The UK did not secure the Brexit deal it wanted for Northern Ireland, the former chief negotiatior David Frost has admitted.
Speaking toThe Spectator, the minister blamed the pressure the government faced in late 2019 for the disappointing result.
His words paint a different picture from Boris Johnson’s assurances in November 2019 that Northern Ireland had “a great deal”.
In other Brexit-related news, an expert has accused the government of appearing “desperate” in its attempts to strike free trade deals.
David Henig, the co-founder of the UK Trade Forum, told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that a deal with Australia will set a precedent for future ones with other major agricultural exporters like New Zealand and the US.
He suggested it was not “the smartest of moves” for the UK to strive for a deal by the G7 Summit on 11 June, as this gives Australia a stronger bargaining position.
“We are desperate to get those deals – that’s the modus operandi of this government. We need to hope they are going to be the right deals and balance all the different interests,” Mr Henig said.
Sunak ‘proud’ of Eat Out to Help Out scheme
Rishi Sunak has said that a similar scheme to last year’s Eat Out to Help Out initiative will not be needed.
Speaking to BBC Radio’s Newsbeat, the chancellor said the government “doesn’t have the same concern we had a year ago”.
Businesses claimed more than £849 million through the state-backed scheme, which offered half-price meals up to £10.
The initiative was later criticised, with some suggesting that it had led to a surge in coronavirus cases.
“It is a scheme I am proud of,” Mr Sunak said in defence of the policy.
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Ensure holidays are refundable before booking, Downing Street urges
No 10 has urged travellers to ensure holidays are refundable before booking, writes Andrew Woodcock.
The advice follows a surge in books to “amber list” destinations, which the prime minister said yesterday should only be visited in “extreme circumstances”.
Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said the next travel review would take place in three weeks.
Former Labour MP breached parliament’s sexual misconduct policy
Mike Hill, the former Labour MP for Hartlepool, has been found to have breached parliament’s sexual misconduct policy.
A Commons independent expert panel said he would have faced suspension if he had not resigned his position, triggering the recent Hartlepool by-election.
The speaker Lindsay Hoyle has now stripped Mr Hill of his right to a parliamentary pass as a former MP.
These latest developments come after one of his former staffers claimed he sexually harassed and bullied her for 16 months.
Government committed on climate change despite Australia FTA concerns, says Downing Street
Downing Street has responded to concerns about the environmental ramifications of a free trade with Australia by saying the government remains committed to climate action.
The worries centre around the likely increase in beef and lamb exports from the other side of the world if an Australian tariff-free trade agreement goes ahead.
In response, a No 10 spokesperson said: “We have significant commitments that we are delivering on climate change.
“Obviously we would want to take all those things into consideration when looking at any sort of deal.
“We remain very committed to our ambitious commitments on climate change.”
Surge in B.1.617.2 variant fuelled by test-and-trace failures, report finds
The surge of the B1.617.2 variant in the UK was worsened by test-and-trace failures, a report has discovered.
Eight local authorities – including the badly-affected Blackburn with Darwen in Lancashire – did not receive full data on positive tests for three weeks in April and May, it claims.
“It beggars belief that yet again local health experts on ground have been left in the dark for two weeks when we know acting with speed is vital to containing an outbreak,” shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said.
Great British Railways: What powers will the new public body have?
The government wants to fix the country’s train system because it is “just too complicated”, the transport secretary Grant Shapps said earlier today.
Ministers hope to improve services through the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), a new public rail operator.
But what powers does GBR have and will it work?
Joe Sommerlad has all the answers:
Transport secretary says public body taking over all trains ‘is not renationalisation’
In a statement to the Commons, Grant Shapps told MPs: “This is not renationalisation, which this government continues to believes failed the railways – rather it is a simplification.
“While Great British Railways acts as the guiding mind to co-ordinate the whole network, our plan will see greater involvement of the private sector.
“Private companies will be contracted to run the trains and services, and fares will be set by Great British Railways.
“But it’ll work more like London buses and London Overground – delivered by private companies but branded as a single national service.”
Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: “While I welcome steps to increase public ownership and control over the railways, as you’d expect, it doesn’t go far enough in this current plan.
“I believe there is ample proof that demonstrates that fuller public ownership rather than a concessionary model would better serve the state, the public and long-term investment.”
Former MP breached Parliament sexual misconduct policy, independent panel finds
Former MP Mike Hill breached Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy, an independent panel has found.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) said Mr Hill, who quit as Hartlepool MP in March, would have faced a significant sanction had he not resigned.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has stripped Mr Hill of his right to a parliamentary pass as a former member.
Sir Stephen Irwin, chairman of the IEP has said: “The sub-panel took a very serious view of his conduct, and had he remained a member of Parliament, a significant sanction would have been under consideration.
“In the light of his resignation, however, the sub-panel concluded that no available sanction met the facts of this case and the specific circumstances of the responder. They therefore did not impose or recommend a sanction.”
Former Labour MP Mr Hill is also facing an employment tribunal case, with a decision expected to be made towards the end of June.
UK failed to secure desired Brexit deal for Northern Ireland, says Frost
The prime minister’s chief Brexit negotiator has admitted that the UK did not secure the deal it wanted for Northern Ireland.
David Frost’s comments to The Spectator paint a different picture from Boris Johnson’s assurances in November 2019 that Northern Ireland “has got a great deal”.
Rob Merrick reports:
