Brexit has led to UK firms paying tariffs on up to £9.5bn of exports – despite Boris Johnson’s claims of a “tariff-free” deal, an investigation has revealed.
In other news, MPs are set to vote on whether to scrap the controversial standards reforms that sparked Westminster’s sleaze row.
A motion to rescind the so-called Leadsom amendment, which looked to establish a review of the MPs standards investigation process and delay Owen Paterson’s suspension for breaking lobbying rules, has been tabled by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg for Monday.
It comes as the prime minister admitted for the first time that he could have handled the Paterson affair “better”.
Boris Johnson hails ‘incredible bravery’ of taxi driver caught in Liverpool hospital bomb
Boris Johnson has hailed the “incredible bravery” of a taxi driver caught up in the terrorist bombing outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
Speaking to reporters while on a visit to a medical centre in London, the prime minister said he could not comment on specific details because the investigation is ongoing but praised the taxi driver, who has been named locally as David Perry.
Watch and read his comments here:
Boris Johnson accused of diluting Northern Powerhouse Rail plans
Boris Johnson’s government has been accused of watering down proposals to upgrade train services in the north of England and the Midlands viewed as key to “levelling up” the country outside London.
The Independent revealed last month that the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) plans were to be scaled back as the Treasury tightened its purse strings, with local transport chiefs warning that Liverpool, Manchester, West Yorkshire and the North East could miss out on improvements.
Matt Mathers has the full story:
‘Intensified talks’ over Northern Ireland protocol
Going back to Brexit, Downing Street said “intensified talks” will continue over Northern Ireland Protocol issues.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson would not put a deadline on when talks would continue until but insisted the UK side was still keen to reach a “consensual solution”.
He said: “There are significant gaps between our positions and as we set out in the July command paper, we believe the conditions for Article 16 have been met.
“But again, we are going to be continuing talks, intensified talks, between the two teams to try and find a consensual solution.”
Additional reporting by PA
UK can ‘lobby and encourage’ other countries on climate commitments – No10
Downing Street said the UK can “lobby and encourage” but cannot force other nations to commit to climate promises.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “But we will continue to keep the pressure on, that’s something that Alok Sharma will continue to do as his role as Cop President this year, to ensure those countries who have made commitments stand by them and those where we feel can do more, we will keep the pressure on to encourage them to come forward with further action.”
Boris Johnson to hold Covid press conference at 3pm
Boris Johnson is to hold a Covid-19 press conference with the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris
Whitty at 3pm, Downing Street has said.
Tariffs paid on £9.5bn of UK exports to EU despite Boris Johnson’s claim of ‘tariff-free’ deal
Brexit has forced UK firms to pay tariffs on up to £9.5bn of exports to the EU despite Boris Johnson claiming he struck a “tariff-free” deal, an investigation has found.
More than one in eight traders say they have lost business since it came into force in January – some reporting their exports have disappeared completely, a TV documentary reveals.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the full story:
Airlines still imposing wrong passport rules post-Brexit
A woman attempting to travel from the Wirral to Cyprus with her husband was reportedly denied access to an easyJet flight by staff imposing the wrong passport rules.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has the exclusive story:
Boris Johnson praises bravery of Liverpool taxi blast driver
The prime minister has praised the taxi driver caught up in the Liverpool explosion for acting with “incredible presence of mind and bravery”.
Speaking at a medical centre in east London on Monday, Boris Johnson echoed the city’s mayor Joanne Anderson in crediting the driver, named locally as David Perry, for his conduct when his car exploded on Remembrance Sunday.
Mr Johnson said: “It does look as though the taxi driver in question did behave with incredible presence of mind and bravery.”
Three men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after the blast involving the taxi at Liverpool Women’s Hospital at 10.59am, around a mile away from the city’s cathedral where a large Remembrance service was taking place.
Boris Johnson refuses to be drawn on row over MPs’ standards during medical centre visit
Boris Johnson has refused to be drawn on the continuing row over MPs’ standards, following the controversy over the report into former cabinet minister Owen Paterson.
Speaking during a visit to a medical centre in Forest Gate, east London, he said: “I just want to salute you and the media for keeping going on this.
“I’m here to talk about boosters and urge people to come forward and get their boosters.”
Asked about reports that transport secretary Grant Shapps set up a group to lobby against housebuilding on airfields, Mr Johnson said: “If there are things to be investigated, then of course, that should take place.”
Boris Johnson mocked for saying Glasgow’s Cop26 took place in Edinburgh
Boris Johnson has been mocked for mistakenly referring to the Cop26 climate summit “in Edinburgh” rather than Glasgow where it was actually held.
The prime minister was speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Sunday as he defended a pledge by countries to start “phasing down” coal.
Matt Mathers has more on this story:
