EU condemns ‘threats of violence’ as Northern Ireland-GB port checks suspended
The prime minister’s message comes the week after the EU backtracked on its threat to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol by introducing emergency vaccine checks on doses heading from the bloc to Northern Ireland.
Alluding to this, Mr Johnson tweeted on Tuesday evening that the EU’s recent actions had undermined the Northern Ireland Protocol and had “understandably provoked concerns”.
He added that the bloc should act to “resolve outstanding problems” and “ensure that Northern Ireland benefits from Brexit just like every other part of our United Kingdom”.
His words came ahead of a meeting between UK and EU leaders on Wednesday to discuss trade issues between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
UK’s first openly lesbian MP – Maureen Colquhoun – dies at 92
Tributes have poured in for Maureen Colquhoun, the UK’s first openly lesbian MP, who died on Tuesday aged 92.
The former Labour MP for Northampton North campaigned for gender balance and protection for prostitutes, and faced discrimination from her own party as well as wider society after her sexual orientation was disclosed.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner praised her, saying Labour had lost a “great sister” and that everyone had lost “a woman of huge integrity and courage”.
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 09:12
Government too slow to act on the environment, say MPs
The government has been too slow to act on the environment, MPs have said.
In a scathing report published on Wednesday, the influential public accounts committee found that the UK has been long on “aspirational words” but “painfully slow” on actions to improve the natural environment.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more on the story:
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 08:55
Inside Politics
Here’s a round-up of the main political events happening today, including the virtual summit between minister Michael Gove, Northern Irish leaders and EU officials over post-Brexit Irish Sea trading arrangements.
Elsewhere, there’s PMQs. “Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer will agree on one thing at PMQs by paying tribute to Captain Tom Moore – before normal hostilities resume,” writes our political commentator Andrew Grice.
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 08:37
Raab and other foreign secretaries condemn coup in Myanmar
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab and his counterparts in the G7 have released a joint statement speaking out against the recent military coup in Myanmar.
They said they were “deeply concerned” by the detention of politicians including the state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and by the military’s attacks on the media.
“We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically-elected government, to release all those unjustly detained and to respect human rights and the rule of law,” the statement added.
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 08:25
Independence would damage Scotland’s economy more than Brexit, report suggests
The economic costs of Scottish independence could be two or three times greater than that of Brexit, a new report has warned.
The London School of Economics (LSE) study estimates that the country’s per capita income would be reduced by 2 per cent in the long term.
Its authors also suggest that the double impact of Brexit and Scottish independence would lead to an average economic loss each year of between £2,000 and £2,800 per person.
Here’s Adam Forrest with more details:
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 08:15
‘Urgent action’ need from EU on Northern Ireland, says PM
Boris Johnson has called for “urgent action” from the EU to address the tensions caused by post-Brexit trade checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
UK and EU officials are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 08:01
Morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.
Rory Sullivan3 February 2021 07:59
