‘Too early to say’ if lockdown will finish by summer season, Boris Johnson says
Michel Barnier has waded right into a row over the standing of European Union diplomats within the UK after Brexit, warning the federal government in Westminster to “be very cautious” after it emerged the bloc’s consultant in London had not been given the identical standing as different ambassadors.
The International Workplace is refusing to grant EU ambassador Joao Vale de Almeida the identical diplomatic standing afforded to representatives of particular person nation states however Mr Barnier insisted the bloc can’t be handled solely as a world organisation, urging either side to as a substitute attain a “intelligent and goal resolution”.
Her Cupboard colleague Brandon Lewis, the Northern Eire secretary, had argued that the coronavirus disaster, not the tip of the transition interval, was solely guilty for the shortages earlier than Ms Truss contradicted him, blaming “each of these points”.
Lords reject bid to dam plans to permit undercover brokers to interrupt regulation
A Inexperienced Occasion peer’s bid to dam authorities plans to permit undercover brokers to interrupt the regulation with out risk of prosecution has been soundly rejected by the Home of Lords.
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb tried to stop passage of the controversial laws however her modification was defeated by 440 votes to 29.
Girl Jones, who says she was topic to police surveillance for greater than a decade, referred to as the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Prison Conduct) Invoice a “horrible piece of laws” and he or she couldn’t be “complicit” in it or with “future acts of state oppression” that will end result.
The Invoice will now return to the Commons for MPs to debate modifications made to it by friends.
Liam James21 January 2021 16:15
Authorities ‘should act now’ to save lots of festivals sector, Tory MP pleads after Glastonbury cancelled
Tory MP Julian Knight, who chairs the Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport Committee, labelled the cancellation of Glastonbury Pageant for the second 12 months in row “devastating”.
In a string of tweets, he admonished ministers for failing to heed pleas to guard the UK’s “vibrant and very important” festivals sector.
Mr Knight had beforehand warned there can be no competition season this 12 months with out authorities assist.
Liam James21 January 2021 16:00
As much as 200 lorries a day turned again from border, MPs advised
As much as 200 lorries a day are being turned again when making an attempt to cross from the UK into the EU as a result of they lack the right paperwork, officers have mentioned.
Emma Churchill, the pinnacle of the border and protocol supply group on the Cupboard Workplace, mentioned between 3 per cent and eight per cent of HGVs had been getting turned away on the ports, although she added merchants have been higher ready than was feared.
Ms Churchill was addressing the Public Accounts Committee earlier, the place MPs accused officers of downplaying the difficulties of transferring items to Northern Eire after the introduction of post-Brexit border checks.
Liam James21 January 2021 15:48
Music streaming mannequin wants fixing urgently, MPs advised
The Musicians’ Union has advised MPs they need to urgently repair the music streaming mannequin to make it a “actual supply of revenue” for artists.
The union mentioned the coronavirus pandemic had made it extra obvious that “streaming royalties are woefully inadequate” as musicians are at the moment unable to earn a living from stay occasions.
In a written submission to the Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into the economics of streaming, the trade representatives mentioned artists needs to be given a bigger share of income from streaming, including that “creators face an absence of transparency, lack of belief, royalty distortions and inefficiency” when coping with the platforms.
Liam James21 January 2021 15:41
Bars and eating places mustn’t reopen earlier than Might, authorities adviser warns
Sage member Dr Marc Baguelin, from Imperial School London, has warned the untimely reopening of the hospitality sector would result in, at finest, a “very, very unsustainable stage of stress on the NHS”.
Talking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, he mentioned: “We regarded on the partial reopening and the rise within the R quantity, it’s going to generate a rise within the R quantity, the extent of which we do not know actually.
“One thing of this scale, if it was to occur sooner than Might, would generate a bump in transmission, which is already actually dangerous.”
Liam James21 January 2021 15:12
Barnier warns Britain to ‘be very cautious’ in EU diplomat row
Michel Barnier has warned the UK authorities to “be very cautious” after the International Workplace refused to grant full diplomatic standing to the EU’s officers and ambassador in London
Talking at an occasion hosted by the European Motion Eire, Mr Barnier, who was the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, mentioned that whereas relations is not going to be “enterprise as typical”, he insisted the EU can’t be handled solely as a world organisation.
“I hope we shall be in a position collectively to discover a intelligent and goal resolution to the standing of the EU in London,” he added. “I believe it might be smart for my part for the UK to discover a intelligent resolution.
“We’ll see what would be the last choice of the UK on this level, however they need to be very cautious.”
Our Political Correspondent Ashley Cowburn has adopted the story to date:
Liam James21 January 2021 14:54
A whole bunch of hundreds of thousands in tax misplaced as border checks relaxed
Taxes totalling £800m may go unpaid this 12 months due to border checks on lorries being scaled again to keep away from queues at ports after Brexit, MPs have been advised.
HMRC accepts that cash shall be misplaced due to a choice to prioritise free circulation of visitors over income safety, chief government Jim Harra advised the Home of Commons Public Accounts Committee. The committee heard that important queues have to date been averted at ports like Dover.
However border supply group chief government Emma Churchill mentioned that a median of about 5 per cent of vans – as much as 200 a day – have been turned again for having the fallacious paperwork or failing to offer a adverse Covid take a look at.
Extra on this from our Political Editor Andrew Woodcock right here:
Liam James21 January 2021 14:45
As much as Joe Biden whether or not to take away Churchill, says Downing Road
Downing Road has declined to criticise Joe Biden for eradicating a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from the Oval Workplace, regardless of Boris Johnson’s notorious assault on Barack Obama for a similar transfer.
The prime minister mentioned in 2016 — in feedback broadly condemned as racist — that Mr Obama eradicating the sculpture “was an emblem of the part-Kenyan president’s ancestral dislike of the British Empire”.
However Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson on Thursday mentioned the identical transfer by Mr Biden was “as much as the president” after the Democrat took over the White Home from Donald Trump.
“The Oval Workplace is the president’s personal workplace and it is as much as the president to brighten it as he needs,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Out with Churchill, in with Chavez: The brand new president has introduced in a number of new busts after eradicating Sir Winston, together with socialist Latino American activist Cesar Chavez
(Getty/AP)
Liam James21 January 2021 14:30
Gavin Williamson launches ‘Expertise for Jobs’ coverage proposals
The training secretary has launched the “Expertise for Jobs” white paper, setting out the federal government’s plan for training reform, specializing in vocational coaching.
Gavin Williamson mentioned the white paper will guarantee expertise coaching matches “what employers need and wish” and can assist rebuild the economic system after the pandemic.
Labour’s Kate Inexperienced, the shadow training secretary, welcomed the plans however mentioned the federal government had been too gradual to recognise the necessity for reform.
“Even when the federal government get issues proper – and there are definitely measures on this White Paper that we on these benches have been calling for, for a while – they arrive too late, leaving households, companies, and our nation paying the worth,” she mentioned.
The training secretary is at the moment taking questions from MPs on the white paper
(Parliament Dwell)
Liam James21 January 2021 14:13
Key staff not authorities’s precedence, says Labour
Labour’s Andy McDonald, the shadow employment rights secretary, mentioned the federal government’s reported plan to scrap the 48-hour working week may stress key staff to tackle “extreme hours”.
Talking as Labour revealed a plan to pressure a vote within the Commons to guard the working hours restrict and vacation pay entitlements, Mr McDonald mentioned: “Scrapping the 48-hour working week cap may imply many key staff really feel pressured to work extreme hours. The federal government needs to be targeted on securing our economic system and rebuilding the nation, not taking a wrecking ball to hard-won rights.
“The federal government’s true colors are on full show as soon as once more and it’s clear their priorities couldn’t be farther from these of staff and their households. However on Monday MPs throughout the Home could have an opportunity to vote on the facet of working folks and shield our key staff.”
McDonald mentioned ministers plan to ‘rip up staff’ rights’
(PA)
Liam James21 January 2021 13:59