PM defends Brexit plan after EU launches legal action

The Scottish government plans to hold a second independence referendum in October next year, the constitution secretary has said.

However, at the same time as Angus Robertson revealed the possible time for the crunch vote, a former adviser to both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon cast doubt on whether it could be delivered by then.

Campbell Gunn, who was a special adviser to Mr Salmond and then Ms Sturgeon, said that the "timescale is very difficult".

Mr Gunn, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, said: "We’re now 15, 16 months from when the referendum is likely to be held, we don’t have a section 30 order, it will probably end up in the courts.

"I just don’t see the timescale working for the SNP."

His comments came after Mr Robertson told the same programme the Scottish Government intends holding the referendum in October of next year - going further on the timing than Ms Sturgeon, who has only said she wants the ballot to be held before the end of 2023.

Brussels has announced it is taking legal action against the UK government after Boris Johnson pushed ahead with plans to overwrite parts of the Brexit agreement.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has the story:

Boris Johnson accusing the Opposition of being on the side of people traffickers “falls well short of the good temper and moderation which should characterise our debates”, Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton has said.

Raising a point of order after Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour MP for Bolton South East Yasmin Qureshi said: “In the Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister said that the Leader of the Opposition was a supporter of people traffickers. I think that should be taken out of record.”

Dame Rosie replied: “I thank the honourable lady for her point of order. Frankly, the level of noise during PMQs meant it was not possible for the chair to hear everything, but I understand that the Prime Minister, as she says, did say that the Opposition was on the side of people traffickers.

“That seems to me, and I have to say to the Speaker, to fall well short of the good temper and moderation which should characterise our debates. And I say to the Prime Minister, and to all members here, we need to refer to each other in this place in more respectful terms.”

Boris Johnson‘s “gameplaying” was compared to Love Island, with Sir Keir Starmer warning the Prime Minister could be booted out for giving the public the “ick”.

The Labour leader said: “He says the economy is booming when it’s shrinking. He’s gameplaying so much he thinks he’s on Love Island.

“The trouble is, Prime Minister, that I’m reliably informed that contestants that give the public the ‘ick’, get booted out.”

Mr Johnson replied: “We’re helping people with the cost of living, with £1,200. On July 14 the money will be going into people’s bank accounts. Why can we do that? Because we have the fiscal firepower to do it, because the economy is in a robust shape, with record numbers of people in payroll employment.”

He added: “He has the chance now to clear it up: he can oppose Labour’s rail strikes right now, he can disagree, I give him that opportunity, let him disagree with the union barons who would add to people’s costs in the coming weeks.”

Sir Keir countered: “I don’t want the strikes to go ahead. He does so he can feed on the division.”

As we reported earlier, Keir Starmer accused the PM of trying to play “jedi mind tricks” with the country with his claims on the economy.

Watch the exchange below:

Boris Johnson is attempting to perform “Jedi mind tricks” by boasting about the state of the UK economy and claiming no rules were broken during the Partygate scandal, Sir Keir Starmer had joked.

Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the story:

Johnson responds by saying his government will contine to take the tough decisions needed to “take this country forward”.

He claims the Tories are “on the side of the British people” while Labour is on the side of the RMT “barons”.

Referrig to the Rwanda deportation plan, he claims Labour is on the side of people traffickers.

Starmer uses last question to accuses the PM of, “week after week,” spouting the same “nonsense” about the economy.

But millions of people and businesses “know the reality”, he adds.

He rounds up by asking the PM when is going to accept the reality that the economy is “going backwards”.

Responding, PM points to cost of living measures set out by chancellor, saying the government is helping Britons with rising prices.

He repeats “record” employment figures and calls on Labour leader to make clear his position on RMT rail stikes.

Starmer says he does not support them

“It’s not just low growth” Starmer says as he presses again on the economy.

He points to rising inflation and accused the PM of ignoring warnings last September that prices would go uo.

Starmer accuses him of failing to act and “siting on his hands”.