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| Brexit: Johnson denies going back on level playing field terms he agreed with EU last year - as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Michael Gove publishing the government’s negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the EU | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Michael Gove publishing the government’s negotiating mandate for the post-Brexit trade talks with the EU |
| Boris Johnson is asking the EU for a Canada-style trade deal but will consider whether to walk away from talks in June and prepare for an “orderly” exit from the transition period. | Boris Johnson is asking the EU for a Canada-style trade deal but will consider whether to walk away from talks in June and prepare for an “orderly” exit from the transition period. |
| Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he is going back on promises he made in the political declaration last year to agree level playing field rules with the EU. (See 1.49am.) | Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he is going back on promises he made in the political declaration last year to agree level playing field rules with the EU. (See 1.49am.) |
| Plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport have been ruled illegal by the court of appeal because ministers did not adequately take into account the government’s commitments to tackle the climate crisis. | Plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport have been ruled illegal by the court of appeal because ministers did not adequately take into account the government’s commitments to tackle the climate crisis. |
| The UK is to abandon a crucial tool used to speed up the transfer of criminals across borders with other European countries. As Jamie Grierson reports, acting against the warnings of senior law enforcement officials, the government said it would not be seeking to participate in the European arrest warrant (EAW) as part of the future relationship with the European Union. | The UK is to abandon a crucial tool used to speed up the transfer of criminals across borders with other European countries. As Jamie Grierson reports, acting against the warnings of senior law enforcement officials, the government said it would not be seeking to participate in the European arrest warrant (EAW) as part of the future relationship with the European Union. |
| Boris Johnson’s Conservatives raised nearly £40m in the months leading up to the general election, more than three times the amount raised by Labour, according to figures released by the elections watchdog. | Boris Johnson’s Conservatives raised nearly £40m in the months leading up to the general election, more than three times the amount raised by Labour, according to figures released by the elections watchdog. |
| Government figures showing a fall in the number of rough sleepers is hiding the real scale of the crisis, it has been claimed, with charities citing their own data that reveals a significant increase in the sum of vulnerable homeless people seeking help. The statistics were released as Boris Johnson said he wanted to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament. (See 9.21am.) When first elected London mayor he also promised to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012 - but failed dismally. (See 10.09am.) | Government figures showing a fall in the number of rough sleepers is hiding the real scale of the crisis, it has been claimed, with charities citing their own data that reveals a significant increase in the sum of vulnerable homeless people seeking help. The statistics were released as Boris Johnson said he wanted to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament. (See 9.21am.) When first elected London mayor he also promised to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012 - but failed dismally. (See 10.09am.) |
| Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, has held talks with the US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. She said: | Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, has held talks with the US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. She said: |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| Thanks for the comments. | Thanks for the comments. |
| This is from the politics professor and Brexit specialist Simon Usherwood. It is a good summary of where the EU and UK negotiating mandates match up and don’t match up, with the most difficult areas in red, problematic ones in yellow, and relatively straightforward ones in green. | This is from the politics professor and Brexit specialist Simon Usherwood. It is a good summary of where the EU and UK negotiating mandates match up and don’t match up, with the most difficult areas in red, problematic ones in yellow, and relatively straightforward ones in green. |
| The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has recommended in a report (pdf) nine improvements in the Home Office settlement scheme for EU citizens. | The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has recommended in a report (pdf) nine improvements in the Home Office settlement scheme for EU citizens. |
| Among them are recommendations that: | Among them are recommendations that: |
