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| Brexit: Dover could lose £1bn worth of trade a week under no deal, Tory fringe told - live news | Brexit: Dover could lose £1bn worth of trade a week under no deal, Tory fringe told - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| From my colleague Peter Walker | |
| There were expectations of a Lib Dem-led SO24 motion tomorrow to create time to force publication of various government Brexit reports. However, this isn't apparently going to happen - it seems the Speaker, John Bercow, won't allow any SO24ing while Tory conference is still on. | |
| During leaders’ questions in the Dáil, Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach, was asked about RTÉ’s leak of the UK’s government’s plan (or non-plan - see 1.23pm) for customs clearance sites away from the border on the island of Ireland. He said he had not seen the “non-paper” from the UK, but he was glad Boris Johnson had rejected it. | |
| I’m conscious when answering your question that I am talking about non-papers that I haven’t seen. I was aware of their existence, and it was public knowledge in the last week or two, that the UK provided non-papers to the EU taskforce on the basis of confidentiality and not to be shared with member states. | |
| I very much welcome Boris Johnson’s words today when he disowned the non-papers. Had he not, in my view, it would be hard evidence of bad faith by the UK government. | |
| Varadkar said he expected the UK government to honour promises to avoid border checks. | |
| The UK government promised no hard border or associated controls or checks and we expect the British government to honour that promise made in the withdrawal agreement. People here don’t want a customs border between north and south and no British government should seek to impose customs posts against the will of the people on the island of Ireland. | |
| I’m interested in what Northern Ireland businesses have to say, in what retailers say. The UK has not been listening to businesses: the Freight Trade Association say it contradicts all their advice to the government; Manufacturing NI rejected them out of hand. | |
| I would ask anyone to listen to the voices of Northern Ireland, from businesses to farmers, to people, who are saying no to customs posts, and we are saying no too. | |
| He also suggested Johnson did not appreciate the case for the backstop. Referring to his conversation with Johnson at a recent UN meeting in New York, Varakdar said Johnson has spoken about the need for no checks at the border, but had not explained where they would take place. | |
| It is his [Johnson’s] view that the UK should leave the EU whole and entire, to use his language, to leave the customs union. | |
| As I explained to him in New York, there is a reason we came up with the deal that we did after two years with Mrs May and what the backstop provides for is a single customs territory. | |
| That satisfied our demand and desire that there not be customs checks north and south, or east and west, and that’s why we came up with the backstop, why it is the best solution. | |
| We spent two years going up and down rabbit holes, because we needed a solution that avoided customs posts. | |
| This is what the Press Association has filed about the incident at the conference earlier that led to security being called and part of the venue being cordoned off. | |
| A senior Tory MP is understood to have clashed with security at the Conservative party conference, prompting a lockdown of part of the venue. | A senior Tory MP is understood to have clashed with security at the Conservative party conference, prompting a lockdown of part of the venue. |
| Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was involved in what a doorman described as a “small misunderstanding” at the International Lounge in the conference centre. | Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was involved in what a doorman described as a “small misunderstanding” at the International Lounge in the conference centre. |
| Police said an attendee tried to enter the lounge without the relevant pass, leading security staff to intervene. | Police said an attendee tried to enter the lounge without the relevant pass, leading security staff to intervene. |
| PA understands Clifton-Brown was trying to enter the room with a guest. | PA understands Clifton-Brown was trying to enter the room with a guest. |
| The “misunderstanding” led to a lockdown of some areas, including the press room, at the Manchester Central Convention Centre for around 20 minutes. | The “misunderstanding” led to a lockdown of some areas, including the press room, at the Manchester Central Convention Centre for around 20 minutes. |
| The Cotswolds MP told the PA news agency: “I’ve got nothing further to say about it. I don’t want to comment on it, really.” | The Cotswolds MP told the PA news agency: “I’ve got nothing further to say about it. I don’t want to comment on it, really.” |
