Brexit news - live: Boris Johnson branded 'liar' over alleged power grab as Keir Starmer grills him over Covid testing at PMQs

Teacher denounces Matt Hancock’s ‘disgusting’ criticism of school that sent entire year home for testing

Matt Hancock's criticism of a school that sent an entire year group for testing was "disgusting", according to an assistant headteacher at a Leicestershire primary school.

"The government had months to consider how the return of schools might affect testing capacity and yet nothing has been done about it," she told the PA news agency.

"Teachers and children, alongside NHS staff and carers, need to be given testing priority."

"Teachers are putting themselves at risk with no complaint ... to give the best life chances by teaching pupils in person in school," she added.

"Teachers want children in school but the lack of adequate availability for teachers and children not only means that teachers can't teach their class but children are needlessly missing out on face-to-face lessons."

Boris Johnson branded a liar over 'power grab' on Scotland's parliament

Boris Johnson was today branded a liar over an alleged “power grab” on the devolved administrations, as the SNP’s Westminster leader accused him of creating a “rogue state”, our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.

SNP MP Ian Blackford spoke out on the publication of Mr Johnson’s UK Internal Market Bill, which he said amounted to “an attack on Scotland's parliament and an affront to the people of Scotland”.

The bill has sparked headlines for overriding the prime minister’s Brexit withdrawal agreement with Brussels in a way which ministers accept breaches international law. But it has also provoked fury in Edinburgh and Cardiff for proposing that powers being returned from Brussels because of Brexit, should be transferred to UK government ministers and not the devolved administrations.

In a stormy exchange at PMQs, Mr Blackford said: “As we've already heard, this legislation breaks international law. But it also breaks domestic law.

“The prime minister and his friends - a parcel of rogues - are creating a rogue state, one where the rule of law does not apply. Why does the Prime Minister think that he and his friends are above the law?”

Mr Johnson insisted that the bill was “about protecting jobs, protecting growth and ensuring the fluidity and safety of our UK internal market and prosperity throughout the United Kingdom” and should be welcomed throughout the country.

But he was loudly heckled by Mr Blackford, who was hauled up by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for calling the PM a liar.

Treasury secretary defends furlough closure amid entry to recession ‘on a speed and scale we’ve never seen before’

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay has defended the decision to end the furlough scheme at the end of October as “one of the most difficult decisions the government has taken”.

He told the Commons: "The House needs no reminding of the scale of the economic challenge facing our country. Recent GDP figures confirm that we have entered an acute recession on a speed and scale we've never seen before.

"An economic crisis on this scale means whatever the government does, that jobs will be lost, businesses will close and as the Chancellor said last month, hard times are here."

On setting the duration for the furlough scheme, Mr Barclay added: "It has been one of the most difficult decisions the government has taken, but this is the right one and I would remind the House of the extent of the support that we have offered.

"Firstly the furlough is over eight months already, it is one of the most generous schemes in the world and we have been contributing at a higher rate of people's wages than in Spain.

"We are supporting a wider range of businesses than in New Zealand and our scheme will run for twice as long as in Denmark."

European leaders express concern over breach of Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

European leaders have expressed their concern over the government’s announcement that it intended to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was "very concerned about announcements from the British government on its intentions to breach the Withdrawal Agreement".

She tweeted: "This would break international law and undermines trust. Pacta sunt servanda = the foundation of prosperous future relations."

Meanwhile, European Council president Charles Michel tweeted: "The Withdrawal agreement was concluded and ratified by both sides, it has to be applied in full.

"Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the confidence we need to build our future relationship."

Influential congressman urges UK to ‘uphold the rule of law’

Influential Irish-American US congressman Richard Neal has urged the UK to "uphold the rule of law" and warned that any US-UK trade deal would be dependent on protecting the Good Friday Agreement.

Rep Neal, who chairs the country's Ways and Means Committee which oversees trade deals, said in a statement: "The United States is a guarantor of that historic peace accord, which was approved by the people of Ireland, north and south, in an unprecedented referendum."

He added: "Every political party on the island opposes a return of a hard border. I sincerely hope the British government upholds the rule of law and delivers on the commitments it made during Brexit negotiations, particularly in regard to Irish border protocols."

After Rep Neal's intervention, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tweeted: "Good luck getting a trade deal with the US Boris Johnson if you mess with the Protocol and Good Friday Agreement." 

Keir Starmer to combat No 10’s White House-style briefings with his own televised press conferences

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to hold televised press conferences each month in a bid to counter the new, daily briefings planned for Downing Street, the party has confirmed, Adam Forrest reports.

The question and answer sessions with the media could begin as soon as next month, when No 10 is thought to want to begin its own White House-style TV briefings.

A Labour source confirmed to The Independent that the party is looking at regular, live press conferences in a bid to boost the public profile of Sir Keir – who has seen a rise in personal and party poll ratings since he succeeded Jeremy Corbyn earlier this year.

Although the events may only take place once a month, the party hopes they will contrast favourably with an unelected official having to stand in for Boris Johnson.

In July, Downing Street began searching for a spokesperson to hold televised briefings to “communicate with the nation” on behalf of the prime minister.

Boris Johnson warned that walking out on EU trade talks risks ‘huge damage’ for Britain’s world standing

Boris Johnson has been warned he risks “huge damage” to Britain’s national interests and its standing on the world stage as Brussels reacted with alarm to his threats to walk out of EU trade talks and tear up key parts of his Brexit withdrawal agreement.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned that implementation in full of the agreement which Mr Johnson signed up to last year was a legal obligation and a condition for any future trade deal with the EU, while anti-Brexit parties in Northern Ireland issued a joint statement warning that departing from the deal would undermine the peace process.

But Downing Street denied it was “tearing up” the withdrawal agreement and its protocol on Northern Ireland, insisting that the prime minister was committed to implementing both in their entirety, but was simply making “clarifications” in order to avoid confusion when the UK’s Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

More below:

PM details new lockdown approach

Boris Johnson is laying down the government’s latest approach to the virus - including changing lockdown rules.

My colleagues on our coronavirus live blog have all the details:

Former PM joins chorus of Tories condemning government decision to breach international law

Sir John Major has joined senior Tories in criticising the Government's decision to override key elements of Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

Ministers have acknowledged that provisions in the UK Internal Market Bill, published on Wednesday, are in breach of international law. 

In a statement, the former prime minister said: "For generations, Britain's word - solemnly given - has been accepted by friend and foe. Our signature on any treaty or agreement has been sacrosanct.

 "Over the last century, as our military strength has dwindled, our word has retained its power. 

"If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make, we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained."

MPs reject Labour motion on furlough scheme

MPs have rejected Labour's motion which called for the Government to "abandon its one-size-fits-all" withdrawal of the furlough scheme and instead offer targeted support for businesses affected by Covid-19.

The motion was defeated by 249 votes to 329, majority 80.

They later supported the Government's amendment to the motion, which praised its economic response to the pandemic, by 320 votes to nine - majority 311.