Brexit news – live: Trump administration issues warning to Boris Johnson over Good Friday Agreement

Amal Clooney quits as government envoy over Internal Market Bill

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has resigned as a special envoy for the UK government citing plans to violate the terms of the Brexit treaty as her reason for leaving the job.

Follow the story as it develops here:

Peers demand urgent clarity on Internal Market Bill

Peers have demanded clarity from the government on the law-breaking powers offered in the Internal Market Bill.

The House of Lords European Union Committee has written to Michael Gove, the cabinet office secretary, asking whether the Bill still contains provisions to “break international law in a very specific and limited way” after Boris Johnson offered a compromise to Tory rebels allowing parliament a vote before ministers can breach the Withdrawal Agreement.

The letter also asks the government to provide evidence for Boris Johnson’s claim that the EU has indicated willingness to enforce a blockade on goods reaching the UK among other “extreme and unreasonable lengths” the prime minister suggested Brussels was prepared to go to. 

Lord Kinnoull, the committee chair, said: “We raised a lot of concerns with the government in our report back in June over the lack of clarity on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“The government’s paramount goal must be to protect peace and stability in Northern Ireland. 

“Given that the government has now said that it is prepared to break the agreement on the protocol, we need to be absolutely clear about why it is doing this. 

“This is an urgent matter as time is short.”

Peers request that the government respond to their questions by Friday 25 September.

Northern Ireland told to prepare post-Brexit port checkpoints

The UK government has instructed ministers at Stormont to start work on checkpoints at Northern Ireland’s sea ports immediately.

Environment secretary George Eustice wrote in a letter to Stormont’s agriculture department that preparing the ports is “critical” to mitigate potential problems with the food supply when customs checks come into place for goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The letter, seen by the BBC, comes a week after it was revealed Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister Edwin Poots wanted to halt work on checkpoints after being urged to do so in a meeting with senior Democratic Unionist Party figures.

Mr Eustice writes: “It is my expectation that your department will procure such facilities in accordance with obligations of the Northern Ireland Protocol.”

“Delivery is critical to mitigate risks to food security, including potentially security of supply, cost to the taxpayer and value for money. 

“Compliance is necessary for the continued well-being of people, businesses and communities in Northern Ireland.”

He ends the letter: “My view is that it is now the role of your department to procure the facilities for agri-food checks without delay.”

Labour Virtual Conference starting tomorrow

Labour’s first ever digital-only party conference will run from tomorrow until Wednesday, ahead of the Liberal Democrats next week and the Conservatives at the start of October.

Below are the timings for some of the events to look out for in coming days:

Saturday 21 September

2:50pm – General secretary Jennie Formby speaks

3:30pm – Dawn Butler MP speaks

Sunday 22 September

10:00am – Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford speaks

10:10am – Deputy leader Angela Rayner speaks

Monday 23 September

10:10am – Scottish leader Richard Leonard speaks

11:10am – Previous shadow chancellor John McDonnell speaks

2:15pm – Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry speaks

Tuesday 24 September

10:10am – Former shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey speaks

4:00pm – Leader’s speech from Sir Keir Starmer

MPs welcome launch of Tessa Jowell foundation

Politcians from both main parties have welcomed the launch of the Tessa Jowell Foundation, which aims to improve brain cancer treatment in the UK.

Continuing the legacy of Tessa Jowell, a former secretary of state who herself died from a brain tumour, the foundation will “secure the delivery” of the late MPs mission to support those suffering from the illness.

Commenting on the launch and Jowell’s legacy, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Tessa was an inspiration. A true public servant, she strived throughout her life to make this country a better place for all.”

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said Jowell’s “impact on others and the legacy she left was achieved always with kindness, compassion and with great integrity”.

Tessa Jowell died aged 70 in May 2018 after a being diagnosed with brain cancer the previous year.

Birthday wishes for late MP who oversaw Good Friday Agreement

Labour MP Rachel Reeves was among many to share birthday wishes for the late Mo Mowlam, who oversaw the Good Friday Agreement in her time as Tony Blair’s Northern Ireland secretary.

Mowlam, who remains a highly respected figure in Northern Ireland, passed away in 2005 after a head injury following a battle with brain cancer. She would have been 71 today.

‘So now you give the Devil the benefit of the law!’ – Geoffrey Cox

Geoffrey Cox has refreshed his opposition to the government’s plan to break international law with the aid of ecclesiastical high-drama.

After leading the Tory rebellion against provisions in the Internal Market Bill — which would allow the UK to renege on sections of the EU Withdrawal Agreement — the former attorney general tweeted a scene from the 1966 film adaptation of Robert Bolt’s A Man of All Seasons where Sir Thomas More argues passionately for the rule of law to be upheld.

In the film, Sir Thomas More’s support for the rule of law eventually leads to his own execution. For Mr Cox, we will have to wait and see.

Trump’s Northern Ireland envoy issues warning over border

Donald Trump’s special envoy to Northern Ireland has warned Boris Johnson against creating a “hard border by accident” on the island of Ireland with his plan to breach the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit treaty.

“The Trump administration, State Department and the US Congress would all be aligned in the desire to see the Good Friday Agreement preserved to see the lack of a border maintained,” Mr Mulvaney told the Financial Times on Friday.

The diplomat’s warning echoes those of many senior US politicians including Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, who have warned that the Good Friday Agreement must be respected if the UK is to have any hopes of securing a trade deal with Washington.

Liam Fox through to second round in contest to become WTO boss

Former international trade secretary Liam Fox has made it through to the second round of votes in the contest to become the next director general of the World Trade Organisation.

Dr Fox will face off against seven other candidates from around the world in the selection process to replace the departed Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down on 31 August. 

The MP for North Somerset said the WTO “lacks political momentum at a time when most of the blockages in the global trading system are political”, adding that he wants to see disputes resolved in national capitals as well as Geneva, where the organisation is based.

He also pledged to ensure women account for at least half of the roles in his leadership team if selected. 

Angela Rayner urges Johnson: Extend eviction ban

Angela Rayner has issued a plea to the prime minister to extend the ban on evictions for private renters ahead of its scheduled end on Sunday.

The deputy Labour leader joins numerous opposition MPs in calling for an extension to the ban, which housing charity Shelter warns will leave thousands facing homelessness if brought to an end.