Brexit news : Budget cancelled as Boris Johnson warned UK faces ‘winter of discontent’

A no-deal Brexit would be twice as damaging for UK economy as coronavirus in the long term

Brexit is likely to have a more significant impact on the UK’s economy in the long run than the coronavirus pandemic, assuming it makes a reasonably strong recovery, writes commentator and senior fellow at academy think thank The UK in a Changing Europe, Jonathan Portes.

Modelling with the London School of Economics of the impact of a no-deal Brexit suggests that the total cost to the UK economy over the longer term will be two to three times as large as that implied by the Bank of England’s forecast for the impact of Covid-19.

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Government’s boycott of Good Morning Britain ‘pretty disgraceful’, says Nicola Sturgeon

The Scottish First Minister has said it is “pretty disgraceful” for UK government ministers to boycott a breakfast TV show during the ongoing pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon said leaders must be held accountable during the coronavirus crisis.

“Right now, communicating directly with the public is a real public duty on the part of the leaders,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

Host Piers Morgan said: “As a rule of thumb, you come on pretty much whenever we ask you to be accountable for your decision making. We have not had a member of the UK Government on here for 148 days.”

He asked Ms Sturgeon if that is a “dereliction of their duty to the electorate”, to which she replied: “I think that is pretty disgraceful actually. I think particularly at a time like this. We can’t be on all the programmes all the time, there is a limited number of hours in the day.

“But generally speaking, particularly at a time like this, leaders have to be accountable. And not just accountable, we have to be explaining the decisions we are taking.

“We are asking people to do extraordinary things and if we are not prepared to explain the reasons for that, we can’t expect people to comply.”

‘Safe operation’ of Channel Tunnel in doubt from January, MPs warn

MPs have raised fears about the “safe operation of the Channel Tunnel” from January, accusing the government of failing to make preparations.

Due to Brexit, France and the UK were expected to negotiate the changes needed, but ministers have yet to put forward a new safety framework, they say.

Deputy Political Editor Rob Merrick reports:

Ministers accused of trying to shift blame over potential Brexit border chaos

Hauliers have accused Michael Gove of attempting to “shift blame” for the possible impact of a no-deal Brexit after a letter to logistics associations was leaked, warning of 7,000-truck-long queues in Kent if they fail to prepare for the end of the transition period.

Rob Hollyman, director of Essex-based haulage firm Young’s Transportation and Logistics, told PA news agency the document could lead people to blame “the idiot haulier” instead of the government.

Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, warned that the UK does not have enough customs agents to support traders after the transition period ends.

“We've been consistently warning the government that there will be delays at ports, but they're just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions,” he said, responding to the leak.

“Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.”

Dominic Raab stokes confusion over whether fast-food chains and coffee shops subject to ‘table-service only’ rule

The foreign secretary has stoked confusion for businesses after suggesting that customers would need to order food from their table in fast-food chains and coffee shops in England under new coronavirus restrictions.

Boris Johnson yesterday announced that pubs, bars and restaurants must, by law, operate “table-service only”policies - excluding takeaways - to limit contact between patrons in queues.

Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on whether customers could enter establishments such as McDonald’s or any coffee shop, make an order and then sit down at a table, Dominic Raab said people should avoid “milling around and social interaction”.

Political Correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more on the story:

Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer clash over coronavirus and more during PMQs

The prime minister is facing questions in the Commons and has already clashed with Keir Starmer over Covid-19, the NHS and the furlough scheme.

The Labour leader questioned by Boris Johnson said the test and trace system has “very little or nothing” to do with the spread or the transmission of Covid-19, after previously hailing it as a game changer.

Mr Johnson argued that “one of the great advantages of NHS Test and Trace” is the “ability to see in granular detail where the epidemic is breaking out” and isolate groups that are being infected.

Mr Starmer accused the prime minister of “pretending there isn’t a problem” and pressed him on the lack of testing capacity, which has led to chaos and confusion among members of the public.

Boris Johnson accuses Labour of exploiting pandemic for political gain

The prime minister has accused Labour of exploiting the ongoing Covid-19 crisis for political gain in closing his exchange with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs.

He said: “I think that the reality of the Opposition position has been exposed. The cat’s out of the bag.

“Because it was his shadow education secretary (Kate Green) who said of the present crisis, she said ‘don’t let a good crisis go to waste’.”

“That’s the real approach of the Labour Party. Seeking to create political opportunity out of a crisis,” he added.

‘Creative and imaginative schemes’ for businesses promised

The prime minister has said the government will introduce “further creative and imaginative scheme to keep our economy moving”.

Sir Keir Starmer asked why business support was not announced during Boris Johnson’s address to the nation on Tuesday evening, where he outlined new measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Johnson replied: “Let's be in absolutely no doubt that the work that this Government has done to protect the economy of this country, to support the jobs of 12 million people through the furlough scheme, enabled expenditure of about £160 billion has been unexampled anywhere else in the world.

"And I think he should pay tribute to the Chancellor and his work and we will go forward with further creative and imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving.”

Dominic Raab denies UK trying to take ‘Swedish approach’ to coronavirus

The UK government is not shifting to a Swedish approach towards to coronavirus pandemic, Dominic Raab has said.

The denial comes as a leading scientist at the University of Oxford said the latest restrictions suggested “a move towards Sweden” - with a greater emphasis on personal responsibility and a greater acceptance that cases will rise.

Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he did not “accept that characterisation”, adding: “We’ve just introduced a suite of changes. The one thing I would accept is that we as individuals have got some responsibility to comply - it’s not just what the government does that matters.”

Adam Forrest reports:

‘Last thing’ Scots at risk of losing jobs want from Boris Johnson is ‘a hug’, says Ian Blackford

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has urged the prime minister to “show the leadership required” and announce an extension of the furlough scheme.

He called on the government to announce an “immediate extension” of the scheme in order to save jobs.

Mr Johnson responded: “What we will do, as I’ve said throughout, is continue to put our arms around the people of this country going through a very tough time and come up with the appropriate, creative and imaginative schemes to keep them in work and keep the economy moving.”

Mr Blackford replied: “Prime Minister, I can tell you that the last thing those 61,000 Scots are looking for is a hug from you.

“They need the security of knowing that they can hold onto their jobs and incomes, for themselves and their families.”

Mr Johnson said: “I can imagine that (Mr Blackford) doesn’t want a hug from me, but that was a metaphor, and that we’re… perhaps it’s physically incarnated by the £12.7 billion of Barnett Consequentials that we’re seeing come from the UK Exchequer to support people across the whole of our country.”