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Brexit news – live: Government in ‘denial’ over problems facing exporters, trade body warns

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Rory Sullivan,Vincent Wood
Thursday 04 February 2021 11:54 EST
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The UK government is in "denial" at the scale of the problems exporters face, a trade body has warned.

James Withers, chief executive at Scottish Food and Drink, told MPs on Thursday that trade had not been flowing freely following the end of the Brexit transition period.

He added that issues such as "the sheer weight of paperwork" and "IT systems crashing" were insignificant compared to the government's refusal to acknowledge the gravity of the situation. 

This comes as Unionist leaders in Northern Ireland increased their calls for the UK government to scrap part of the Brexit deal to “protect the integrity” of the UK.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the country’s first minister Arlene Foster said the Northern Ireland Protocol “needs to be replaced” and urged Boris Johnson to take actions to that effect.

Ian Paisley Jr, another DUP politician, told the BBC on Wednesday evening that the 34 days since the end of the Brexit transition period have been an “unmitigated disaster” for Northern Ireland.

Their words follow trade disruptions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, leading to shortages of some items in supermarkets.

Tensions worsened last week when the EU threatened to introduce vaccine checks on the island of Ireland to prevent doses made in the bloc reaching the UK via Northern Ireland.  

EU and UK officials met on Wednesday to discuss concerns over Northern Ireland, with cabinet office minister Michael Gove and his EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic concluding they would “work intensively to find solutions to outstanding issues”. 

Mr Johnson has left his position open, insisting he will ensure “there is no barrier down the Irish Sea”. 

  • Boris Johnson threatens to call time on Northern Ireland Brexit deal
  • Brexit fishing deal ‘fell short’ of industry expectations, government admits 
  • Brexit: Why are loyalists making threats over the Irish Sea border? 
  • Does Rishi Sunak really think the scientists are moving the lockdown goalposts?

Arlene Foster urges calm over Northern Irish border

Asked about Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne's call for people to step back from the brink of violence, Arlene Foster urged calm.

"I do think it's incredibly important that people do stay calm and that they focus their energies on constitutional politics and take things forward in that fashion," the First Minister said.

"Constitutional politics is the way forward. I know people are very frustrated, but they need to channel that frustration through constitutional politics so that we can effect change in that fashion."

Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "I think it is very clear that we do need to dial down the rhetoric and we've heard some comments which I think are dangerous from people who should know better on radio programmes yesterday."

Vincent Wood4 February 2021 16:54

Downing Street has added to confusion about its target for vaccinating over-50s by refusing to reveal its definition of the end of spring.

You can read the story here, meanwhile here is our own Ashley Cowburn on what 'spring' could mean - and a thought for the future on exchanges like today's between the PM's spokesperson and the press pack.

Vincent Wood4 February 2021 16:35

Boris Johnson’s Scottish adviser for union ‘sacked following furious row’

Boris Johnson’s chief adviser on the union has been replaced following reports of a bust-up at No 10 on the UK government’s strategy to counter rising support for Scottish independence.

Vincent Wood4 February 2021 16:15

Rees-Mogg says cost of restoring parliament is ‘eye-watering'

Jacob Rees-Mogg has said "eye-watering sums" are being sought for the restoration of parliament. 

Mr Rees-Mogg, who did not disclose any numbers, said: "Some of the figures I have heard bandied around for the total cost and some of the figures I am seeing requested for budgets at the moment are eye-watering - and it is hard to believe that that is what is required for the vital works." 

The Tory MP added that MPs needed to play an "important role" in the months ahead to decide on the scale of the restoration works.

Former Tory minister Sir Edward Leigh has suggested that parliament should take place virtually until the improvements are finished, as the country is "broke". 

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 15:55

Carbon tax could force up prices of meat and cheese

Downing Street has refused to rule out the possibility that a proposed carbon tax could see price rises for products such as meat and cheese.

Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak have reportedly asked Whitehall ministries to put a price on carbon emissions across the whole economy, ahead of COP 26 in Glasglow later this year.

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 15:34

SNP reacts to new Downing Street union chief

The SNP has welcomed the government's appointment of a new chief adviser on the union, saying it will only increase support for their independence movement.

Downing Street sacked former Tory MP Luke Graham following a reported row on the best strategy to keep the union intact, with Brexit negotiator Oliver Lewis picked to fill the role.

Nicola Sturgeon's party appears to approve of Mr Lewis' appointment, sensing it will inadvertently serve its interests.

The SNP's deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald said: "The Vote Leave takeover of Boris Johnson's taxpayer-funded anti-independence campaign has spectacularly backfired - and will drive up support for independence even further.

"By installing Dominic Cummings' Brexit apprentice as head of the so-called 'Union unit', the Prime Minister is demonstrating, yet again, that he is completely clueless about Scotland."

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 15:17

Brexit trade disruption ‘very predictable’, says trade body chief executive

The head of the trade body Scottish Food and Drink has told a committee of MPs about the scale of business disruption caused by Brexit.

Speaking to the Scottish Affairs Committee, James Withers said "some catastrophic decisions" had created "enormous non-tariff barriers", something the government had promised to avoid.

Mr Withers continued: "And we have ended up with a trading regime that has become complex, costly, slow, prone to break down at its best.

"And at worst, the door to the EU market has been closed altogether for some food exporters across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK."

He described the outcome as "very predictable" given it involved testing "a multibillion-pound new trading system in real time in the midst of a pandemic".

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 14:57

PM’s adviser on the union sacked, No 10 confirms

Boris Johnson's chief adviser on the union has been sacked, following reports of a "furious dispute" over strategy after the prime minister's visit to Scotland last week.

Downing Street confirmed that the former Tory MP Luke Graham has been removed from his post. Oliver Lewis, a leading figure in the Brexit negotiations, is tipped to take his place.

Contrary to polls which indicate that the majority of Scots favour independence, No 10 made the bold claim on Thursday that Mr Johnson is the "voice of the majority of the Scottish people" who reject it.

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 14:33

People need to step away from brink of violence, says Northern Irish chief constable

Northern Ireland's chief constable has warned of a "febrile" atmosphere in the country, amid rising tensions about trade disruption over the Irish Sea from Great Britain.

Simon Byrne said that 26 graffiti incidents have been identified across the country in recent days, with police increasing their intelligence gathering.

This comes after custom checks officials in Belfast and Larne withdrew after threats were made against them.

Mr Byrne told the Policing Board in Belfast: "It is now time for wise words and calm heads.

"We need to work together to look at a route map to normality because that seems to be the opportunity before us, to step back from the brink in terms of community tension."

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 14:12

PM says Brexit ‘done’ despite call for grace period extension

Boris Johnson insists Brexit is "done", despite his government's request to the EU that it extends the "grace periods" in the Northern Ireland Protocol to 2023.

A spokesperson for the prime minister admitted there were still issues "we need to resolve as part of the protocol".

This comes the day after cabinet office minister Michael Gove said concerns need to be remedied quickly, with talks with the EU due to continue next week.

Eric Mamer, a spokesperson for the European Commission, said that grace periods "were always meant to be of a temporary nature", adding that it was up to Mr Gove and his EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic "to see what is the way forward".

Rory Sullivan4 February 2021 13:50

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