The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned Boris Johnson that “serious divergences” and “very, very difficult differences” remain with the UK following the first round of negotiations on a post-Brexit trade deal.
It comes as emergency discussions take place over a possible shutdown of parliament to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Mr Johnson’s spokesman said No 10 will not need to ask the EU for an extension of the transition period due to the virus.
Elsewhere, there was anger over MPs receiving an inflation-busting pay rise which brings their basic salary to £82,000. And the PM defended his home secretary Priti Patel amid bullying allegations, tells ITV’s This Morning he wanted to “stick with Prit”.
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PM refuses to commit to keeping UK in human rights convention
Boris Johnson is refusing to sign up to human rights protections in any Brexit trade deal with the EU, opening the door to the UK quitting the European convention.
Boris Johnson is refusing to sign up to human rights protections in any Brexit trade deal with the EU, opening the door to the UK quitting the European convention.
Speaking in Brussels after the first round of post-Brexit talks, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier told reporters that the UK "informs us that they do not wish to commit formally to applying the European Convention on Human Rights".
UK officials confirmed that the UK did not want membership of the European Convention on Human Rights membership written into the trade agreement.
EU tells UK to respect its independence
Britain must respect the EU’s “independence” and accept that the bloc has its own red lines in trade talks, its chief negotiator has warned Boris Johnson.
Michel Barnier was speaking in Brussels at the close of the first round of Brexit trade negotiations, where he warned that “very, very difficult” differences were emerging between both sides with the clock ticking down.
“Let’s avoid any misunderstandings: the UK has spent a lot of time this week insisting on its independence: ladies and gentlemen, nobody contests the UK’s independence. We also ask the UK to respect our own independence,” Mr Barnier said.
Britain must respect the EU’s “independence” and accept that the bloc has its own red lines in trade talks, its chief negotiator has warned Boris Johnson.
Michel Barnier was speaking in Brussels at the close of the first round of Brexit trade negotiations, where he warned that “very, very difficult” differences were emerging between both sides with the clock ticking down.
“Let’s avoid any misunderstandings: the UK has spent a lot of time this week insisting on its independence: ladies and gentlemen, nobody contests the UK’s independence. We also ask the UK to respect our own independence,” Mr Barnier said.
PM's spokesman says 'highly likely' virus will spread in significant way
Boris Johnson was briefed by the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser following a meeting of the Scientific Adviser's Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: "We will continue to try to contain this virus. However, it is now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way.
"Officials will therefore accelerate work on preparations for the 'delay' phase of the government's plan, focusing on steps we can take to seek to delay the spread of the virus. "This will include detailed work on the optimum time to introduce further measures."
Boris Johnson was briefed by the chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser following a meeting of the Scientific Adviser's Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: "We will continue to try to contain this virus. However, it is now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way.
"Officials will therefore accelerate work on preparations for the 'delay' phase of the government's plan, focusing on steps we can take to seek to delay the spread of the virus. "This will include detailed work on the optimum time to introduce further measures."
PM to face scrutiny in Lords over Brexit security
There was uproar in December, when Boris Johnson scrapped MPs’ power to scrutinise his plans for trade and security after Brexit – but now he will be forced, finally, to justify them, writes deputy political editor Rob Merrick.
A debate will be staged in the House of Lords within two weeks, with pressure for the Commons to also exploit a mechanism buried in the deal that took the UK out of the EU.
Before Christmas, the prime minister stripped out a clause from the legislation that would have given MPs oversight of the negotiations – reducing them to “passive bystanders”, it was said.
However, a Lords committee has now triggered the debate later this month, exploiting a separate clause in the Act, with expectations the European Scrutiny committee will do the same in the Commons.
The report, by the EU committee, warns of looming clashes over fishing, financial services, state aid, workers’ and environmental rights.
“What our analysis shows is just how far the UK and EU sides have grown apart since they agreed on the framework for future relations last October,” said Lord Kinnoull, its chairman.
“The clock is ticking, and the two sides only have until the end of the year to reach an agreement. It will be a huge challenge.”
A debate will be staged in the House of Lords within two weeks, with pressure for the Commons to also exploit a mechanism buried in the deal that took the UK out of the EU.
Before Christmas, the prime minister stripped out a clause from the legislation that would have given MPs oversight of the negotiations – reducing them to “passive bystanders”, it was said.
However, a Lords committee has now triggered the debate later this month, exploiting a separate clause in the Act, with expectations the European Scrutiny committee will do the same in the Commons.
The report, by the EU committee, warns of looming clashes over fishing, financial services, state aid, workers’ and environmental rights.
“What our analysis shows is just how far the UK and EU sides have grown apart since they agreed on the framework for future relations last October,” said Lord Kinnoull, its chairman.
“The clock is ticking, and the two sides only have until the end of the year to reach an agreement. It will be a huge challenge.”
UK coronavirus cases jump to 115
‘Vote for hope’: Brown backs Starmer
More now on Gordon Brown’s intervention in the Labour leadership contest.
Endorsing Keir Starmer’s bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour PM said the frontrunner had the “necessary qualifications”.
“A vote for Keir Starmer is a vote for hope. It’s a vote for the future. It’s a vote for the values that all of us believe in deeply. Join Keir Starmer and let’s elect a Labour government.”
In his intervention, Brown also said the Conservatives had succeeded in “demolishing much of the social fabric and the postwar social contract” that Labour had created in power.
“Millions of workers are on low pay and millions of children as a result are in poverty,” he said.
All the details here:
Gordon Brown endorses Keir Starmer for Labour leadership
‘Starmer has all the qualifications that are necessary for a prime minister of the future,’ says former Labour PM‘Men in grey suits’ went after Theresa May, says former Tory minister
The government has been criticised for its gender pay gap and male-dominanted Cabinet by a Tory former minister.
Women and Equalities Committee Chair Caroline Nokes said while across all government payroll positions there is “just shy” of a 50:50 balance, this may have been reached “by putting women onto the first rung, the unpaid payroll”.
Nokes added that she is “saddened that the men in grey suits went after” former prime minister Theresa May and warned the government that the Domestic Abuse Bill “must pass in this parliament” as there are “no excuses this time”.
Meanwhile, shadow women’s minister Dawn Butler called for the creation of a standalone women and equalities department to ensure that parliament leads the way in politics changing from “the old boy’s club”.
“Gender pay gap reporting has shone a light on disparity, but we know that some government departments have gone backwards and the disparity today is greater today than it was last year,” Nokes told MPs during a debate on International Women’s Day.
PM ‘wants to keep Patel in government’
Labour have questioned the validity of the Cabinet Office investigation into whether Priti Patel breached the ministerial code of conduct – given Boris Johnson’s strong defence of his home secretary.
Tory MP Damian Green said the PM made it “perfectly clear he wants to keep her in the government”.
The backbencher also said he had known Patel for many years and “never seen that in her at all” (referring to alleged bullying behaviour).
It comes as one “friend” of Patel’s was quoted in the Financial Times predicting he end of her career.
“It’s how she is...I think she may have repeatedly crossed the line of what is acceptable conduct for a public servant in 2020.
“I fear this will eventually end with her leaving cabinet and the end of her political career.”
Diane Abbott asks Priti Patel to sanction independent probe into bullying claims
Labour’s shadow home secretary has written to the home secretary insisting an independent investigation in bullying allegations would not cut across the current Cabinet Office investigation.
Abbott tweeted: “The government can’t act as judge and jury in a case against one of their own ministers.”
In the letter, the Labour MP states: “There can be no doubt you will agree that the allegation that you are in breach of the Ministerial Code is very serious indeed and it is in the interest of good governance that the truth is established as quickly as possible.
“An independent inquiry does not cut across or obstruct any investigation made by the Cabinet Office.”
‘Scandalous’: Fury over MPs pay rise
There’s plenty of anger over the news MPs will get an above-inflation, 3.1 per cent pay rise bringing their basic annual salary to almost £82,000.
In the wake of the expenses scandal, annual pay rises in the Commons were pegged to the change in average weekly earnings in the public sector for October.
Former Labour councillor Oliur Rahman: “This is a scandalous, when most of the public sector workers have not received any decent pay rise for years.”
Academic Ashok Kumar tweeted: “Real term wages have contracted, debt levels have skyrocketed, while rents have spiked as % of wages. They’re laughing at you.”
Tony Shepherd tweeted: “I just don’t know how [MPs]’ll manage to scrape by on that.”
Barnier cites ‘very difficult’ differences with UK – and demands respect for EU’s ‘independence’
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has issued a fresh warning that it will not be “business as usual” when the Brexit transition period ends as 2020 comes to a close.
Barnier said: “Our differences come as no surprise, especially after only one round of negotiations, but some are very, very difficult. However, I continue to believe that we can reach a good agreement for both sides. These past few days have been constructive.”
He added: “I will just share with you two possible keys for success. Number one, not going back on our commitments. Number two, mutual respect. Let's avoid any misunderstandings."
The EU chief negotiator also said: "The UK has spent a lot of time this week insisting on its independence. Nobody contests the UK independence. And we ask the UK to respect our own independence.”
Our correspondent Jon Stone has more:
EU tells UK to respect its independence
Chief negotiator Michel Barnier says 'the EU sets its own conditions for opening up its markets for goods and services'Long-Bailey says she doesn't regret working on hospital PFIs
Labour leadership candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey says she has no regrets about working on PFI contracts before she became an MP, after criticism that she helped “privatise the NHS”.
The Labour leadership contender defended her previous involvement as a solicitor, saying: “It’s one of the things that pushed me into becoming an MP.”
Long-Bailey denied helping to construct private finance initiative (PFI) agreements, blamed for loading hospitals with huge debts, explaining: “I wasn’t drawing up the PFI deals, I didn’t work for the PFI companies.”
“It was a fact that if you were working within the NHS – if you had to grant a lease to a pharmacy or a GP – you were operating within a structure that was going to exist for 30 years in many cases,” she said.
All the details here:
Rebecca Long-Bailey says she doesn't regret working on hospital PFIs
Defence comes as leadership contender warns Labour will be turned into centrist party 'akin to the Liberal Democrats' if she losesTough few weeks ahead for Britain, says health secretary
Matt Hancock has warned of a “tough” weeks ahead in the battle to combat the spread of coronavirus, but added that the government was not planning to shut schools and universities at this stage.
“In the coming weeks, it will be tough, but with calm heads and clear determination, together we can see it through,” Hancock told a British Chambers of Commerce conference.
Scientific advice suggested that cancelling large public events brought no benefits if people undertook basic hygeine measures, he said.
He added that the government was looking at providing extra support for those who are not eligible for statutory sick pay ahead of next week's budget.
MPs handed above-inflation pay rise to £82,000
Members of parliament are to receive an inflation-busting 3.1 per cent pay rise, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has announced.
It brings their basic annual salary to almost £82,000.
‘It would create panic’: Pundits discuss possible shutdown of parliament
Melanie Phillips, The Times columnist, is not happy about the idea parliament could shut down for an extended period to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“It would create complete panic, which would have knock-on effects that would disastrous for life and limb, apart from anything else,” she told the BBC’s Politics Live.
She added: “I actually think the government’s been very proportionate and sensible. We’re British and we keep calm and carry and that’s great.”
‘Qualified to be PM’: Gordon Brown endorses Keir Starmer
The former Labour prime minister has offered his backing for the leadership frontrunner Keir Starmer.
“We have three worthy candidates in the election for Labour leader,” he said in a video posted by Stamer. “Rebecca Long-Bailey has emphasised of a green new deal. Lisa Nandy has talked rightly about the importance of empowering our communities.
“There is one candidate with the expertise, with the eloquence, with the dedication, with the commitment – and indeed with the values that are necessary for Labour to return to power. Keir Starmer has all the qualifications that are necessary for a prime minister of the future.”
PM: No need to extend Brexit transition period over coronavirus
Boris Johnson’s spokesman has said the PM will not need to ask the EU for an extension of the Brexit transition period due to the coronavirus.
He also said the government will be providing daily updates on geographical areas of virus infections at 2pm – despite suggestions yesterday it would be weekly.
“What we're going to just ensure that the information is fully correct and then we’ll release it with a 24 hour delay.”
Rees-Mogg challenged over upside down Union flag outside parliament
Tory MP Robert Courts has told the Commons that the Union flag outside Portcullis House has been flying upside down for weeks.
He asked Jacob Rees-Mogg whether it’s sign of “distress” (an upside down flag at sea is a distress signal).
The Commons leader replied: “This is a deeply troubling matter – that the Union Jack should be flying upside down … I’m sorry that this is happened. I’m glad this has been brought to the attention of the House authorities.”
Looking towards the speaker’s chair, he added: “I see the clerk of the House of Commons is taking action immediately.”
Not our job to prop up Flybe, says Tory minister
Transport minister Kelly Tolhurst has made a statement in the Commons on the overnight collapse of regional airline Flybe.
“Unfortunately in a competitive market, companies do fail and it is not the role of government to prop them up,” she said.
Tolhurst said the government had worked “tirelessly” with shareholders in attempt to find solutions since last year, but the impact of the coronavirus had “compounded” existing problems in recent weeks.
“Sufficient alternative transport routes should be available,” she added.
Parliament could be closed due to COVID-19, admits Tory minister
The health minister Edward Argar has admitted parliament could be shut down for several months to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
He said it was within the “range of discussions” and “possible scenarios” being considered. “What I understand is that the advice at the moment is not that that is necessary,” Argar said earlier.
He also told Sky News: The overwhelming majority of these cases are still linked to travel … There’s no evidence at the moment of community transmission.”
