Watch live as Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs
A temporary deal has been reached to delay a ban on the sale of chilled meats across the Irish Sea, forcing the UK to abide by Brussels’ food standards rules.
Ministers believe the agreement allows for further discussions to continue for a permanent solution to end the so-called sausage wars.
Meanwhile, Labour chiefs say Sir Keir Starmer will not step down if the party loses the Batley and Spen by-election.
A poll shows four in 10 members of the party would want him to stand aside.
Earlier, Boris Johnson dismissed the Matt Hancock affair as “Westminster bubble stuff” during a fiery clash with Sir Keir at PMQs.
The Labour leader accused the prime minister of attempting to sweep the scandal under the carpet after Mr Johnson had declared the matter closed.
“No questions asked on Friday and no questions answered today. There is a pattern emerging,” Sir Keir said, adding that “millions of people made huge and very difficult sacrifices to follow the rules that his health secretary has introduced”.
Mr Johnson said the former health secretary had resigned on Saturday, a day after the story broke, at “positively lightning speed” and attempted to turn the conversation onto the UK’s vaccine rollout.
Blackford urges PM to extend EU settlement scheme deadline
The prime minister has been urged again to extend the government’s settlement scheme deadline for EU citizens living in Britain – or risk a legacy of “untold stress and … ridiculous removals of NHS staff,” according to the SNP’s Ian Blackford. Sam Hancock reports:
Truce agreed with EU to delay ban on sale of chilled meats to Northern Ireland
A truce has been reached to delay a ban on the sale of chilled meats across the Irish Sea – but it will last only until the end of September.
The deal with the EU will force the UK to abide by Brussels’ food standards rules, but the UK government insists it does not amount to the “dynamic alignment” it opposes.
Brexit minister Lord Frost said: “We are pleased we have been able to agree a sensible extension on chilled meats moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland – one that does not require rules in the rest of the UK to align with future changes in EU agrifood rules.
“This is a positive first step but we still need to agree a permanent solution – Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom and its consumers should be able to enjoy products they have bought from Great Britain for years.
“This is a very clear sign that the Protocol has to be operated in a pragmatic and proportionate way.”
School ‘bubbles’ could be scrapped on 19 July, Williamson says
Gavin Williamson has said the government wants to scrap school “bubbles” as part of England’s next step out of lockdown, writes Zoe Tidman:
Brexit: High Court throws out bid to overturn deal for Northern Ireland as unlawful
Opponents of the Northern Ireland Protocol have been dealt a blow after the High Court threw out a bid for the Brexitdeal to be declared unlawful, writes Rob Merrick:
Who won this week’s PMQs? We’ve scored Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer
Kate Plummer scotes the PM and Labour leader on today’s performances in the Commons:
Government resists Tory MPs’ calls to scrap ‘fearful’ daily Covid figures
The government has resisted calls from Conservative backbenchers to stop releasing daily Covid-19 figures, amid concern that regular statistics create a “fear factor”. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said daily updates on case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths made people “irrational” – calling on the government to “stop it now”. Adam Forrest reports:
Government told to ‘stop dragging heels’ amid delay to net zero review
Rishi Sunak has been urged to “stop dragging his heels”, as Labour accused the government of again delaying a long-awaited review of plans for net-zero emissions by 2050. Ashley Cowburn reports:
Starmer will not quit if Labour defeated in by-election
Sir Keir Starmer will not resign as Labour leader if the party suffers another historic defeat at a critical by-election, his official spokesperson has insisted on the eve of the vote, writes Ashley Cowburn:
Johnson challenged over NI Protocol conflict with Act of Union
DUP MP Ian Paisley asked whether Boris Johnson would “reverse the mistakes” made in the Brexit agreement with Brussels on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Paisley said: “Today the Belfast High Court has actually found that the Protocol does conflict with the Act of Union; although it does not break the law, that it has repealed aspects of the Act of Union which is in direct contravention to the commitments this Government has made to this kingdom.
“The Prime Minister will be aware that litigation is still ongoing in the High Court of England on a commercial case that could result in a loss of earnings claim of hundreds of millions of pounds by British businesses trading in Northern Ireland.
“Under Section 8 of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Parliament here is sovereign – the judgment today confirms that Parliament is sovereign.
“Prime Minister, you have a solid majority on your benches. Have you the will to now finish this job, to reverse the mistakes of the Northern Ireland Protocol, to seize the moment and defend the Union, and to unilaterally fix once and for all and put Northern Ireland out of its commercial, social and political misery?”
Mr Johnson replied: “We will of course study the ruling of the court in detail.
“But I can give him this general assurance, which he knows to be true, that nothing will affect the position of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, and we will make sure that we uphold that.”
EU settlement scheme: ‘Ask Me Anything’ live
On deadline day for EU nationals to apply to retain residency in the UK following Brexit, have your key questions answered by our social affairs correspondent, May Bulman.
How to submit a question and join:
