Boris Johnson admits signing Northern Ireland Protocol, hoping EU won’t “apply”
The EU says it will restart legal action against the UK over Boris Johnson’s “harmful” move to rewrite post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
EU Commissioner for Brexit Maroš Šefčovič said renegotiating the protocol was “unrealistic”.
“As a first step, the commission will consider continuing the infringement proceedings initiated against the UK government in March 2021,” he said. “We had put this legal action on hold in September 2021 in the spirit of constructive cooperation to create the space to look for joint solutions. The unilateral action of the United Kingdom goes directly against the spirit. “
He told colleagues that EU officials were working to devise a series of retaliatory measures against the measure, including drawing up a list of British products that Brussels could affect with trade tariffs.
The EU is expected to launch three separate lawsuits against Britain, including failure to carry out agri-food controls, and two new “infringement proceedings” for not sharing data or not placing orders with the European Commission.
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Nicola Sturgeon will launch a new campaign for Scottish independence
Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon will launch a new campaign for Scottish independence, revealing the first details later today.
On Tuesday he will publish the first documents related to the Scottish Government’s “Building a New Scotland” plan at Edinburgh’s Bute House.
He said the newspapers “would openly expose the challenges facing a newly independent Scotland”.
“If we had known in 2014 everything we know now about the path that the UK would have taken, I have no doubt that Scotland would have voted yes at the time,” he added.
It comes after Sturgeon’s SNP won the 2021 Holyrood election with a manifesto that included a pledge to hold another referendum on Scotland’s place in the UK.
The first referendum took place in 2014 when 55% of people said “no” to independence and 45% said “yes”.
Shweta Sharma June 14, 2022 6:20 p.m.
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EU must take legal action over Northern Ireland’s “harmful” protocol bill
The EU will restart legal action against the UK, launching three separate lawsuits over Boris Johnson’s “harmful” move to remove post-Brexit controls and standards in Northern Ireland.
EU Commissioner for Brexit Maroš Šefčovič said the unilateral action by the UK was directly against the spirit of the Brexit agreement, calling it “detrimental to mutual trust”. “.
“As a first step, the commission will consider continuing the infringement proceedings initiated against the UK government in March 2021. We had put this legal action on hold in September 2021 in the spirit of constructive cooperation to create the space. to look for joint solutions. ”
He told colleagues that his officials were pursuing a number of possible retaliatory measures, including drawing up a list of British products that Brussels could affect with trade tariffs.
The EU could also consider ending the financial equivalence of the city of London with European markers, sources told the Telegraph.
The Johnson administration has said it is based on a “doctrine of necessity” that provides a “clear basis in international law to justify breach of international obligations under certain exceptional and limited conditions.”
Shweta Sharma June 14, 2022 5:29 AM
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Rwandan deportations “embarrass Britain” church leaders say hours before first flight
Church of England leaders joined opposition parties in condemning the government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, describing it as an “immoral” policy that “shames Britain”. “.
In a letter to The Times, the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and 23 other bishops wrote that the government had made no attempt to “understand the situation” of those affected.
“Shame is ours, because our Christian heritage should inspire us to treat asylum seekers with compassion, fairness and justice, as we have done for centuries,” he said.
“This immoral policy is embarrassing in Britain.”
The first flight to take asylum seekers to Rwanda will leave the UK after two legal challenges failed in its latest attempt to stop the controversial deportation policy.
The government has justified the deportations by saying that it complied with UK national and international obligations and that it was necessary to combat the activities of human trafficking gangs.
Shweta Sharma June 14, 2022 4:41 AM
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Hundreds protest in front of the Interior Ministry against Rwanda’s expulsion plan
A lawyer who attended a protest in front of the Interior Ministry has said there is “just anger” over the government’s plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Hundreds of protesters took part in a demonstration in front of the Home Office in Westminster on Monday.
Lauren Chaplin, 28, who works as a lawyer in London, attended the protest and described the government’s political controversy as “violent and repressive”.
Emily Atkinson June 14, 2022 3:00 p.m.
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Look: George Eustice warns NI protocol is “serious threat” to Good Friday deal
George Eustice warns NI protocol is “serious threat” to Good Friday deal
Emily Atkinson June 14, 2022 2:00 p.m.
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Only seven asylum seekers will be on Rwanda’s expulsion flight after dozens of successful appeals
Rwanda’s first expulsion flight appears to be in doubt after a number of legal challenges have increased the number of asylum seekers booked on board in single figures.
The Care4Calais group said only seven people were approved for Tuesday’s flight withdrawal after successful individual challenges in recent days.
Up to 130 people were told they could be sent to Rwanda under the highly controversial plan of Interior Secretary Priti Patel. But the Interior Ministry said last week that 31 people had to leave on the first flight.
Emily Atkinson June 14, 2022 1:00 p.m.
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Former Just Eat CEO appointed new “cost of living business tsar”
The government has named the founder of Just Eat as its new “cost-of-living business tsar.”
The Cabinet Office said David Buttress, a former CEO of the online food delivery service, will work with the private sector to develop new business-led initiatives to help people struggling with the pressure of living standards.
Announcing the appointment, Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay said that Mr. Buttress would bring a “wealth of experience” and “business vigor and ingenuity” to the paper.
“Businesses and organizations across the country have grown over and over again when the nation needs it most. The financial pressures people face as a result of today’s global challenges will be no different,” he said.
Emily Atkinson June 14, 2022 00:00
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What is the government’s food strategy and why is it being criticized?
The government has released its new food strategy aimed at tackling rising food costs and obesity levels.
The strategy sets out what the government will do to provide “healthier, more sustainable and affordable diets for all.”
It is being followed by an independent government-commissioned review of the food system known as the National Food Strategy, led by restaurateur Henry Dimbleby.
Boris Johnson promised that the plan, which will be published in a white paper on Monday, will support British farmers.
My colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports:
Emily Atkinson June 13, 2022 11:15 p.m.
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Charities have hopes for the Supreme Court’s upcoming challenge after today’s appeals in Rwanda failed
Charities waiting for a final legal offer to stop the deportation of migrants to Rwanda have expressed disappointment at their failures, but say they will continue to move forward with a full legal policy challenge to be heard next month. .
“During these court hearings, we have heard powerful evidence against this policy and we are confident that when our full legal challenge is heard in the High Court in July, this government will be forced to abandon this policy and to recover anyone who is finally removed, “said Detention Action Deputy Director James Wilson.
Emily Atkinson June 13, 2022 10:45 p.m.
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The government is launching an investigation into the donation of Oxford Uni from the Vietnamese company
The government is investigating a £ 155 million donation to a University of Oxford company from a Vietnamese company.
It comes after concerns were raised with the Commons over Linacre College’s memorandum of understanding with Sovico Group to receive the gift.
The investment group was represented by its chairman, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.
Last November, the university said it would go to the Privy Council for permission to change its name to Thao College, following the first £ 50 million gift.
Education Minister Michelle Donelan told lawmakers that she is “actively investigating” the matter and could provide an update in the coming days.
Emily Atkinson June 13, 2022 10:10 p.m.