Inside Politics: Michael Gove promises smooth flying after Brexit ‘turbulence’

Maybe Jackie Weaver could sort the Brexit mess? Handforth Parish Council’s superstar clerk has appeared on cakes, mugs and T-shirts – praised for her unflappable handling of petty behaviour and political grandstanding. Michael Gove and No 10’s Brexit envoy David Frost could do worse than call Jackie to mediate their squabbles with the EU Commission. The pair are trying to convince the EU to change the protocol. But they have succumbed again to petty behaviour and political grandstanding – blaming Brussels for failing to adjust to British sovereignty.

Inside the bubble

Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Keir Starmer will be keener than usual to put in a good performance at PMQs after his slip-up on vaccines last week. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick is expected to make a statement on government help for cladding removal. On the committee corridor, MPs will scrutinise the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland and security co-operation with the EU.

Daily briefing

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE FLIGHT: No 10’s Brexit envoy David Frost has called on the EU to adopt a “different spirit” to tinker with the protocol and ease implementation problems. He admitted the relationship had become “more than bumpy”, adding: “I think the EU is still adjusting … to the existence of a genuinely independent actor in their neighbourhood.” Appearing alongside him at the Lords’ EU committee, Michael Gove compared Brexit problems to the bumpy bit in the flight “where you sometimes get an increased level of turbulence”. He added: “Eventually, you then reach a cruising altitude … and enjoy a gin and tonic and some peanuts.” Checks on animal origin products at Northern Ireland ports will start up again on Wednesday, a day ahead of Gove’s big meeting with EU Commission VP Maros Sefcovic. Meanwhile the government is playing up an “enhanced trade partnership” struck with India. But it is playing down the fact an impact assessment of the EU trade deal won’t be published.

PAY AS YOU STAY: Passengers arriving back in England face up to 10 years in jail if they’re caught lying about returning from “red-list”countries. “People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk,” saidMatt Hancock. Those failing to quarantine in hotel for 10 days face fines of up to £10,000. And quarantiners will be charged £1,750 for their stay. The 10-year sentence bit has shocked and angered senior Tories. Former attorney generalDominic Grieve it was “extraordinarily high”, while the Association ofIndependent Tour Operators said it was “wildly OTT”. Former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption claims Hancock’s connection with reality has “finally snapped”. Some don’t think the government is being tough enough. Everyone flying into Scotland from next Monday will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days – not just those from red list countries. NicolaSturgeon’s ministers urged the UK government to “match the comprehensive approach” north of the border. 

SHELLFISH BEHAVIOUR: Back to Brexit now. Whitehall officials are reportedly discussing“retaliatory measures” against the EU if it doesn’t back down over its ban on live shellfish from the UK. French fishermen could face lengthy delays on the granting of new licences before gaining access to British waters, according to The Telegraph. But Downing Street has already pushed back against the claims. It comes as environment secretary George Eustice blamed Brussels’ “indefensible”bureaucracy for the ban on certain kinds of British shellfish – claiming there was “no legal barrier” to prevent the trade. But the EU has made clear its import rules of shellfish have existed for decades. Elsewhere, JD Sports boss Peter Cowgill described Brexit red tape as “worse than expected” and said it was costing the firm “double digit millions”. He revealed the retail giant is considering moving distribution centres to Europe – along with 1,000 jobs. British meat processors are one step ahead – many are now registering businesses in the EU in order to bypass export delays.

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM SWING: Plans for a controversial coal mine in Cumbria have been dramatically suspended by the county council. Councillors have decided to reconsider a planning application in light of concerns about climate change – citing guidance from the government’s Climate Change Committee. Local Tory leaders said they were “dismayed” by the swing in momentum. But government ministers say the go-ahead of the mine is a local issue and are refusing to step in. A YouGov poll found that 47 per cent of people think the mine will have a negative impact on the UK, while only 9 percent thought it positive. Elsewhere, communities secretary Robert Jenrick will today announce further funding to help with the costs of removing unsafe cladding from buildings across Britain. The Times says the extra money will amount to up to £5bn in grants and loans for residents stuck in the post-Grenfell nightmare.

PING PONG DING DONG: The government stands accused of using “shameful” and “appalling” tactics to dodge a likely Commons defeat designed to prevent trade deals with countries committing genocide. Rebel Tories were poised to back a plan for British courts to rule if a deal should be blocked – but an arcane procedure denied the vote. Ministers coupled the issue with a separate, Labour-sponsored amendment to impose further checks on trade deals – diluting Tory support.Denying any chicanery, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said: “It is common practice during ‘ping pong’ on bills for some Lords amendments to be packaged together where they cover similar issues.” But Iain Duncan Smith thinks it’s a sinister twist on ping pong. He said the government had “gone into the dark corridors … we need to emerge”. Labour’s Emily Thornberry agreed with IDS – calling it “shameful, shabby and shifty” behaviour. It comes as the Campaign Against the Arms Trade revealed the UK has licensed £1.4bn worth of arms sales to Saudi Arabia since a ban was lifted last year.

VIDEO NASTY: So the impeachment trial of Donald Trump will go ahead as planned after a majority of US senators judged the proceedings constitutional. In the 10-minute video used in the Democrats’ presentation, Trump was shown pleading with his supporters to“fight like hell” shortly before they stormed the US Capitol building. “That’s a high crime and misdemeanour,” said Jamie Raskin, leading the prosecution’s case for the party. Raskin briefly broke into tears as he recalled the violent attack – calling the sound of a mob pounding on the door “the most haunting sound I ever heard”. The Republicans? Mostly unmoved. The party’s leader in theSenate Mitch McConnell – thought to have flirted with the idea of impeachingTrump in the aftermath of the siege – voted against the continuation of process. Only a handful of Republicans backed the measure to continue the trial, which suggests it’s over before it really began (a two-thirds majority is needed to convict). 

On the record

“I think the EU is still adjusting somewhat … to the existence of a genuinely independent actor in their neighbourhood.”

UK negotiator David Frost says the EU is struggling to adjust to Brexit.

From the Twitterati

“Would it be possible to have a culture minister who actually fights … rather than defending the indefensible position which basically boils down to Brexit means Brexit.”

Deborah Meaden on culture minister Caroline Dinenage’s admission that changing visa for artists wouldn’t be ‘consistent with Brexit’…

“It’s quite an admission that avoiding serious damage to the music industry and our arts and culture sectors is ‘not consistent with Brexit’.”

…and Prof Brian Cox is amazed.

Essential reading

Tom Peck, The Independent: Welcome to Hancock Travel – check out early and get 10 years free

Vince Cable,The Independent: We must use science in deciding the future of Cumbria’s coal mine

Isabel Hardman, The Spectator: The problem with talking about ‘our NHS’

Dahlia Lithwick, Slate: No-one expects Trump to get convicted. And that’s the problem

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