Brexit news - live: Government agrees to compromise with rebels over Brexit bill as Tory minister quits
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has admitted to the Liaison Committee that the UK does not have sufficient testing capacity, but continued to defend the coronavirus testing system amid chaos.
Earlier, he faced deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner at prime minister’s questions as she filled in for isolating Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons, where he failed to answer questions from the deputy Labour leader about how much care home workers earn per hour in the UK.
He was also accused of pushing the blame on the public for massive delays in the coronavirus testing system.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has been warned by US congress members that the UK government’s “disturbing” plan to breach the terms of the Brexit deal puts at risk any future trade deal between the two countries.
Angela Rayner is proving popular in her questions to the prime minister in the House of Commons today.
Boris Johnson has been described as being “blustery” and “floundering” by viewers on social media.
Boris Johnson is making his way to the House of Commons ahead of prime minister’s questions, which is due to start at 12pm.
The prime minister will face deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner at the despatch box as she takes the place of Sir Keir Starmer, who is isolating.
Starmer: Family test result negative
Sir Keir Starmer has announced the coronavirus test result for one of his children has come back negative.
The Labour leader began isolating on Monday after his child showed possible Covid symptoms.
How worried should Boris Johnson be about Brexit Bill rebels?
While warnings against the government's Internal Market Bill pile up abroad, our chief political commentator John Rentoul asks whether the prime minister has any cause for concern closer to home:
John Rentoul | How worried should Boris Johnson be about his Brexit bill being defeated in parliament?
The prime minister easily survived the first vote on his treaty-breaking UK Internal Market Bill, but it faces stiffer tests to come, writes John Rentoul
European Commission president: UK cannot unilaterally disregard Brexit treaty
Ursula von der Leyen said the uk cannot unilaterally change or disregard the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU.
The European Commission president used her first State of the Union address to warn Boris Johnson’s government that trust in the UK would be undermined if it were to renege on treaty obligations.
“The European Union and the UK jointly agreed that it was the best and only way for ensuring peace on the island of Ireland and we will never backtrack on that," Ms von der Leyen said before the European Parliament.
“This agreement has been ratified by this house and the House of Commons. It cannot be unilaterally changed, disregarded, disapplied.
“This is a matter of law and trust and good faith.”
Ms von der Leyen went on to quote Margaret Thatcher speaking ahead of the 1975 EEC referendum, when the former prime minister said: “Britain does not break treaties. It would be bad for Britain, bad for relations with the rest of the world and bad for any future treaty on trade.”
The commission president said Thatcher’s words were “true then and true today”, adding: “Trust is the foundation of any strong partnership.”
Simon Hoare told Mr Lewis the Internal Market Bill would be better if it made clear the law-breaking clauses would only come into effect after an arbitration period.
Mr Hoare said the government has created a “rather clumsy elephant trap” that has caused international anxiety over the UK’s intentions that could have been avoided were the Bill clearer.
Committee chair Simon Hoare asked whether Boris Johnson was wrong when he said the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit deal was “in perfect conformity with the Good Friday Agreement” last October.
The Northern Ireland secretary replied that the prime minister was right but the protocol was “always subject to being ironed out”.
Brandon Lewis questioned by MPs over Brexit Bill
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, is currently giving evidence to the Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee.
Mr Lewis, who first admitted the government planned to break international law under the proposed Internal Market Bill last week, said he was “correct” to do so, after Lord Falconer claimed he had answered the wrong question in making the admission.
Drop ‘disturbing’ Brexit plan or risk US trade deal, Congress members warn
Boris Johnson faces fresh warnings from senior US politicians to “abandon” plans to override the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union or risk losing out on a future trade deal.
Four congress members, led by US Foreign Affairs Committee chair Elliot Engel, warned the prime minister over plans to undermine the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit deal.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the Congress members said: "We were so disturbed by the reports about your government’s efforts to undermine the Northern Ireland protocol of the withdrawal agreement that, if true, could have disastrous for the Good Friday Agreement and broader process to maintain peace on the island of Ireland."
Here’s our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn with the full story:
Boris Johnson must drop 'disturbing' Brexit plan or risk US trade deal, Congress members warn
Remarks come as foreign secretary Dominic Raab visits Washington for meetings with senior US politicians
Internal Market Bill insures against EU, says justice secretary
Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, has said the powers to break international law granted by the controversial Internal Market Bill would only be used if the the EU were to make a “material breach” of their obligations as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement.
Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Mr Buckland said: “People understand the provisions will only be used if there is a material breach by the EU of international law.”
Political commentator Tom Newton Dunn speculated the justice secretary’s commments suggest the government will undertake in law to only use the controversial powers if the EU were to break international law first, a provision the Times Radio presenter suggested could end the Conservative revolt against the legislation.
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