireland,” he said.
The pair will next week in London on 26 November.
PM strips Transport for the North of powers
The government has slashed funding from the North's umbrella transport authority and stripped it of responsibility for developing Northern Powerhouse Rail.
The decision, revealed in a letter to the organisation, comes after Transport for the North (TfN) criticised cuts to the scheme.
The Department for Transport will now take over the project.
See the full report here:
Boris Johnson strips Transport for the North of powers after it criticises rail cuts
Government drops Northern transport authority as ‘co-client’ of new line rail
Patel to proscribe Hamas as terrorist organisation
Priti Patel has said she wants to ban Hamas “in its entirety”, as she moves to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation.
During a visit to Washington on Friday, the home secretary will describe the Islamist group as “fundamentally and rabidly antisemitic”.
“Hamas has significant terrorist capability, including access to extensive and sophisticated weaponry, as well as terrorist training facilities,” she tweeted.
It is thought the move could be pushed through parliament from as early as next week.
Labour calls for an end to Covid procurement relaxations
Labour has called on the government to revoke emergency coronavirus rules which allowed normal procurement practices to be suspended.
The party has written to the Crown Commercial Service, which oversees public procurement, asking for an explanation on why emergency procurement rules introduced at the start of the Covid pandemic are still in place.
In the letter, Jack Dromey, Labour’s shadow paymaster general, said he understood why, at a time of national crisis, the measures had been put in place.
Mr Dromey said: “Following recent revelations regarding the awarding of public contracts during the pandemic and the role of Cabinet ministers in this process, I am concerned that such inadequate procurement processes should not be allowed to continue.”
And he added: “These emergency rules have led to billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being handed out on dodgy contracts, and opened the door for the shocking levels of lobbying that the Owen Paterson case exposed.
“The Government must act now to revoke these emergency rules, clean up how public contracts are awarded and put an end to this scandal.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments