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| Brexit: 'Keep your promises', Germany tells Johnson, amid EU fears UK backtracking on its pledges - live news | Brexit: 'Keep your promises', Germany tells Johnson, amid EU fears UK backtracking on its pledges - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the EU agreeing its negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the UK, and the Guardian’s Labour leadership hustings in Manchester | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the EU agreeing its negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the UK, and the Guardian’s Labour leadership hustings in Manchester |
| Tony Blair has not endorsed any of the three candidates left in the Labour leadership contest. Despite being the only person alive to have won a general election for Labour, as he put it in his speech last week “it’s not as if my advice is particularly welcome to today’s party”. He said he would not be endorsing a leadership candidate because he did not want to “damage anyone by supporting them”. | |
| But he has decided to endorse a candidate for the deputy leadership. He is backing Ian Murray. Explaining why in a statement, Blair says: | |
| Gordon Brown, the only other former Labour prime minister still alive, is also backing Murray. (Brown first announced this last month.) And, in a statement released this morning, Murray has also published endorsements from Lady Smith, widow of the former Labour leader John Smith (or “Labour’s greatest prime minister that never was”, as Murray calls him in the press release), from Roy Hattersley, the former Labour deputy leader and from Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor. | |
| My colleague Lisa O’Carroll is covering the National Farmers’ Union conference in Birmingham. She has been tweeting about the speeches from Minette Batters, the NFU president, and Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI president. | |
| In his Greenwich speech on Brexit Boris Johnson said Britain would be “governed by science, not mumbo-jumbo” in future when deciding whether imported food was safe. | |
| This morning Boris Johnson is chairing a meeting of the cabinet’s EU exit strategy (XS) committee which will agree the UK’s own negotiating strategy. As the official list (pdf) shows, there are now five ministers who attend: the PM, the chancellor, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the foreign secretary and the attorney general. The Brexit secretary used to attend, but that post has now been abolished. | This morning Boris Johnson is chairing a meeting of the cabinet’s EU exit strategy (XS) committee which will agree the UK’s own negotiating strategy. As the official list (pdf) shows, there are now five ministers who attend: the PM, the chancellor, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the foreign secretary and the attorney general. The Brexit secretary used to attend, but that post has now been abolished. |
| As Mujtaba Rahman, the Brexit specialist at the Eurasia Group consultancy points out, the replacement of Sajid Javid by Rishi Sunak as chancellor makes a significant difference. | As Mujtaba Rahman, the Brexit specialist at the Eurasia Group consultancy points out, the replacement of Sajid Javid by Rishi Sunak as chancellor makes a significant difference. |
| Jack Blanchard makes the same point in his London Playbook briefing. He writes: | Jack Blanchard makes the same point in his London Playbook briefing. He writes: |
| EU ministers at the general affairs council have just approved the mandate for the trade negotiations with the UK, the BBC’s Adam Fleming reports. | EU ministers at the general affairs council have just approved the mandate for the trade negotiations with the UK, the BBC’s Adam Fleming reports. |
| The Tory MP James Grundy has apologised for an incident before he was elected in which he was filmed flashing his genitals in a pub, the Press Association reports. Grundy dropped his trousers at a private event in the bar, with onlookers encouraging him to expose himself. The incident took place in 2007, more than a decade before Grundy was elected as MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester, in 2019. After LBC obtained a video of the incident, Grundy said: “I apologise for my actions and for any offence caused.” | The Tory MP James Grundy has apologised for an incident before he was elected in which he was filmed flashing his genitals in a pub, the Press Association reports. Grundy dropped his trousers at a private event in the bar, with onlookers encouraging him to expose himself. The incident took place in 2007, more than a decade before Grundy was elected as MP for Leigh, Greater Manchester, in 2019. After LBC obtained a video of the incident, Grundy said: “I apologise for my actions and for any offence caused.” |
| After Nicola Sturgeon’s assurances on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that she remains “emphatically” the best person to lead the SNP, former Westminster leader Angus Robertson has used his column in Edinburgh Evening News to emphatically underline his backing for the first minister. | After Nicola Sturgeon’s assurances on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that she remains “emphatically” the best person to lead the SNP, former Westminster leader Angus Robertson has used his column in Edinburgh Evening News to emphatically underline his backing for the first minister. |
| Robertson takes on directly those commentators suggesting that the forthcoming candidate selection for the coveted Holyrood seat of Edinburgh Central – in which he will go head to head with MP and prorogation court champion Joanna Cherry – is a proxy contest about the future leadership of the SNP. Robertson insists that he is standing to support Sturgeon’s leadership, saying: | Robertson takes on directly those commentators suggesting that the forthcoming candidate selection for the coveted Holyrood seat of Edinburgh Central – in which he will go head to head with MP and prorogation court champion Joanna Cherry – is a proxy contest about the future leadership of the SNP. Robertson insists that he is standing to support Sturgeon’s leadership, saying: |
| He also warns that “no former or current Westminster MP should think they can just turn up at Holyrood ... and walk into any job”, a swipe at Cherry, whose challenges to the current leadership’s strategy on independence contrast with Robertson’s loyalism. Cherry wants to see Holyrood itself legislate for a second referendum, bringing an inevitable court challenge from Westminster. Sturgeon has not ruled out court action but warned that losing it could set back the cause of independence. | He also warns that “no former or current Westminster MP should think they can just turn up at Holyrood ... and walk into any job”, a swipe at Cherry, whose challenges to the current leadership’s strategy on independence contrast with Robertson’s loyalism. Cherry wants to see Holyrood itself legislate for a second referendum, bringing an inevitable court challenge from Westminster. Sturgeon has not ruled out court action but warned that losing it could set back the cause of independence. |
| Meanwhile, new MP and former veteran MSP Kenny MacAskill has backed a consultative referendum, writing in the new issue of Scottish Left Review that Sturgeon “never possessed a Plan B” to set in train once Boris Johnson blocked her request for the legal powers to hold a second vote. He also urged independence supporters to stop “marching through” communities and start making their cause relevant to people’s daily lives. | Meanwhile, new MP and former veteran MSP Kenny MacAskill has backed a consultative referendum, writing in the new issue of Scottish Left Review that Sturgeon “never possessed a Plan B” to set in train once Boris Johnson blocked her request for the legal powers to hold a second vote. He also urged independence supporters to stop “marching through” communities and start making their cause relevant to people’s daily lives. |
| With a referendum in 2020 looking all but impossible, we can expect positioning like this to continue well into the spring. | With a referendum in 2020 looking all but impossible, we can expect positioning like this to continue well into the spring. |
| This is from the Sun’s Brussels correspondent Nick Gutteridge on the significance of my colleague Daniel Boffey’s story about the EU wanting the UK to maintain a ban on chlorinated chicken. | This is from the Sun’s Brussels correspondent Nick Gutteridge on the significance of my colleague Daniel Boffey’s story about the EU wanting the UK to maintain a ban on chlorinated chicken. |
| And this is from the French mission to the EU, quoting what Amélie de Montchalin, the French Europe minister, told reporters as she arrived for the general affairs council meeting this morning. | And this is from the French mission to the EU, quoting what Amélie de Montchalin, the French Europe minister, told reporters as she arrived for the general affairs council meeting this morning. |
| This is how her words are translated by DeepL. | This is how her words are translated by DeepL. |
| This is from the German mission to the EU, quoting Michael Roth, the German Europe minister. | This is from the German mission to the EU, quoting Michael Roth, the German Europe minister. |
| Here are some more quotes from EU ministers arriving at the general affairs council meeting in Brussels. | Here are some more quotes from EU ministers arriving at the general affairs council meeting in Brussels. |
| Stef Blok, the Dutch foreign minister, said the negotiations would be tough. Asked what the toughest issue would be in the talks, he replied: | Stef Blok, the Dutch foreign minister, said the negotiations would be tough. Asked what the toughest issue would be in the talks, he replied: |
| Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, the Croatian Europe minister, said the EU would be willing to offer a “substantial” and “ambitious” partnership deal to the UK. She said: | Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, the Croatian Europe minister, said the EU would be willing to offer a “substantial” and “ambitious” partnership deal to the UK. She said: |
| Here are the quotes, and the main points, from the Simon Coveney doorstep earlier. (See 9.23am.) | Here are the quotes, and the main points, from the Simon Coveney doorstep earlier. (See 9.23am.) |
| Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, said that if the UK failed to put in place the new border rules for Northern Ireland required under the withdrawal agreement this year, that would “damage significantly” the chances of a trade deal being struck. He said: | Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, said that if the UK failed to put in place the new border rules for Northern Ireland required under the withdrawal agreement this year, that would “damage significantly” the chances of a trade deal being struck. He said: |
| Coveney said the EU expected to see the UK make progress towards implementing the new border arrangements within the next few months. This was a matter of “good faith and trust”, he said. | Coveney said the EU expected to see the UK make progress towards implementing the new border arrangements within the next few months. This was a matter of “good faith and trust”, he said. |