| • A senior case worker signs off the less-straightforward family cases involving civil partnerships, durable partnerships or marriages between EU and non-EU nationals with marriage interview teams’ involvement in some cases. | • A senior case worker signs off the less-straightforward family cases involving civil partnerships, durable partnerships or marriages between EU and non-EU nationals with marriage interview teams’ involvement in some cases. |
| • The Home Office should do more to “provide reassurance” that the impact of the scheme has been “fully considered”, particularly with regard to vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups. | • The Home Office should do more to “provide reassurance” that the impact of the scheme has been “fully considered”, particularly with regard to vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups. |
| • The Home Office should collect and publish data on complaints and proof that caseworkers are applying the evidence “flexibility” consistently. | • The Home Office should collect and publish data on complaints and proof that caseworkers are applying the evidence “flexibility” consistently. |
| The report comes just weeks after it emerged that DWP records of elderly applicants were not automatically being found during the process, forcing EU citizens in the country since the 1950s to prove their right to be in the country. | The report comes just weeks after it emerged that DWP records of elderly applicants were not automatically being found during the process, forcing EU citizens in the country since the 1950s to prove their right to be in the country. |
| The Home Office said it was accepting eight of the nine recommendations but not its proposal on freephone helplines. | The Home Office said it was accepting eight of the nine recommendations but not its proposal on freephone helplines. |
| In the Financial Times’ daily Brexit briefing (paywall), Jim Brunsden explains why Boris Johnson’s new stance on the political declaration is causing so much alarm in Brussels. Here’s an extract. | In the Financial Times’ daily Brexit briefing (paywall), Jim Brunsden explains why Boris Johnson’s new stance on the political declaration is causing so much alarm in Brussels. Here’s an extract. |
| Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has now published a written ministerial statement giving the government’s full response to the court of appeal’s decision on the Heathrow third runway. Here is the key section. | Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has now published a written ministerial statement giving the government’s full response to the court of appeal’s decision on the Heathrow third runway. Here is the key section. |
| Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons home affairs committee, says the public will be less safe under the plans for criminal justice cooperation with the EU published by the government this morning. In a statement she said: | Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons home affairs committee, says the public will be less safe under the plans for criminal justice cooperation with the EU published by the government this morning. In a statement she said: |
| Sajid Javid resigned as chancellor earlier this month because he was not prepared to accept No 10 picking his special advisers. As Sky’s Mark Kleinman reports, the whole process by which ministerial special advisers (or “spads”, as they are called) are appointed is being changed. In the past ministers chose their own advisers, subject to approval from Downing Street. Now candidates will be chosen centrally. | Sajid Javid resigned as chancellor earlier this month because he was not prepared to accept No 10 picking his special advisers. As Sky’s Mark Kleinman reports, the whole process by which ministerial special advisers (or “spads”, as they are called) are appointed is being changed. In the past ministers chose their own advisers, subject to approval from Downing Street. Now candidates will be chosen centrally. |
| In Northern Ireland the SDLP Stormont assembly member and former Downing Street adviser Matthew O’Toole has said the government’s Future Relationship with the EU document shows Boris Johnson’s contempt for Northern Ireland. O’Toole said: | In Northern Ireland the SDLP Stormont assembly member and former Downing Street adviser Matthew O’Toole has said the government’s Future Relationship with the EU document shows Boris Johnson’s contempt for Northern Ireland. O’Toole said: |
| And the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said the paper still gave no detail on how Johnson could deliver his promise of “unfettered” trade with Great Britain. Its director, Aodhán Connolly, said: | And the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said the paper still gave no detail on how Johnson could deliver his promise of “unfettered” trade with Great Britain. Its director, Aodhán Connolly, said: |
| Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he is going back on promises he made in the political declaration last year to agree level playing field rules with the EU. (See 10am.) When this suggestion was put to him in an interview this morning, he replied: | Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he is going back on promises he made in the political declaration last year to agree level playing field rules with the EU. (See 10am.) When this suggestion was put to him in an interview this morning, he replied: |
| Johnson is correct about this; his desire for the UK to be able to diverge from EU regulations after Brexit has always been clear. But that does not explain why he signed the political declaration (pdf) last year saying that in a future UK-EU relationship there should be “robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”. | Johnson is correct about this; his desire for the UK to be able to diverge from EU regulations after Brexit has always been clear. But that does not explain why he signed the political declaration (pdf) last year saying that in a future UK-EU relationship there should be “robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”. |
| The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of watering down the UK’s membership of the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme, after the Brexit negotiating strategy bluntly described UK participation as “time limited”.The strategy document has a single reference to the scheme, stating: “The UK will consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests.”The Lib Dems say the wording suggests the UK will seek looser membership of Erasmus after 2021, with lower funding for British universities and colleges, which would need to rely on partners in EU member states to manage student and staff exchanges on their behalf. Layla Moran, the Lib Dem education spokesperson, said: | The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of watering down the UK’s membership of the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme, after the Brexit negotiating strategy bluntly described UK participation as “time limited”.The strategy document has a single reference to the scheme, stating: “The UK will consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ on a time-limited basis, provided the terms are in the UK’s interests.”The Lib Dems say the wording suggests the UK will seek looser membership of Erasmus after 2021, with lower funding for British universities and colleges, which would need to rely on partners in EU member states to manage student and staff exchanges on their behalf. Layla Moran, the Lib Dem education spokesperson, said: |
| The number of people moving to the UK long-term from non-EU countries is at its highest level on record, according to the latest estimates. As the Press Association reports, in the year to September immigration from non-EU countries hit 379,000 – the highest it has been since records began in 1975 when it was 93,000. | The number of people moving to the UK long-term from non-EU countries is at its highest level on record, according to the latest estimates. As the Press Association reports, in the year to September immigration from non-EU countries hit 379,000 – the highest it has been since records began in 1975 when it was 93,000. |
| Net migration from outside the EU – the balance between the number of people entering and leaving the UK – is at its highest level (250,000) since 2004 when it peaked at 265,000, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. | Net migration from outside the EU – the balance between the number of people entering and leaving the UK – is at its highest level (250,000) since 2004 when it peaked at 265,000, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. |
| Meanwhile, EU net migration stood at 64,000, slightly higher but broadly similar to the 57,000 recorded a year earlier, PA reports. | Meanwhile, EU net migration stood at 64,000, slightly higher but broadly similar to the 57,000 recorded a year earlier, PA reports. |
| Explaining the figures, Jay Lindop, the director of the centre for international migration at the ONS, said: | Explaining the figures, Jay Lindop, the director of the centre for international migration at the ONS, said: |
| Responding to the government’s announcement that it may abandon trade talks with the EU if there is not enough progress by June, the European commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant told reporters at a briefing: | Responding to the government’s announcement that it may abandon trade talks with the EU if there is not enough progress by June, the European commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant told reporters at a briefing: |
| Asked whether the EU was preparing for the talks to fail, she said it would be “premature to speculate” about the result of the negotiations. | Asked whether the EU was preparing for the talks to fail, she said it would be “premature to speculate” about the result of the negotiations. |
| Mujtaba Rahman, the Brexit specialist for the Eurasia Group consultancy, has posted a revealing Twitter thread on the state of UK-EU relations. It starts here. | Mujtaba Rahman, the Brexit specialist for the Eurasia Group consultancy, has posted a revealing Twitter thread on the state of UK-EU relations. It starts here. |
| Here is my colleague Lisa O’Carroll’s analysis of what the government is proposing in its “Future Relationship with the EU” document, which sets out its negotiating stance in trade talks with the union. | Here is my colleague Lisa O’Carroll’s analysis of what the government is proposing in its “Future Relationship with the EU” document, which sets out its negotiating stance in trade talks with the union. |
| Here are the main points from Michael Gove’s statement to MPs about the UK’s position in the forthcoming trade talks with the EU. | Here are the main points from Michael Gove’s statement to MPs about the UK’s position in the forthcoming trade talks with the EU. |
| Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said the UK would “not link access to our waters [for fishing] to access to EU markets”. In his opening statement he went on: | Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said the UK would “not link access to our waters [for fishing] to access to EU markets”. In his opening statement he went on: |
