Boris Johnson news: Brexit deal ‘closer and closer’ as PM says life cannot go back to normal
The latest developments from Tuesday 6 October
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The UK and the EU are getting “closer and closer” to a Brexit trade deal, according to diplomats in Brussels. EU officials are said to be gearing up to negotiate until as late as mid-November to avoid a damaging no-deal scenario at the end of the year.
It comes as Boris Johnson claimed life “cannot go back to normal” after the pandemic – but said he expected no more social distancing by October 2021. The PM promised 5 per cent deposits for first-time buyers and extra investment in wind power at his conference speech.
MPs voted to retain the rule of six restricting gatherings to six people - despite a backbench rebellion as senior Tory MPs urged the prime minister to change direction. The regulation was approved by 287 votes to 17, with Labour abstaining.
UK a ‘stalwart defender’ of international law, says Raab
The government has admitted that its internal markets bill actually breaks international law, in what ministers described as a “limited way”.
Bar Council chief attacks Johnson’s ‘lefty lawyers’ gibe
Senior figures in the legal world have not taken kindly to Boris Johnson’s attack on “lefty human rights lawyers, and other do-gooders” in his Tory conference speech.
The PM said his government was “protecting the public by changing the law to stop the early release of serious sexual and violent offenders and stopping the whole criminal justice system from being hamstrung” by people he disagreed with.
The rhetoric, which echoed that deployed by Priti Patel earlier in the conference, was branded “deeply concerning” and intimidating.
Amanda Pinto QC, chair of the Bar Council, said: "It is shocking and troubling that our own prime minister condones and extends attempts to politicise and attack lawyers for simply doing their job in the public interest.
"Lawyers - including those employed by the government itself - are absolutely vital to the running of our grossly under-funded criminal justice system. Their professional duty is to their client and to the court, and not to play political games.
"The proper application of the laws of this country is fundamental to the justice system and it is a lawyer's task to set out the proper arguments to enable that to happen."
Simon Davis, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said that "repeated government attacks on the integrity of the legal profession" were "deeply concerning", adding: "This divisive language serves nobody and puts lawyers and their clients at risk.
"All solicitors advise their clients on their rights under the laws created by parliament. Legal rights cannot be rewritten through rhetoric.
"The justice system determines the validity of claims independently from government, media and public opinion.
"In countries where lawyers are unable to do their job for fear of intimidation the rule of law is weakened. The consequences are a society that becomes less safe, less stable and less fair."
PM accused of turning blind eye to looming mass unemployment
Boris Johnson has been accused of turning a blind eye to the reality of impending mass unemployment and the threat of a no-deal Brexit, after he gave a speech to the Conservative conference which instead focused on a Britain of hydrogen-powered trains and zero-carbon jets in 2030, writes Andrew Woodcock.
In his keynote address to the conference - forced online after the planned gathering in Birmingham was cancelled due to Covid - the prime minister said that Britain could not “merely restore normality” once the pandemic is over, but must “build back better”.
Boris Johnson says Britain cannot go back to ‘old normal’ after coronavirus
PM accused of ‘bluster’ as he sets out vision of life in 2030
Brexit trade deal getting ‘closer and closer’, say diplomats
The UK and the EU are getting “closer and closer” to a trade deal, two diplomatic sources have told Reuters – with one describing talks last week as “one of the most positive so far”.
EU diplomats are now said to be gearing up to negotiate until as late as mid-November to avoid a damaging no-deal scenario at the end of the year.
“We seem to be getting closer and closer to a deal, even though the no-deal rhetoric in public might suggest the opposite,” said one of the sources briefed by the European Commission.
The diplomats said Britain had made welcome proposals on nine out of 10 areas related to protecting reciprocal rights for people moving between EU member states and the UK.
Alternatively, Bloomberg is reporting that the EU has no plans to offer concessions to the UK before mid-October – and is betting that Boris Johnson minister won’t make good on his threat to walk away from trade negotiations.
Labour will back government on ‘rule of six’, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour will support the government in a Commons vote on the rule of six Covid regulations on Tuesday evening.
He told reporters “We will support on the rule of six … I think clarity and simplicity is really important here and therefore we will support the rule of six tonight.”
But there is a Tory rebellion brewing over the 10pm curfew, with no date yet decided for a vote on the controversial restriction. Dozens of Conservatives are said to be ready to vote against the government, and Starmer is yet to decide how to whip Labour MPs on the issue.
Responding to Johnson’s speech, Starmer said: “I think that what NHS workers on the front line and the country want from the prime minister is a frank acknowledgement that there are real problems with the government’s approach … The testing regime just isn’t working.”
Starmer says Hancock should ‘get on with the job’
Labour leader Keir Starmer has called on health secretary Matt Hancock “to get on with the job” – hours after his deputy Angela Rayner demanded his resignation, leaving the party’s stance in disarr
Starmer said: “What I want is for the government to concentrate on the job in hand and for Matt Hancock and others to get on and deliver what they are promising.”
Earlier Rayner lashed out at the health secretary following the missing Covid tests fiasco. Asked whether he should quit, she replied: “Yeah, absolutely. I think he should hang his head in shame.” She all called for him to “consider his position”.
Starmer said Rayner had only been “expressing a frustration”.
Keir Starmer tells Matt Hancock to 'get on with the job' – hours after deputy demanded his resignation
Labour leader has refused to call for any ministers or aides to quit, to avoid claims of disloyalty during pandemic
NHS faces drug shortages after Brexit
NHS Providers, the body representing hospitals across England, said Brexit could whip up the “perfect storm” of difficulties for the health service this winter – including shortages of drugs.
“All of the issues we feared about Brexit remain”, said Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive. “None of those have gone away because we are in a pandemic. It’s important to remember drug supplies could be compromised.”
She added: “What we were relying upon in Brexit was a supplies stockpile. I would suggest we have eaten into that stockpile because of Covid. We need to think about what the stockpiles are looking like.”
More Covid curbs coming for Scotland – but not lockdown
Additional coronavirus restrictions to be announced for Scotland on Wednesday, but will not amount to another lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon said.
“We are not proposing another lockdown at this stage,” said Scotland’s first minister.
The SNP leader said Scots will not be asked to stay home, schools will not be closed and travel restrictions will not be imposed on the whole country.
PM is ‘hypocrite’ and ‘complete charlatan’, says Lammy
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy didn’t appreciate Boris Johnson’s remarks about the Labour opposition living in “million-pound houses in north London.”
Lammy pointed out that “hypocrite” Johnson just sold a house in north London for an estimated. £3.75 million.
PM announces 5% mortgage deposits for first-time buyers
Boris Johnson also used his speech to promise to create two million more owner-occupiers by introducing 5 per cent mortgage deposits for first-time buyers to transform ‘generation rent’ into ‘generation buy’.
He said that he wanted to “fix our broken housing market” not only by building more homes but by making mortgages more affordable, with long-term fixed-rate deals available on a 5 per cent deposit for first-time buyers.
The PM said this would “give the chance of home ownership and all the joy and the pride that goes with it to millions who currently feel excluded”.
Boris Johnson announces 5% mortgage deposits for first-time buyers
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