“Disappointing” lack of flexibility on the part of the EU regarding the protocol, says the secretary of Northern Ireland
Boris Johnson’s government has threatened to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol unless the EU agrees to back down amid heightened diplomatic tensions over the impact of post-Brexit trade rules.
The Independent understands that Foreign Minister Liz Truss is pushing for unilateral action unless Brussels agrees to lift checks on goods at the border.
Meanwhile, Brandon Lewis, secretary of Northern Ireland, suggested that the government was ready to “do what we have to do” to repeal the protocol.
Regarding the prospect of legislation repealing the protocol, Mr Lewis added: “We have always said that we are not taking anything from the masses and that has not changed. We will do what we have to do… There is a time when we will have to make some decisions. ”
This comes when Mr Lewis meets with the leaders of the main parties in Stormont later Monday to push for the return of decentralized rule, with Michel O’Neill of Sinn Fein becoming the first nationalist or Republican prime minister after Thursday’s election. Stormont’s CEO has not been able to function fully since February.
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Nearly half of Britons say Starmer should leave if he is fined for violating blocking rules, according to a poll
Nearly half (46 percent) of Britons say Sir Keir Starmer must resign if fined for violating Covid’s rules, according to a poll. About 48% of Labor voters in 2019 say he should leave if he gets fined.
About a third (32 percent) of Britons say Sir Kear should stay in office even if he is fined, according to the survey.
A poll of 1,674 adult Britons on May 7-8 found that 30 per cent believed he had probably broken the rules and 24 per cent said he had definitely done so.
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 11:44
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Labor MP denies employees were drunk during Starmer’s visit
Labor MP Mary Foy has denied reports that employees were drunk at an event in the Durham constituency, which has led to allegations that Sir Keira Starmer has violated blocking rules.
In a statement, she said: “These allegations about my staff are untrue.
“I have already said that my team and I worked during a very busy period, including facilitating the leader’s visit. I do not believe that neither I nor my office staff have broken the rules. “
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 11:26
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The London Council will count the votes after a “small difference” in the number of ballots
The London Council is due to start a recount of votes cast in local elections last Thursday after a “small” discrepancy in the count.
Havering City Council in north-east London is due to begin a recount in the Rhineham and Wenington area on Monday night.
A spokesman for the council said: “Due to the small number of differences in the votes for Rainham and Wenington Ward, two counts were requested from the participating countries.
“An additional census was requested and a decision was made together with the candidates to do so on Monday at the town hall, at 6 pm, as the census took place throughout the night.
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 11:10
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Alliance Party warns DUP of “gambling that Northern Ireland cannot afford”
Alliance leader Naomi Long has called on the DUP to “step on the board” and become Stormont’s new chief executive.
On Monday, Ms. Long led her new expanded MLA team to assembly buildings. “As we promised in the election campaign, we are here on Monday morning, the first day, ready to start delivering to the people of Northern Ireland,” she told the media in the Great Hall in Stormont.
“I want to sit down, start negotiations on the government program and the budget, and I want to see how to get the government started as soon as possible.
“We hope to see a working assembly soon, this will be the easiest part of it all, but in order to get a functioning executive director, we need a DUP to rise to the level. With power comes responsibility, and people must now take responsibility seriously.
“I think the DUP should consider its wrong attitude towards Brexit, the fact that they had a huge influence in Westminster and overplayed their hand.
“It would be foolish for them to replay their hand with a transfer, because this is a gamble that Northern Ireland cannot afford.
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 10:51
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Moscow generals are “fully complicit” in Putin’s “low gangsterism”, Wallace says
Defense Minister Ben Wallace has accused Moscow generals of being “fully complicit” in Vladimir Putin’s “low gangsterism” during a speech at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, south-west London.
In his speech, Mr Wallace said: “Shame on those who seek to use suffering or the Russians as a launching pad for their own imperial ambitions.
“They are the ones who are really insulting the memory of the Immortal Regiment. So let’s call out the absurdity of Russian generals shining in their manicure parade uniforms, weighed down with gold braid and shiny metals.
“They are fully complicit in Putin’s abduction of the proud story of their predecessors defending themselves from the ruthless invasion, repelling fascism and sacrificing themselves for higher ends.
“Now they are the ones who are causing unnecessary suffering in the service of lower gangsters, and for them and for Putin there can be no Victory Day, only dishonesty and certain defeat in Ukraine.
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 10:31
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Plans to stop students with lower grades may be dropped, the minister said
Controversial plans to prevent teenagers from attending university if they fail to achieve more difficult minimum school grades could be dropped, the minister suggested.
The proposals – widely criticized for sanctioning disadvantaged students – are an attempt to “start a conversation”, said Michel Donelan, adding: “We may not do it”.
The Institute for Fiscal Research has joined a protest against new barriers to higher education, warning that young people of minority ethnic origin and free school meals will suffer.
Here is the story of our deputy political editor Rob Merrick:
Tom Bachelor May 9, 2022 10:11
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UK ministers do not give “fair assessment” of EU position on trade negotiations
Taoiseach Micheal Martin defended the EU’s approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
He said: “I do not think that the assessment coming from the British government is a fair assessment of the EU’s position. I think that the European Union was flexible, it showed flexibility, but every time the European Union showed flexibility, it was not reciprocal.
“And that has made the EU more cautious about discussions with the UK government.
The Irish Prime Minister said that he believed that an agreement could be reached between the United Kingdom and the EU on the protocol after the parliamentary elections.
“I think now is the time for both the EU and the United Kingdom,” he said.
“The British government wants to end this
“Any further negative development on this front will prove that Brexit has not been done.
“I think we all need to pay due attention now to stability in the North, to the full functioning of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
Tom Batchelor9 May 2022 09:41
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Tory minister says Starmer’s resignation is “a decision for Cair”
Asked whether the Labor leader should step down if he is fined during an investigation into whether he violated the blocking rules, University Minister Michel Donelan told Sky News: “This is a decision for Cair, not for me. My constituents say that this whole thing smells of pure hypocrisy, given the ruthless focus he has placed on the party.
“I think this is a solution for him, he will have to look for his soul after making this a top priority in the last few months at the expense of key issues such as rising living costs, etc., but look, this is decision for him. “
Tory MPs are in a difficult position, as a call for Sir Cair’s resignation would suggest that Boris Johnson should also leave, with the prime minister already fined for an event to end the blockade.
As poll expert Chris Curtis tweeted:
Tom Batchelor9 May 2022 09:19
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The poll shows that the public supports the ban on goose liver, as ministers “reject” politics
Amid reports that the ban on skins and goose livers has been lifted by the government from the Queen’s speech tomorrow due to fears that it could anger Tory MPs, a new study suggests that the public would largely support such a move. move.
The MRP survey found that nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of voters in 20 of the most marginalized conservative places want to see the government pass more animal protection laws.
About 77 per cent in the UK want the government to ban the import of animal products, such as hides, where production methods are banned in the UK, the survey found.
Support for the ban on skins and other similar imports has reached 79 percent in the constituencies of cabinet members, the study was commissioned by a coalition of animal welfare charities, including Humane Society International, RSPCA and PETA.
The constituencies in the former Red Wall have also shown strong support for additional animal protection legislation, with seven out of 10 (70 per cent) supporting bans on imports of products such as fur.
Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International / UK, said: “Our new survey leaves no doubt that we are a nation of animal lovers and that the British public expects the government to enforce more animal protection laws.
“In terms of showing that it is in line with public opinion, the ban on imports of illicit products, such as hides and skins, is an open target for number 10.
“We call on Boris Johnson to ensure that the Queen’s forthcoming speech meets conservative …
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