| A staff member guarding the door of the International Lounge said the incident was sparked by a disagreement. | A staff member guarding the door of the International Lounge said the incident was sparked by a disagreement. |
| “It was a small misunderstanding,” the man said. | “It was a small misunderstanding,” the man said. |
| Greater Manchester police said in statement: “At around 1.45pm on Tuesday 1 October 2019, an attendee to the Conservative party conference attempted to enter the International Lounge area of the conference without the relevant pass. | |
| “Security staff intervened and resolved the situation without any breach of security occurring.” | “Security staff intervened and resolved the situation without any breach of security occurring.” |
| Customs infrastructure even 5 miles from the Irish border risked breaking Brexit laws passed by the House of Commons this year, parliament has been told. | |
| In oral questions in the House of Commons, the Labour MPs Pat McFadden and Angela Eagle raised section 10 (2) (b) of the Withdrawal Act 2019. | |
| It states categorically that there can be no “border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature physical infrastructure, including border posts, or checks and controls, that did not exist before exit day and are not in accordance with an agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU”. | It states categorically that there can be no “border arrangements between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after exit day which feature physical infrastructure, including border posts, or checks and controls, that did not exist before exit day and are not in accordance with an agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU”. |
| McFadden told James Durridge, who was taking questions for the government, that it had “obligations to abide by the law”. He asked: | McFadden told James Durridge, who was taking questions for the government, that it had “obligations to abide by the law”. He asked: |
| Would he regard such physical infrastructure a few miles back from the border as incompatible with the legislation that this house has passed? | Would he regard such physical infrastructure a few miles back from the border as incompatible with the legislation that this house has passed? |
| Durridge replied: “I will write to the honourable gentleman original - and confirm what I think is the bleeding obvious.” | |
| The point made by Labour backbenchers is one that has also raises concerns with Peter Hain, the Labour former Northern Ireland secretary, who said it it would be “the achilles heel” of government plans to dodge commitments in Theresa May’s deal. | The point made by Labour backbenchers is one that has also raises concerns with Peter Hain, the Labour former Northern Ireland secretary, who said it it would be “the achilles heel” of government plans to dodge commitments in Theresa May’s deal. |
| The incident that led to a part of the conference centre being closed and police being called involved the Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, my colleague Rowena Mason reports. Clifton-Brown is treasurer of the Conservative 1922 Committee. | The incident that led to a part of the conference centre being closed and police being called involved the Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, my colleague Rowena Mason reports. Clifton-Brown is treasurer of the Conservative 1922 Committee. |
| We are still waiting for a full statement from the party. | We are still waiting for a full statement from the party. |
| Tory MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown clashed with a delegate leading to shut down of press area | Tory MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown clashed with a delegate leading to shut down of press area |
| The government cannot rely on European Union law to override the act of parliament forcing Boris Johnson to seek an extension to Brexit talks, a former EU senior legal adviser has said. | The government cannot rely on European Union law to override the act of parliament forcing Boris Johnson to seek an extension to Brexit talks, a former EU senior legal adviser has said. |
| Jean-Claude Piris, a former head of the EU council legal service, said suggestions the government could rely on EU law to trump the Benn Act had no legal basis. In emailed comments to the Guardian he said: | Jean-Claude Piris, a former head of the EU council legal service, said suggestions the government could rely on EU law to trump the Benn Act had no legal basis. In emailed comments to the Guardian he said: |
| EU law is far from always having direct effect. In the case of article 50, the decision of a member state to leave the EU must be taken in conformity with the constitutional requirements of that state. Thus no direct effect. The authorities to judge if British constitutional requirements are being respected are the British competent ones. | EU law is far from always having direct effect. In the case of article 50, the decision of a member state to leave the EU must be taken in conformity with the constitutional requirements of that state. Thus no direct effect. The authorities to judge if British constitutional requirements are being respected are the British competent ones. |
| He was responding to suggestions from the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, that EU law could be used to override the Benn Act, which mandates the prime minister to seek an extension if no Brexit deal has been agreed by 19 October. | He was responding to suggestions from the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, that EU law could be used to override the Benn Act, which mandates the prime minister to seek an extension if no Brexit deal has been agreed by 19 October. |
| Raab, who served a four-month stint as Brexit secretary before resigning over Theresa May’s deal, hinted the government was looking at article 50 to override the Benn Act, in a recent interview with the Mail on Sunday. | Raab, who served a four-month stint as Brexit secretary before resigning over Theresa May’s deal, hinted the government was looking at article 50 to override the Benn Act, in a recent interview with the Mail on Sunday. |
| Here is Boris Johnson telling Channel 4 News that he does not know why he has not been scheduled to do an interview with them today. | Here is Boris Johnson telling Channel 4 News that he does not know why he has not been scheduled to do an interview with them today. |
| "It's above my pay grade."Boris Johnson responds to why he won't be speaking to Channel 4 News today, despite agreeing to interviews with other major broadcasters. pic.twitter.com/hnu7cqztKk | "It's above my pay grade."Boris Johnson responds to why he won't be speaking to Channel 4 News today, despite agreeing to interviews with other major broadcasters. pic.twitter.com/hnu7cqztKk |
| Presumably Channel 4 is still in the doghouse after Dorothy Byrne, its head of news, used the MacTaggart lecture at Edinburgh to call Johnson a “known liar”. | Presumably Channel 4 is still in the doghouse after Dorothy Byrne, its head of news, used the MacTaggart lecture at Edinburgh to call Johnson a “known liar”. |
| From LBC’s Alex Cadier | From LBC’s Alex Cadier |
| NEW: Some kind of incident in the International Lounge of Conservative Party conference. Police, close protection and paramedics in attendance. @LBC pic.twitter.com/95r3Ghqy5l | NEW: Some kind of incident in the International Lounge of Conservative Party conference. Police, close protection and paramedics in attendance. @LBC pic.twitter.com/95r3Ghqy5l |
| Police moving press away from incident pic.twitter.com/pYAGnR0zEI | Police moving press away from incident pic.twitter.com/pYAGnR0zEI |
| We’ve been told by party sources that there has been an “incident” at the Conservative party conference. A small area between the press area and the hall has been closed off and police are in attendance. The party is due to issue a statement soon. | We’ve been told by party sources that there has been an “incident” at the Conservative party conference. A small area between the press area and the hall has been closed off and police are in attendance. The party is due to issue a statement soon. |
| At the moment that’s all we know. But officials don’t seem particularly alarmed, and away from the cordoned off area everything is carrying on as normal, so at the moment it does not appear too serious. | At the moment that’s all we know. But officials don’t seem particularly alarmed, and away from the cordoned off area everything is carrying on as normal, so at the moment it does not appear too serious. |
| Despite extensive preparations at Dover, the port’s chief executive said it still expects to see a drop in trade worth £1bn a week should Britain leave the EU without a deal. Addressing a ConservativeHome/Port of Dover fringe event at the conference, the transport minister George Freeman confirmed the government was assuming that disruption would roughly halve the traffic on Britain’s main trading link for three months; the drop would range from 40% to 60%. | Despite extensive preparations at Dover, the port’s chief executive said it still expects to see a drop in trade worth £1bn a week should Britain leave the EU without a deal. Addressing a ConservativeHome/Port of Dover fringe event at the conference, the transport minister George Freeman confirmed the government was assuming that disruption would roughly halve the traffic on Britain’s main trading link for three months; the drop would range from 40% to 60%. |
| Doug Bannister, the chief executive of Port of Dover, said the assumed drop in traffic would cut £1bn in trade every week. He said: | Doug Bannister, the chief executive of Port of Dover, said the assumed drop in traffic would cut £1bn in trade every week. He said: |
| That’s how critical it is. If there’s a no-deal Brexit, it’s not going to be OK. But people are doing all they can to ensure Britain keeps trading. | That’s how critical it is. If there’s a no-deal Brexit, it’s not going to be OK. But people are doing all they can to ensure Britain keeps trading. |
| Freeman said he hoped goodwill would prevail should a deal not be agreed by 31 October. Asked what preparations the government was making for “malign interventions”, such as a potential blockade by French fishermen, Freeman said he had seen cabinet papers showing “the Ministry of Defence are actively looking at it”, raising the potential for alarming escalation. | Freeman said he hoped goodwill would prevail should a deal not be agreed by 31 October. Asked what preparations the government was making for “malign interventions”, such as a potential blockade by French fishermen, Freeman said he had seen cabinet papers showing “the Ministry of Defence are actively looking at it”, raising the potential for alarming escalation. |
| The Freight Transport Association said its preparations meant it did not expect “wholesale meltdown” but people could expect to see less fresh produce. James Hookham, the deputy chief executive of the FTA, said: “There will be changes to what people can expect to see in the shops undoubtedly.” | The Freight Transport Association said its preparations meant it did not expect “wholesale meltdown” but people could expect to see less fresh produce. James Hookham, the deputy chief executive of the FTA, said: “There will be changes to what people can expect to see in the shops undoubtedly.” |
| He said the FTA was holding 140 training sessions in the next few weeks to educate hauliers about the potential paperwork needed. But he said questions still remained unanswered, even in an intricate flowchart issued by the Department for Transport to explain customs and border processes. He said: | He said the FTA was holding 140 training sessions in the next few weeks to educate hauliers about the potential paperwork needed. But he said questions still remained unanswered, even in an intricate flowchart issued by the Department for Transport to explain customs and border processes. He said: |
| The biggest unknown in our book is what the French and EU will demand in terms of British goods imported into the EU. | The biggest unknown in our book is what the French and EU will demand in terms of British goods imported into the EU. |
| With delays of up to five days forecast for hauliers doing return border crossings, Hookham said he had advised hauliers to take out additional insurance for cargo, especially perishable goods. | With delays of up to five days forecast for hauliers doing return border crossings, Hookham said he had advised hauliers to take out additional insurance for cargo, especially perishable goods. |
| He also said the full impact of a no-deal Brexit on Dover, Calais and Kent would probably not be seen until at least Monday 4 November, due to a long weekend in much of Europe, starting with a public holiday on 1 November (a celebration unrelated to Britain’s departure from the EU). | He also said the full impact of a no-deal Brexit on Dover, Calais and Kent would probably not be seen until at least Monday 4 November, due to a long weekend in much of Europe, starting with a public holiday on 1 November (a celebration unrelated to Britain’s departure from the EU). |
| James Duddridge, the Brexit minister, has just told MPs in the Commons that the EU will get formal proposals from the UK for an alternative to the backstop before the end of the week. | James Duddridge, the Brexit minister, has just told MPs in the Commons that the EU will get formal proposals from the UK for an alternative to the backstop before the end of the week. |
| At the Tory conference there is an expectation that the plans will be submitted to the EU tomorrow. | At the Tory conference there is an expectation that the plans will be submitted to the EU tomorrow. |
| From Channel 4 News’ Jon Snow | From Channel 4 News’ Jon Snow |
| Channel 4 News cameraman Neil Corbett grabs a telling moment https://t.co/k26ZiM3LfT | Channel 4 News cameraman Neil Corbett grabs a telling moment https://t.co/k26ZiM3LfT |
| In the Commons James Duddridge, a Brexit minister, is responding to an urgent question about the Irish border and the RTÉ leak about the government’s plans. | In the Commons James Duddridge, a Brexit minister, is responding to an urgent question about the Irish border and the RTÉ leak about the government’s plans. |
| He said the RTÉ story was not true. Responding to the UQ, which was tabled by Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee, Duddridge said: | He said the RTÉ story was not true. Responding to the UQ, which was tabled by Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee, Duddridge said: |
| There is no intention to have physical checks at the border. I’m not choosing my words carefully there – there are no plans to do that, I can reassure him. | There is no intention to have physical checks at the border. I’m not choosing my words carefully there – there are no plans to do that, I can reassure him. |
| I do know he was perhaps thinking about the reports in the Northern Ireland press that were suggesting there might be checks near the border? That is not the intention, those reports simply are incorrect. | I do know he was perhaps thinking about the reports in the Northern Ireland press that were suggesting there might be checks near the border? That is not the intention, those reports simply are incorrect. |
| As my colleague Jennifer Rankin reports, EU sources have confirmed that the RTÉ report did reflect a plan set out in a “non-paper” submitted to the EU by the British. | As my colleague Jennifer Rankin reports, EU sources have confirmed that the RTÉ report did reflect a plan set out in a “non-paper” submitted to the EU by the British. |
| Boris Johnson has denied that UK proposed checks 5-10 miles away from border.But EU sources say that was gist of customs non paper.EU hopes it will be superseded by "serious proposals", though not banking on them.https://t.co/efVcM3Lcho | Boris Johnson has denied that UK proposed checks 5-10 miles away from border.But EU sources say that was gist of customs non paper.EU hopes it will be superseded by "serious proposals", though not banking on them.https://t.co/efVcM3Lcho |
| The whole point about a “non-paper” is that it allows a government to float an idea in negotiations without that proposal being treated as an official proposal from the body submitting it. | The whole point about a “non-paper” is that it allows a government to float an idea in negotiations without that proposal being treated as an official proposal from the body submitting it. |
| That means it would be accurate for a journalist to describe one of these as a proposition put forward by the government - but also accurate for the government to say this was not an official proposal. | That means it would be accurate for a journalist to describe one of these as a proposition put forward by the government - but also accurate for the government to say this was not an official proposal. |
| This might help to explain why the government’s attempts to rebut the RTÉ story this morning have been inconsistent. At one point Boris Johnson suggested the report applied to a proposal that was out-of-date. (See 8.09am.) At another point he said the report, or at least its reference to a string of border posts away from the actual border, was just wrong. (See 11.13am.) | This might help to explain why the government’s attempts to rebut the RTÉ story this morning have been inconsistent. At one point Boris Johnson suggested the report applied to a proposal that was out-of-date. (See 8.09am.) At another point he said the report, or at least its reference to a string of border posts away from the actual border, was just wrong. (See 11.13am.) |
| Boris Johnson’s hopes of entering into intensive Brexit negotiations next week are likely to be dashed after his backing for a customs border on the island of Ireland was criticised in Berlin as being a green light for the return of a hard border, my colleagues Daniel Boffery and Jennifer Rankin report. | Boris Johnson’s hopes of entering into intensive Brexit negotiations next week are likely to be dashed after his backing for a customs border on the island of Ireland was criticised in Berlin as being a green light for the return of a hard border, my colleagues Daniel Boffery and Jennifer Rankin report. |
| Boris Johnson's plans for Irish border checks threaten Brexit talks | Boris Johnson's plans for Irish border checks threaten Brexit talks |
| This morning Boris Johnson criticised his Labour successor as London mayor, Sadiq Khan, for spending too much money on press officers. But, according to the Mirror, Johnson’s own spending on PR was higher. | This morning Boris Johnson criticised his Labour successor as London mayor, Sadiq Khan, for spending too much money on press officers. But, according to the Mirror, Johnson’s own spending on PR was higher. |
| Turns out Boris Johnson's PR spending at City Hall was actually *higher* than Sadiq Khan's. Awkward. https://t.co/Se9DT4N4bi | Turns out Boris Johnson's PR spending at City Hall was actually *higher* than Sadiq Khan's. Awkward. https://t.co/Se9DT4N4bi |
| Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt has written a good blogpost about Boris Johnson’s plans for an alternative to the backstop. He is not optimistic about a deal. Here’s an extract. | Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt has written a good blogpost about Boris Johnson’s plans for an alternative to the backstop. He is not optimistic about a deal. Here’s an extract. |
| EU sources are withering about the UK proposals. One told me: “Their [the UK] idea for customs land checks are no different from what would happen in no deal.” | EU sources are withering about the UK proposals. One told me: “Their [the UK] idea for customs land checks are no different from what would happen in no deal.” |
| The source sees little chance of a deal on the basis of the proposals floated by Mr Johnson’s most senior EU adviser, David Frost. | The source sees little chance of a deal on the basis of the proposals floated by Mr Johnson’s most senior EU adviser, David Frost. |
| “We have been told by people we take seriously that Boris Johnson wants a deal,” the source told me. “But we do not see how a deal can be done.” | “We have been told by people we take seriously that Boris Johnson wants a deal,” the source told me. “But we do not see how a deal can be done.” |