Boris Johnson news – live: Government to offer votes on ‘significant coronavirus measures’ after PM accused of ‘confusion’

Trade will be ‘day-to day struggle’ after Brexit, MPs told

Some grim Brexit news now. Trading with other countries will become a “day-to day struggle” from January, MPs have been told in a bleak forecast from the key aerospace, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.

An inquiry heard of massive extra costs, a mountain of red tape and chemicals “disappearing” from the UK market after the Brexit transition period ends.

Some medicines may not reach Northern Ireland, although it was “very important that patients don’t panic”, MPs were also told.

More details from our policy correspondent Jon Stone:

Asylum island plan? ‘What you get when you mix very stupid with very nasty’

More astonishment at reports Priti Patel examined a plan to send asylum seekers to Ascension Island – a UK territory 4,000 miles away.

Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: “It’s deeply troubling that our home secretary even considered that this immoral and inhumane plan was a serious solution to a humanitarian crisis.

The former Tory MP Sarah Wollaston tweeted: “Suggest sending a shower of government ministers to Ascension Island instead.”

Green Party candidate Tom Scott added: “A plan to ship asylum seekers to Ascension Island and St Helena is what you get when you mix very, very stupid with very, very nasty.”

Minister hints at compromise deal with Tory rebels

A reminder that Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, held talks with Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg last night over a possible “compromise” deal to give parliament a say in debating and approving coronavirus restrictions.

Earlier, the business secretary minister hinted at concessions for disgruntled Tories. Alok Sharma said the government was examining “suggestions” aimed at addressing their concerns.

Will there be a vote on the rebel amendment today? No 10 officials were hoping Speaker Lindsay Hoyle would refuse to select it and give them more time. But time only seems to add more names to the rebel list.

Steve Baker MP said this morning that even without a vote today those calling for more checks were “not going to go away”.

Asylum island plan ‘inhumane’ and ‘racist’ says Labour MP

Tory MP Laura Trott said new “solutions” to migrant crossings were needed – although she made clear she did not know any of the details in the “offshoring” plan considered Home Office to send asylum seekers to Ascension Island.  

“It’s right that we look at solutions to the problem. We need to reduce the incentive to cross [the English Channel]. We’ve got to stop that happening.”

Labour MP Richard Burgon said: “I think it’s totally inhumane. This is based upon rotten values … values that actually seem quite racist.”

No 10 shows ‘disregard’ for Commons on Covid rules, says Speaker

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has made a brief statement before PMQs kicks off – saying the way the government has imposed coronavirus regulations showed “total disregard” for the Commons.

But he said he would not select the Tory rebel amendment today – the amendment seeking to give parliament a proper say on shaping the coronavirus rules.  

“I now look to the government to rebuild trust with the House and not treat it with the contempt it has shown,” say the Speaker in a stinging statement.

‘How does the prime minister expect country to follow rules?’

Boris Johnson has been attacked for forgetting his own government’s changes to coronavirus restrictions at Prime Minister’s Questions.  

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “If the prime minister doesn’t understand the rules, and his own council leaders are complaining about mixed messages, how does the prime minister expect the rest of the country to follow the rules?”

Boris Johnson responded: “Actually, I think that the people of this country do understand and overwhelmingly do follow the rules … he mentions the restrictions in the North East, and I cleared that matter up as fast as I could.”

PM: ‘We will do everything we can to save every job’

Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer have clashed over looming job losses. The Labour leader said there had been a lack of government support for the hospitality industry trying to cope with changing rules and regulations. 

“Why has the prime minister decided these jobs are not worth saving?”

Johnson responded: “We are putting the arms around the whole of the UK economy. We will do everything we can to save every job.”

Starmer said 10,000 hospitality jobs were at risk in Newcastle alone, adding: “There’s 10,000 people that wanted an answer to that question because they’re going to lose their jobs by Christmas. Prime minister, you really should have answered it.”

Rebel Tory leader still expects ‘concessions’ on Covid rules

Sir Graham Brady – the leader of the 1922 Committee, and the man behind the rejected amendment – said he still remained hopeful that the government will make concessions on coronavirus powers.

In a statement, he said: “The Speaker set out his reasons for not selecting any amendments but he also made it clear that he expects the government to ensure proper and timely parliamentary scrutiny.

“I am hopeful that the government will respond appropriately this afternoon.”

No evictions over Christmas, PM promises

There was an interesting exchange on tenants at risk of eviction shortly before the end of today’s PMQ. Labour MP Navendu Mishra asked Boris Johnson whether he will “reinstate the ban on evictions” seen during summer months.

The PM responded: “We’ve changed the law to ask landlords to provide tenants with at least six months’ notice before eviction. We’re not going to have evictions in lockdown area. And  there won’t be any enforcement of evictions over Christmas.”

Asylum island plan? ‘Extremely inappropriate’ says UN official

While we were following PMQs, a senior UN official has been telling MPs that sending asylum seekers to Ascension Island (an idea reportedly explored by the Home Office) would be a “very significant departure” for the UK.

Rossella Pagliuchi-Lor, the UK representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, was asked her thoughts at the Commons’ home affairs committee.

“This is the Australian model and I think we have already seen that the Australian model has brought about incredible suffering on people who are guilty of no more than seeking asylum.”

She said it was “extremely inappropriate in terms of the commitments that the country should have to human rights” and also “incredibly impractical and expensive”, adding: “I do hope the UK will not choose to go down this way.”