Inside Politics: UK and EU clash once again over vaccines

Bad week for the war-on-woke brigade. Nigel Farage has quit politics. Piers Morgan has stormed off the airwaves. And Disney has pulled a series of animated classics because of certain “negative” depictions. Cue another round of outrage over “cancel culture”. Boris Johnson will not be cancelling his lockdown timetable – with his chief medical officer warning another big Covid wave is more likely than we think. Could the PM cancel his 1 per cent NHS pay rise offer? We have the clearest hint yet a U-turn could be on the way. Meanwhile, the EU has accused Johnson’s government of cancelling vaccine exports – prompting a furious denial from Downing Street.

Inside the bubble

Political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

The royals’ civil war might be the elephant in the chamber during PMQs at lunchtime. Labour appears keener to talk about it than the Tories, but Keir Starmer will want to stick to pressuring Boris Johnson over the planned 1 per cent pay rise for NHS workers. Ministers will also answer urgent questions on post-Brexit trade between GB and NI.

Daily briefing

THEY THINK IT’S ALL OVER: Chris Whitty has effectively ended Tory MPs’ hopes of an early end to lockdown. The chief medical adviser offered a pretty downbeat message on what we can expect later in the year. Whitty told the science committee that modelling suggests “that at some point we will get a surge in virus”. He thinks it could hit in late summer. This is because not everyone will have been vaccinated or have full protection after curbs are gradually lifted. “A lot of people may think this is all over. It is very easy to forget how quickly things can turn bad,” he said. It comes as Nicola Sturgeon eased curbs in Scotland (up to four adults from two different households will be able to meet up outdoors in from Friday). Expect renewed scrutiny of the role of Test and Trace today, after a scathing report by the public accounts committee. Despite £37bn being set aside for it over two years, committee chair Meg Hillier said it was hard to find a “measurable difference” the system had made.

NOW WE GOT (MORE) BAD BLOOD: Another row has broken out between Boris Johnson’s government and the EU over vaccines. It follows a statement by Charles Michel, president of the European Council, claiming the UK had enforced an “outright ban” on exports of vaccines produced domestically. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has written to Michel to say his claims are “completely false”. An EU representative in London has also been summoned for “further discussions” (i.e. to be shouted at). Michel tried to shake off the row with a breezy tweet last night. “Glad if the UK reaction leads to more transparency and increased exports.” Hmmm. I’m not sure if that’s where this is leading, Charles. Meanwhile, a new report has warned barriers to trade caused by the Brexit deal will cost British e-commerce importers more than £5bn a year. And it has emerged that the government’s post-Brexit replacement for theErasmus study exchange scheme won’t fund tuition or travel costs. The living allowance has been slashed too.

BRIDGE TOO FAR? Boris Johnson will today announce £20m for a review into rail and road links –including a detailed study of a possible bridge linking Northern Ireland andScotland. Announcing the findings of a report by Sir Peter Hendy today, the PM will confirm the “very interesting” bridge idea remains alive, despite mockery about its unfeasibility. “It is time to begin to strengthen the very sinews –the musculoskeletal structure – of the UK,” he writes in The Telegraph. The PM will also pledge to review air passenger duty on domestic flights.Environmental groups won’t be happy about that one. Meanwhile, justice secretary Robert Buckland hinted at a possible U-turn on NHS pay on Tuesday, saying the 1 per cent pay rise proposal was only the “beginning of a process”. If there is a U-turn on the way, junior health minister Lord Bethell hasn’t been told. He angered the unions by defending the 1 per cent rise and saying NHS staff had secure jobs that many people would “envy”.

MEMORIES MAY VARY: The Meghan and Harry interview continues to dominate the front pages. If you missed the big developments: Buckingham Palace issued a slightly cheeky statement saying “recollections may vary” – but also promised the Sussexes’ claims would be “taken very seriously”. Meanwhile Piers Morgan has sensationally quit GMB following 41,000complaints to Ofcom over his attacks on Meghan (“I don’t believe a word she said.”) No 10 is still trying to tiptoe around the mess as best it can. Boris Johnson won’t be rebuking his minister Zac Goldsmith for accusing Harry of “blowing up his family”. But Tory backbenchers have decided it’s all too much fun to keep quiet. Lee Anderson MP said Hillary Clinton is “a fine one to talk” after she said the treatment of Meghan by the nasty Brits was “outrageous”. Fellow TorySteve Brine suggested Joe Biden and the White House should keep their damned noses out of our twisted affairs. “This is not their battle. Why on earth should they weigh into it?”

THE MISSING MINUTES: The SNP’s no-good year has gotten even worse. MP Patrick Grady has quit his role as the party’s chief whip at Westminster following sexual harassment allegations. It is alleged Grady groped two male researchers at a party, but was being “protected” by the SNP. The SNP confirmed last night an investigation is under way. It comes asScotland’s deputy first minister John Swinney confirmed records of Salmond saga meetings between Nicola Sturgeon, permanent secretary Leslie Evans and legal counsel cannot be found. The Scottish Tories said it was “inconceivable these minutes don’t exist.” Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said it was “laughable” and also highly serious at the same time. “This is an utterly despicable and repugnant statement.” It looks like the pro-independence Greens will save Swinney from having to step down. They party said it would oppose a no confidence motion (backed by Labour and the Lib Dems), claiming was a “Tory plot”.

HE IS WATCHING US: Donald Trump’s eldest son shared a picture of his father staring out of Trump Tower after his two-day trip to his golden edifice in Manhattan sparked protests outside. “New York Deplorables, Donald Trump is watching,” wrote DonnyJunior on Instagram. The crowd outside carried signs that read “arrest Trump” and “Florida man go home”. Meanwhile in Washington, Congress is poised to approve a landmark $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill, giving Joe Biden an early triumph showcasing the unity Democrats will certainly need to forge future victories. Nancy Pelosi called it a “remarkable, historic, transformative piece of legislation”. The Republicans hate it, of course. “It’s focused on pushing more of the far-left agenda,” said No 2 House Republican leader Steve Scalise on the effort to expand tax credits, support child care and boost emergency food programmes.

On the record

“All the modelling suggests there is going to be a further surge, and that will find the people who either have not been vaccinated or where the vaccine has not worked.”

Chris Whitty warns of a late summer surge.

From the Twitterati

“I have no idea whether or not looming TV channels from Rupert Murdoch & Andrew Neil intend to ape Fox News. But it will be interesting to see how they react to the sudden availability of the highest profile Trump-loving, Meghan-hating, ‘anti-woke’ warrior in the land.”

JamesO’Brien suspects he knows Piers’ next move...

“I hope my boss would have dragged me off set if I’d used my platform – on national TV – to tell a pregnant woman, speaking openly about suicidal thoughts, that I didn’t believe a word she said.”

…and BBC host Dan Walker suggests Piers won’t get a job at Beeb.

Essential reading

John Rentoul, The Independent: Why can’t the lockdown be eased more quickly?

Vince Cable, The Independent: Biden looks like a radical president and is showing up our government

Marina Hyde, The Guardian: Meghan and Harry vs The Firm – another royal fairytale turned Grimm

Kate Andrews, The Spectator: George Osborne takes a pop at Rishi Sunak’s tax hike

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