Brexit news - live: UK and EU commit to ‘proper implementation’ of Northern Ireland protocol
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK and the EU have announced they are both committed to the “proper implementation” of the Northern Ireland protocol, after unionists called for it to be scrapped.
Cabinet office minister Michael Gove and the European Commission’s vice president Maros Sefcovic had virtual meetings with business leaders from Northern Ireland on Thursday.
In a joint statement, they said the meetings had been “constructive”, adding that both sides“were committed to the proper implementation of IE/NI Protocol and finding pragmatic solutions” to trade disruption.
This came after the director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium called on the UK and the EU to show pragmatism in helping the territory’s business community.
Aodhan Connolly said the meetings on Thursday were an “important” first step in what he hoped would be a “comprehensive dialogue” between the sides.
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- EU accuses Britain of failing to live up to Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland border
Morning, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling politics coverage.
PM gives Brexit negotiator David Frost a Cabinet position
The prime minister has appointed his chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, as minister for relations with the European Union.
Among other tasks, the hardline Brexiteer, who was made a peer last year, will oversee the implementation of December’s agreement with the EU.
His appointment to Cabinet brings one of Boris Johnson’s closest advisers to the heart of the government’s policy on Europe.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost enters cabinet as minister for relations with EU
Peer takes over from Michael Gove as UK representative on Joint Committee with EU
EU’s Sefcovic to meet with Northern Irish business leaders
Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s vice president, will meet with Northern Irish business leaders on Thursday to discuss post-Brexit trade arrangements.
The DUP called last month for the Northern Ireland protocol to be scrapped, as the party thinks checks over the Irish Sea threaten the constitutional unity of the UK. The EU has insisted this will not happen, as the protocol is designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Starmer to vow to be as bold as Labour in 1945
Keir Starmer will deliver a speech on Thursday aimed at silencing his detractors, who accuse him of excessive caution and a lack of vision.
The Labour leader will say that leadership like Clement Attlee’s in 1945 is needed to help the UK recover from the coronavirus crisis.
“I believe people are now looking for more from their government – like they were after the Second World War,” he will say, adding that “failed Conservative ideology” cannot achieve that.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the details
Keir Starmer to vow to be as bold as Labour in 1945, amid growing criticism of his leadership
Covid crisis is like post-war ‘call to arms’ Labour leader will say – likening his task to Attlee’s transformation of Britain
‘Swiss-style’ arrangement only ‘part’ of solution, says DUP
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader and Stormont first minister, said on Wednesday that a potential “Swiss-style” arrangement would only be “part of the solution” to post-Brexit trade disruption in Northern Ireland.
Under this model, the UK would need to align its animal and plant regulations with the EU to avoid goods checks over the Irish Sea.
The Northern Irish first minister said this could help overcome some trade disruption but added that it would not remove all the red tape brought by Brexit.
“So for us what we’re really interested in is a long-term solution, a permanent solution to the problems that we’re currently facing,” Ms Foster said.
Inside Politics
Here’s Adam Forrest with our daily politics round-up, which today looks at David Frost’s new Cabinet position and the current state of Northern Ireland protocol talks.
David Frost put back in charge of Brexit talks – your daily politics briefing
The negotiating chief – given a new role in cabinet – takes over protocol talks at a delicate moment, writes Adam Forrest
Critics note irony in David Frost’s Cabinet appointment
Critics on social media have noted the irony in Boris Johnson’s appointment of the former Brexit negotiatior David Frost as the minister for relations with the EU.
Lionel Barber, the former Financial Times editor, tweeted that it is ironic for an unelected official to be in charge of UK-EU relations, given the Brexit’s campaign’s “incessant railing against unelected bureaucrats in Brussels”.
The Labour MP Jess Phillips also made a remark on social media to the same effect.
Rules on visiting care homes could be relaxed soon, says minister
Care minister Helen Whately has hinted that rules restricting care home visits could be eased within weeks.
Ms Whately said she “really, really wanted to open up” residential homes when the third English lockdown ends.
Currently, family members are allowed to visit their relatives, but they this can only be done outside at a social distance.
“I don’t see that we have to wait for the second vaccination dose,” she told Sky News.
Rules on visiting care homes could be relaxed within weeks, minister hints
Helen Whately says ‘don’t see that we have to wait for second vaccination dose’ to increase visiting
Report suggests voter ID will be required from 2023
Voters could be required to bring photo ID to polling centres on election days from 2023.
The change will form part of the new Electoral Integrity Bill that will feature in the Queen’s Speech this spring, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Conservatives claimed in their 2019 manifesto that the plan would “protect the integrity of our democracy”.
However, campaigners have warned that it would have disastrous consequences, locking “millions out of the ballot box”.
Darren Hughes, the head of the Electoral Reform Society, said in October that the proposal would “disproportionately hit older voters, people of colour, and those on low incomes”.
Post-Brexit ‘Scottish visa’ could tackle depopulation, say government advisers
A special “Scottish visa” could help tackle depopulation in rural areas, Scottish government advisers have said.
Boris Johnson’s government has previously rebuffed the idea of separate immigration rules for different parts of the UK.
‘Scottish visa’ after Brexit would tackle depopulation, say advisers
Experts advising Nicola Sturgeon’s administration urge UK government to consider radical move
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