Dominic Cummings’ departure will not change the UK’s stance in the crucial final rounds of Brexit trade deal negotiations, the government has insisted, despite a belief in Brussels that the former Vote Leave tactician was previously “calling the shots”.
Downing Street has claimed Boris Johnson’s chief aide is to continue working until mid-December, however some reports suggested the prime minister told him to “get out and never return” in a blazing row one official reportedly likened to the “last days of Rome”.
While Ireland’s foreign minister warned on Sunday that there is “no way” the EU will ratify a trade deal if the UK government pushes ahead its Internal Market Bill – thereby compromising the existing withdrawal agreement and breaking international law – environment secretary George Eustice maintained moments later that the government still fully intends to do so.
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‘Some progress’ in Brexit trade talks but ‘we may not succeed’, UK’s chief negotiator says
David Frost has warned people and businesses to prepare for a no-deal Brexit as he touched down in Brussels for trade talks approaching the eleventh hour.
The UK’s chief negotiator cited “some progress in a positive direction in recent days”, but warned that “we may not succeed” in getting a trade deal with the EU.
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 14:55
Government to end Good Morning Britain boycott after 201 days, Piers Morgan says
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 13:40
‘Arrival of Joe Biden has made all the difference’ to PM’s Brexit approach
Former PM Gordon Brown has said he believes Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy has already changed following the victory of US president-elect Joe Biden.
Asked whether Dominic Cummings’ departure would have any effect, he told Andrew Marr: “I think the arrival of Joe Biden has made all the difference. I see a trade deal coming pretty soon.
“The government simply cannot afford to be at war with America on the one hand and Europe on the other at the start of the new year. So if he doesn’t change his Internal Market Bill, he’s at war with America. If he doesn’t get a negotiation settled with Europe, he’s at war with Europe. I think he’s made up his mind already.”
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 13:38
Diane Abbott apologises for sharing platform with deniers of human rights abuses in Xinjiang
The former shadow home secretary has apologised after taking part in an online meeting with people who deny China’s persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 13:32
Marcus Rashford rebukes Daily Mail article
Shortly after the success of Manchester United star’s campaign for free school meals to be extended over the holidays, following another delayed government U-turn, the Daily Mail ran a story about his own wealth and investments.
Here was his response, which has been widely lauded on social media:
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 13:20
Gordon Brown says next year is the ‘wrong time’ for a Scottish independence referendum
As opinion polls for the first time show a consistent and widening lead in support of Scotland leaving the UK, the former prime minister insisted the UK needed “time to heal” from Covid-19 and its economic consequences before considering its constitutional future.
“The question at the moment is not whether you could have a referendum, it’s whether you should have a referendum. We’re in the middle of a virus, we’re in the middle of a recession,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the details:
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 13:10
Labour MP accused of sexual harassment claims £2,000 in expenses for case
Hartlepoole MP Mike Hill – who denies sexually harassment allegations – was paid £2,000 expenses in January for “employment liability policy excess”, records published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show.
The claimant, who says she was sexually assaulted by Mr Hill, was made homeless after losing her jobs and is crowdfunding her case, the Sunday Times reported.
Our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden has the full report:
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 12:57
Tory Brexit rebel endorses claim that this government ‘can’t tell the truth to itself’
Former Tory MP David Gauke – one of 21 who had the whip removed for voting to block a no-deal Brexit last year – has endorsed an article in The Critic captioned, “the problem at the heart of this government, whether Dominic Cummings is there or not, is that it can’t tell the truth to itself”.
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 12:22
Dominic Cummings departure will not change our Brexit talks stance, UK government says
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the details on the government’s insistence that Dominic Cummings’ exit from Downing Street will not impact its stance in what may be the final week of Brexit trade talks.
He reports that some in Brussels believe Mr Cummings was “calling the shots” on the UK’s Brexit policy, and are expecting a shift in emphasis from Boris Johnson.
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 12:01
‘Factional fighting’ in Downing Street must end, Gordon Brown says
Former prime minister Gordon Brown – who is likely all too familiar with Downing Street power struggles – has offered a sharp rebuke to No 10’s current tenants, saying “factional fighting” should not be occurring during a pandemic and employment crisis.
But, he told Andrew Marr: “I see no end to this factional fighting, because you’ve got a soft Brexit faction, a hard Brexit faction, you’ve got a libertarian faction in relation to health restrictions, a communitarian faction. You’ve got a northern faction wanting spending rises, a southern faction wanting spending cuts, and a devolution faction and centralisation faction.
“This is not simply a problem of a dysfunctional Downing Street, this is a dysfunctional UK, and we really will need a wholesale root-and-branch constitutional review to bring people together at a later stage.
“For the moment, we’ve got to get the government back to working on the issues that really matter.”
Andy Gregory15 November 2020 11:50