| He also said the arrangements in the Northern Ireland protocol (ie, the new border rules) had to be “fully implemented and ready to go next year”. | He also said the arrangements in the Northern Ireland protocol (ie, the new border rules) had to be “fully implemented and ready to go next year”. |
| He said the Irish government was happy with the EU’s mandate for the trade talks with the UK. He said: | He said the Irish government was happy with the EU’s mandate for the trade talks with the UK. He said: |
| He said the mandate amounted to an offer to the UK that was “generous and fair”. | He said the mandate amounted to an offer to the UK that was “generous and fair”. |
| Although the EU and the UK are trying to negotiate a trade deal, they have already signed one Brexit treaty already – the withdrawal agreement, which included provisions for Northern Ireland to stay in the single market. This was problematic for the Tories because it effectively puts a customs border down the Irish Sea. | Although the EU and the UK are trying to negotiate a trade deal, they have already signed one Brexit treaty already – the withdrawal agreement, which included provisions for Northern Ireland to stay in the single market. This was problematic for the Tories because it effectively puts a customs border down the Irish Sea. |
| At the weekend the Sunday Times (paywall) reported that Boris Johnson intends to “get around” this agreement by interpreting it in a way that would minimise or remove the need for any checks on goods. Yesterday No 10 dismissed this report, saying the government would abide by its obligations. But Downing Street also said that the government had not asked “any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB/NI” - even thought the EU says the Northern Ireland protocol (the section of the withdrawal agreement covering NI customs rules) does require new checks. | At the weekend the Sunday Times (paywall) reported that Boris Johnson intends to “get around” this agreement by interpreting it in a way that would minimise or remove the need for any checks on goods. Yesterday No 10 dismissed this report, saying the government would abide by its obligations. But Downing Street also said that the government had not asked “any ports to prepare for new checks or controls between GB/NI” - even thought the EU says the Northern Ireland protocol (the section of the withdrawal agreement covering NI customs rules) does require new checks. |
| This has made EU ministers distinctly nervous. Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, was warning a few minutes ago that if the UK were to renege on its commitments, that would have very serious consequences. (See 9.23am.) And in an interview when he arrived Michael Roth, the German Europe minister, said the UK had to “keep its promises”. | This has made EU ministers distinctly nervous. Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, was warning a few minutes ago that if the UK were to renege on its commitments, that would have very serious consequences. (See 9.23am.) And in an interview when he arrived Michael Roth, the German Europe minister, said the UK had to “keep its promises”. |
| Asked if he was worried about the reports suggesting the UK might avoid implementing the checks and controls required under the protocol, Roth said: | Asked if he was worried about the reports suggesting the UK might avoid implementing the checks and controls required under the protocol, Roth said: |
| He also said that the EU expected the UK to abide by the political declaration (pdf) – the short document about the future relationship published alongside the withdrawal agreement. He said: | He also said that the EU expected the UK to abide by the political declaration (pdf) – the short document about the future relationship published alongside the withdrawal agreement. He said: |
| The political declaration says: “The future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field.” EU leaders are worried that, in his determination to ensure that the UK does not remain bound by EU rules, Johnson will discard this level playing field promise. | The political declaration says: “The future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field.” EU leaders are worried that, in his determination to ensure that the UK does not remain bound by EU rules, Johnson will discard this level playing field promise. |
| At the general affairs council in Brussels Helen McEntee, the Irish Europe minister, and Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, have just arrived. They say they have come from a meeting with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. | At the general affairs council in Brussels Helen McEntee, the Irish Europe minister, and Simon Coveney, the Irish foreign minister, have just arrived. They say they have come from a meeting with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. |
| Coveney says the EU is doing what it has always done in the Brexit process - staying united, and sticking to deadlines. | Coveney says the EU is doing what it has always done in the Brexit process - staying united, and sticking to deadlines. |
| He says that, from the Irish perspective, the text is strong. | He says that, from the Irish perspective, the text is strong. |
