Brexit news – live: DUP accused of ‘silly games’ over legal action, as No 10 denies influence of Boris Johnson’s fiancee
Follow all the latest updates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Downing Street has denied that Boris Johnson’s fiancée Carrie Symonds has a key role in running the country, after a Tory think tank called for an inquiry into the extent of her influence.
The Bow Group has called for a public review into whether Ms Symonds has power in shaping policy. “It’s incorrect,” said No 10 press secretary Allegra Stratton when asked if the PM’s fiancée had a key role.
Meanwhile, the DUP and other unionist parties in Northern Ireland have teamed up to launch a legal challenge against the protocol, part of the Brexit deal with the EU aimed at avoiding a hard border in Ireland.
However Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill urged the DUP to stop playing “silly games” and focus on solving the difficulties caused by Brexit.
Now sausages tied up in Brexit red tape
A new layer of bureaucracy is now in force, with sausages and mince now required to carry health certificates as they move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
The UK government-designed export health certificates (EHCs) to allow such products to enter Northern Ireland are only temporary.
Sausages, mince and pate-type products made in Great Britain are currently only permitted to move into Northern Ireland under a six-month grace period, which will expire at the end of June if a new deal cannot be struck between the UK and EU.
Bans on other GB agricultural and food products, like seed potatoes, potted plants and some seeds, have been in place since the start of the year.
Under the terms of the protocol, which, post-Brexit, regulates the movement of goods in and out of the region, all non-banned agri-food items entering from GB need EU health certificates declaring them risk-free.
Because sausages and other chilled meat products are not normally allowed to be imported into the EU under the bloc's tight sanitary rules, there is not an EHC covering them.
DUP launches court challenge to Northern Ireland protocol
DUP leader Arlene Foster has launched legal action to challenge the Northern Ireland protocol amid unionist anger over post-Brexit trade disruption, writes Peter Stubley.
The judicial review proceedings will argue that the new checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland were imposed without the consent of the public.
Ms Foster is joined by DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, the party's Westminster leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and chief whip Sammy Wilson, as well as former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib, Eurosceptic peer Kate Hoey and Jim Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party.
DUP launches court challenge to Northern Ireland protocol
Arlene Foster claims UK-EU agreement has ‘driven a coach and horses through both the Act of Union and the Belfast Agreement’
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments