Brexit news: Further delays to import checks announced as PM scrambles for Biden support over protocol

BBC presenter Emily Maitlis clashed with the DUP’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson after telling him his party’s position on the Northern Ireland protocol was “extraordinary”.

The Newsnight host challenged the unionist MP on whether his complaints about trading disruption resulting from an Irish Sea border was “a bit rich”, given the DUP’s insistence on a hard Brexit.

The unionist party – which gave the Tories a nominal majority in the Commons between 2017 and 2019 – remained staunch objectors to the idea of the UK leaving the EU but staying part of a customs union.

Adam Forrest has more on this story:

The European Union's ambassador to the UK has called on London and Brussels to "give up on trying to score points" and ensure there is trust between both sides.

Joao Vale de Almeida told a Westminster briefing that he wanted there to be the "best possible relationship" between Britain and the EU post-Brexit amid disputes over trade arrangements.

He said the UK and EU had a "special relationship" as he called for the two sides to focus on making the agreements already reached work.

Sir Keir Starmer today launched Labour’s local election campaign but refused to be drawn on if the party will make any gains at May’s elections, suggesting Covid-19 could cost the party votes.

“They’re going to be tough, these elections,” the Labour leader said, “we are in a pandemic and we are constrained in the way we can campaign.”

The Independent’s deputy political editor Rob Merrick has all the details

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Mr Johnson to fix the “blind spot” on LGBT issues and said he would “absolutely” ban conversion therapy.

He said: “The Government has clearly got a blind spot here. It’s got a problem and the Prime Minister needs to address it, not least because it’s a pattern of behaviour.”

Sir Keir said he also supported a ban conversion therapy by law, adding: “It’s abhorrent and we’re 100% against it.”

It comes after two government’s LGBT advisers have quit their posts and criticised Equalities ministers Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch.

Downing Street today said that the Government was working with “law enforcement agencies, charities, women’s group” to develop a strategy to ensure women’s safety.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “(The Prime Minister) said he was shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation.

Asked what practical steps the Government is taking now, the spokesman referred to the violence against women and girls strategy.

“That will help us better target perpetrators and support victims of these crimes and increase our ability to tackle new and emerging forms of violence against women and girls, such as upskirting and revenge porn,” he added.

“The Prime Minister said previously it remains his intent to ensure that we work to reduce crime across the country.”

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Sir Keir Starmer has said the allegations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their Oprah interview were a “matter now for the [royal] family” to resolve.

The Labour leader said earlier this week that Meghan and Harry’s claims of racism and lack of support when she had suicidal thoughts must be taken “very, very seriously”.

Buckingham Palace responded by saying race and mental health claims would be “taken seriously” and addressed privately. Prince William said on Thursday that the royals were “very much not a racist family”.

Adam Forrest has the story:

“A week after his Budget, it’s increasingly clear that Rishi Sunak has to climb a mountain of unfinished business that is now emerging through the fog of figures,” writes Andrew Grice. “Ministers admit privately the chancellor put off tackling the huge pressures on day-to-day public services until his government-wide spending review in the autumn.”

A Stormont minister has been challenged on why he and some of his officials were at odds on whether the import of cricket pitch clay is banned under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots issued a statement on Wednesday night insisting the material known as loam was not prohibited under the terms of the new Irish Sea trade arrangements.

Thursday’s Assembly Agriculture committee hearing was told that Mr Poots’ statement contradicted advice previously issued by his department.

Offering an explanation, Mr Poots told the committee a departmental official may have provided an “initial position” but he said his department had now reached a different view on the status of loam.

Loam is usually imported into Northern Ireland from three counties in England.

It help stabilise cricket wickets, giving the ball a predictable bounce.

Ulster Unionist committee member Rosemary Barton told Mr Poots recent emails sent by officials stated the import of loam was “currently prohibited” under EU rules.

Cricketing figures within Northern Ireland had raised concerns following that advice, warning that pitches used for generations might have to be dug up and replaced.

“There has been confusion,” Mrs Barton told Mr Poots.

“Earlier in the week some of the Daera (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) officials said ‘I regret to inform you that importation of these products from Great Britain, as a third country, to Northern Ireland is currently prohibited’.

“Yet the minister yesterday put out a statement saying that this was not the case, that it was fine to import the loam?”

She added: “I’m not saying your statement’s wrong but is there an issue or is there confusion? Could you clarify it please.”

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The UK has announced further delays to post-Brexit import controls, despite warnings the move will be a boon for tax cheats and smugglers.

Full controls on animal products were due to be enforced next month and other customs declarations introduced in July, having been shelved from January to ease pressures at the border.

But Michael Gove has now delayed them until October and next January respectively – blaming Covid-19, which has led to “greater” disruption” than expected.

Deputy politics editor Rob Merrick will have more on this story as it develops:

The government has come under renewed pressure to introduce a visa-waiver agreement to help UK musicians tour Europe.

Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Hunt of Wirral said the issue could and should have been resolved by now.

At question time the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport minister Baroness Barran assured the Lords the government would continue to try to “streamline” musicians’ ability to tour within the EU.

Lord Hunt said it was “self-evidently in the interests of all concerned that frictionless visa-free arrangements” were in place.

Lady Barran said the government remained disappointed that the deal it proposed for touring performers was not agreed by the EU.

“We understand the concerns of the sector and we are working at pace to address them so that touring can resume as soon as it is safe to do so,” she added.

Labour’s Lord Wood of Anfield said UK musicians faced an “impossible, overwhelming array of obstacles” and the vast majority of them considered a visa-waiver agreement was the “only sustainable solution”.

Independent crossbencher the Earl of Clancarty said the performing arts were “as one in asking for a bespoke visa-waiver agreement as a matter of urgency”.

He said such an agreement need not cross the Government’s red lines on free movement.