| But he says the EU wants to be sure that the agreements already struck in the withdrawal agreement must be implemented in full. He says the arrangements in the Northern Ireland protocol must be ready to go at the end of the year. | But he says the EU wants to be sure that the agreements already struck in the withdrawal agreement must be implemented in full. He says the arrangements in the Northern Ireland protocol must be ready to go at the end of the year. |
| He says the EU mandate amounts to a “generous and fair” offer to the UK. And it protects Ireland. | He says the EU mandate amounts to a “generous and fair” offer to the UK. And it protects Ireland. |
| Q: What will happen if the UK does not implement the protocol? | Q: What will happen if the UK does not implement the protocol? |
| Coveney says that would have have very serious impact. | Coveney says that would have have very serious impact. |
| Implementing agreements that have already been struck is a test of “good faith”. | Implementing agreements that have already been struck is a test of “good faith”. |
| He says if there is no process in the next few months on implementing the protocol that would amount to a very worrying signal. | He says if there is no process in the next few months on implementing the protocol that would amount to a very worrying signal. |
| He says Barnier agrees with the Irish government on this. | He says Barnier agrees with the Irish government on this. |
| If the UK does not implement the deal, that would damage the prospects of even a “bare bones” trade deal being agreed by the end of this year. | If the UK does not implement the deal, that would damage the prospects of even a “bare bones” trade deal being agreed by the end of this year. |
| But he says today he wants to focus on the positive. | But he says today he wants to focus on the positive. |
| Whatever has been agreed in an international treaty needs to be implemented in full. | Whatever has been agreed in an international treaty needs to be implemented in full. |
| He says the joint committee being set up under the Northern Ireland protocol is not there to carry out a negotiation. It is there to implement something that has already been agreed, he says. | He says the joint committee being set up under the Northern Ireland protocol is not there to carry out a negotiation. It is there to implement something that has already been agreed, he says. |
| EU ministers are meeting this morning to sign off the text of their negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the UK. As my colleague Daniel Boffey reports, the EU will demand the UK maintains a ban on chlorinated chicken as the price for a trade agreement with Brussels. Here is an extract from his story. | EU ministers are meeting this morning to sign off the text of their negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the UK. As my colleague Daniel Boffey reports, the EU will demand the UK maintains a ban on chlorinated chicken as the price for a trade agreement with Brussels. Here is an extract from his story. |
| And here is the story in full. | And here is the story in full. |
| EU ministers are still arriving at the general affairs council meeting in Brussels, and there is a live feed of the arrivals here. I will post some extracts from what they have been saying shortly. | EU ministers are still arriving at the general affairs council meeting in Brussels, and there is a live feed of the arrivals here. I will post some extracts from what they have been saying shortly. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| Morning: EU ministers meet at the general affairs council to agree the EU’s negotiating mandate for the trade talks with the UK. | Morning: EU ministers meet at the general affairs council to agree the EU’s negotiating mandate for the trade talks with the UK. |
| 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. After that Johnson will chair a meeting of the cabinet’s EU exit strategy (XS) committee which will agree the UK’s own negotiating strategy. | 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. After that Johnson will chair a meeting of the cabinet’s EU exit strategy (XS) committee which will agree the UK’s own negotiating strategy. |
| 12pm: Downing Street lobby briefing. | 12pm: Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| Around 1.30pm: The EU is due to hold a press conference following the GAC meeting. | Around 1.30pm: The EU is due to hold a press conference following the GAC meeting. |
| 6.30pm: The Labour leadership candidates Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy speak at a hustings event organised by the Guardian in Manchester. My colleague Anushka Ashthana is chairing it. | 6.30pm: The Labour leadership candidates Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy speak at a hustings event organised by the Guardian in Manchester. My colleague Anushka Ashthana is chairing it. |
| The National Farmers’ Union is also starting its conference in Birmingham. Minette Batters, the NFU president, is speaking. | The National Farmers’ Union is also starting its conference in Birmingham. Minette Batters, the NFU president, is speaking. |
| As usual, we will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will be blogging this morning, a colleague will take over in the afternoon while I get a train to Manchester, and then I will be covering the Labour hustings. | As usual, we will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will be blogging this morning, a colleague will take over in the afternoon while I get a train to Manchester, and then I will be covering the Labour hustings. |
| You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. | You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. |