| And when asked by the Conservative MP Steve Double to confirm that fishing would not be used as a “bargaining chip” in the negotiations, Gove replied: | And when asked by the Conservative MP Steve Double to confirm that fishing would not be used as a “bargaining chip” in the negotiations, Gove replied: |
| He confirmed that the UK would “not accept nor agree to any obligations where our laws are aligned with the EU or the EU’s institutions, including the court of justice”. (See 11.16am.) | He confirmed that the UK would “not accept nor agree to any obligations where our laws are aligned with the EU or the EU’s institutions, including the court of justice”. (See 11.16am.) |
| He claimed that the British people would be “even safer” after Brexit because the UK would be able to take full control of its borders. He said the government did want an agreement with the EU on law enforcement and judicial cooperation. But he also said: “We will not allow our own legal order to be compromised.” | He claimed that the British people would be “even safer” after Brexit because the UK would be able to take full control of its borders. He said the government did want an agreement with the EU on law enforcement and judicial cooperation. But he also said: “We will not allow our own legal order to be compromised.” |
| He insisted that the UK was just asking for trade terms of the kind offered by the EU to other nations. | He insisted that the UK was just asking for trade terms of the kind offered by the EU to other nations. |
| He said the UK wanted a free trade deal that protected standards without obliging the UK to follow EU rules. He said: | He said the UK wanted a free trade deal that protected standards without obliging the UK to follow EU rules. He said: |
| He rejected the EU argument that it needed to impose tougher trade terms on the UK than it does on a country like Canada because of the UK’s proximity to the EU. He said: | He rejected the EU argument that it needed to impose tougher trade terms on the UK than it does on a country like Canada because of the UK’s proximity to the EU. He said: |
| Gove was referring to the EU argument famously embodied in this chart (pdf). | Gove was referring to the EU argument famously embodied in this chart (pdf). |
| Gove said the government was committed to “respecting and enacting” the Northern Ireland protocol, the part of the withdrawal agreement setting new customs rules for Northern Ireland. Later, when asked by the Alliance MP Stephen Farry if the government would actually implement the protocol, Gove said the government would ensure it was “appropriately implemented”. | Gove said the government was committed to “respecting and enacting” the Northern Ireland protocol, the part of the withdrawal agreement setting new customs rules for Northern Ireland. Later, when asked by the Alliance MP Stephen Farry if the government would actually implement the protocol, Gove said the government would ensure it was “appropriately implemented”. |
| He insisted that it would be possible to recruit 50,000 new customs officers before the end of the year to operate the new border controls that will come into force from 2021. He was responding to a question from Labour’s Christian Matheson, who said 50,000 officials would be needed. | He insisted that it would be possible to recruit 50,000 new customs officers before the end of the year to operate the new border controls that will come into force from 2021. He was responding to a question from Labour’s Christian Matheson, who said 50,000 officials would be needed. |
| Gove claimed the UK would be better placed to succeed economically by being independent of the EU. In response to a question from Labour’s Pat McFadden, who said the government had chosen “to prioritise sovereignty over any economic argument or consequence either for goods or for services”, Gove said: | Gove claimed the UK would be better placed to succeed economically by being independent of the EU. In response to a question from Labour’s Pat McFadden, who said the government had chosen “to prioritise sovereignty over any economic argument or consequence either for goods or for services”, Gove said: |
| Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has issued a rather non-committal tweet responding to the publication of the government’s Future Relationship with the EU (pdf) document. The reference to “prior commitments” in the political declaration refers above all to what the UK and the EU said last year about how “the future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”. (See 10am.) | Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has issued a rather non-committal tweet responding to the publication of the government’s Future Relationship with the EU (pdf) document. The reference to “prior commitments” in the political declaration refers above all to what the UK and the EU said last year about how “the future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”. (See 10am.) |
| This is from my colleague Jamie Grierson, the Guardian’s home affairs correspondent. | This is from my colleague Jamie Grierson, the Guardian’s home affairs correspondent. |
| He is referring to this paragraph in the government’s Future Relationship with the EU (pdf) document. | He is referring to this paragraph in the government’s Future Relationship with the EU (pdf) document. |