Sunak warned ‘wrong’ Brexit deal will divide Northern Ireland for generations


Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is pictured on February 18 arriving in Munich, Germany – Ben Stansall/Reuters

The wrong Brexit deal would split Northern Ireland for “generations”, the DUP warned Rishi Sunak on Tuesday night.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the unionist party, was speaking after he addressed the European Research Group (ERG) of eurosceptic Conservative MPs.

As talks aimed at resolving the Northern Ireland protocol continued between London and Brussels, Sir Jeffrey said: “The objective in London and Brussels should be to get this right rather than rushed.

“The wrong deal will not restore power sharing but will cement division for future generations. Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward.  We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.”

Sir Jeffrey added checks on the Irish Sea border were a symptom of the “underlying problem” of Brussels continuing to have lawmaking powers over Northern Ireland under the Protocol, insisting power sharing would not be restored until the Protocol was replaced “with arrangements that are good for Northern Ireland”.

You can follow the latest updates below. 

07:16 PM

New: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s full remarks tonight

In remarks circulated after tonight’s DUP and ERG meeting, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said:

The objective in London and Brussels should be to get this right rather than rushed. The wrong deal will not restore powersharing but will cement division for future generations.

Over 18 months ago, we outlined the parameters for the way forward. We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.

The checks on the Irish Sea border are the symptom of the underlying problem, namely, that Northern Ireland is subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any elected representative of the people of Northern Ireland.

There will be no restoration of the Northern Irish Executive until the Protocol is replaced with arrangements that are good for Northern Ireland and it’s place in the United Kingdom.

07:15 PM

Breaking: Wrong Brexit deal could split Northern Ireland for ‘generations’

The wrong Brexit deal would split Northern Ireland for “generations”, the DUP warned Rishi Sunak on Tuesday night.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the unionist party, was speaking after he addressed the European Research Group (ERG) of eurosceptic Conservative MPs.

As talks aimed at resolving the Northern Ireland protocol continued between London and Brussels, Sir Jeffrey said: “The objective in London and Brussels should be to get this right rather than rushed.

“The wrong deal will not restore power sharing but will cement division for future generations. Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward. We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.”

Sir Jeffrey added checks on the Irish Sea border were a symptom of the “underlying problem” of Brussels continuing to have lawmaking powers over Northern Ireland under the Protocol, insisting power sharing would not be restored until the Protocol was replaced “with arrangements that are good for Northern Ireland”.

07:05 PM

While we wait… One Labour MP asks today’s big question

06:30 PM

US Ambassador: Sunak should be ‘frankly commanded’ over Brexit

Jane D. Hartley, the US Ambassador to the UK, has “frankly commended” Rishi Sunak for trying to “seriously” resolve the Brexit stalemate.

At an event hosted by Politico this evening, Ms Hartley hailed a “huge opportunity” to resolve the issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol and bring “prosperity” to Northern Ireland.

06:17 PM

Gillian Keegan offers ‘formal talks’ if strikes called off

Gilliaa Keegan, the Education Secretary, has recommended a 3.5 per cent pay rise for teachers next year and dangled the offer of “formal talks” if the NEU agrees to cancel next week’s planned strikes, writes Louisa Clarence-Smith, our Education Editor.

This inludes a three per cent pay rise for experienced teachers and a rise in starting salaries to £30,000.

06:15 PM

Theresa May’s ex-chief of staff blames Eurosceptic Tory MPs for Brexit stalemate

Tory infighting over Brexit has erupted in public after Theresa May’s former chief of staff told Eurosceptic MPs to back Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal.

Lord Barwell said backbenchers should “get behind” the Prime Minister’s attempts to fix the Protocol, given that they were responsible for it in the first place.

He clashed with Simon Clarke, a former Cabinet minister and leading Brexiteer, who said it was Mrs May’s failure to stand up to Brussels that created the mess.

The public spat, which unfolded on social media, laid bare the huge divisions within the Conservatives over how to end the stalemate in Northern Ireland.

Nick Gutteridge has more here

05:45 PM

Worst time to buy a house in 150 years

Housing affordability has fallen to the lowest level in 150 years, according to research.

House prices now stand at more than nine times the average salary, a ratio not seen since 1876, according to a report from the asset manager Schroders. In London, homes now cost 12 times earnings.

The last time would-be buyers faced such hurdles to buy a home was in Victorian times, the report said.

Duncan Lamont, who authored the research paper, said that house prices relative to earnings had more than doubled since the 1990s.

Lauren Almedia has more here

05:39 PM

Kate Forbes accuses SNP critics of ‘monitoring her prayers’

A candidate to become Scotland’s next first minister has accused her “illiberal” opponents of “monitoring her prayers” after they claimed her Christian beliefs made her unsuitable to be SNP leader.

Kate Forbes, who is an active member of the conservative Free Church of Scotland, claimed it was a “remarkable development in Scottish public life” that a prayer she took part in at a private anti-abortion event in 2018 was now being used against her.

Kate Forbes - Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Kate Forbes – Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The 32-year-old, along with other believers, took part in a religious event in which participants said that politicians should recognise that “the way we treat the most vulnerable – whether the unborn or the terminally ill – is a measure of true progress”.

Several of her internal SNP critics have used the event, alongside Ms Forbes’ statements on issues such as gay marriage, to suggest she is unsuitable to lead the party or become first minister.

Daniel Sanderson, our Scottish Correspondent, has the story

05:19 PM

Labour would win back entire Red Wall, polling suggests

New polling tonight reveals the scale of the challenge faced by Rishi Sunak to hold on to the ‘Red Wall’ constituencies gained by the Conservatives in 2019.

Labour currently lead by 28 per cent in the 40 constituencies monitored by Redfield & Wilton Strategies – enough to win all of them at the next general election.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party is on 55 per cent, with the Tories on 27 per cent and Reform UK on 10 per cent. It is the largest Labour lead in the Red Wall since Mr Sunak became prime minister in October.

05:11 PM

Breaking: Nursing union to pause strikes during ‘intensive’ talks with Government

The Government and Royal College of Nursing have in the past few moments agreed to enter a process of intensive talks – here is their joint statement:

Both sides are committed to finding a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role that nurses and nursing play in the National Health Service and the wider economic pressures facing the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister’s priority to halve inflation. The talks will focus on pay, terms and conditions, and productivity enhancing reforms.

The Health Secretary will meet with the Royal College of Nursing on Wednesday to begin talks. The Royal College of Nursing will pause strike action during these talks.

05:04 PM

‘We remain in close touch’

Maroš Šefčovič, the vice-president of the European Commission, has said Brexit talks “continue at high intensity”.

After his meeting with James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, and Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Šefčovič wrote:

05:01 PM

ERG and DUP to meet at 6pm tonight

The European Research Group (ERG) of eurosceptic Tory MPs will be addressed by the DUP leader in an hour’s time.

Our Associate Editor Christopher Hope hears the ERG will hold a special plenary meeting on Parliament’s “committee corridor” at 6pm.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP, the leader of the DUP, will address the meeting, where current talks between the UK and the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol are set to be the main point of discussion.

04:46 PM

‘Britain is barely working. Now it wants to work less’

Should we really believe a study which claims a four-day week can increase productivity, so much so that company revenue increases by a third? asks Ross Clark.

That is the claim made by authors of a study into a pilot project in which 61 companies and other organisations agreed to try to cut working hours by 20 per cent but to maintain output at least the same level. Six months into the trial, 56 employers say they will be continuing with the arrangement and 18 have said they have made it permanent.

During the trial period, revenue was claimed to have increased by 34 per cent compared with a “comparable” six month period beforehand.

So, a happy workforce and happy economy all round. Or maybe not. You don’t have to read far into the study before you start to sniff a large, plump rat.

Ross Clark: Why work-from-home findings need a fistful of salt

04:28 PM

Starmer: I have ‘much better’ relationship with Sunak

Sir Keir Starmer has said his personal relationship with Rishi Sunak is “much better” than it was with Boris Johnson.

“He phoned me the day he became Prime Minister, gave me his personal number and we said we would work together on things like Ukraine, if there was a terrorist incident, God forbid, or security issues,” Sir Keir told Matt Forde’s Political Party podcast.

“But obviously, we would robustly argue with each other on everything else. So it is a different relationship, and a different relationship across the despatch box.”

However, Sir Keir added: “We’re not texting about the Southampton-Arsenal scores.”

04:13 PM

Jeremy Corbyn ally ‘stripped of parliamentary pass’ over Iranian state TV role

A former Labour MP and fierce ally of Jeremy Corbyn is being stripped of his Westminster pass until further notice over his links to Iranian state television, The Telegraph understands.

Chris Williamson has been free to roam Parliament, as is common for ex-MPs, since July 2020 – just over six months after he fell to a crushing defeat as an independent candidate at the 2019 general election.

Jeremy Corbyn and Chris Williamson - Hannah McKay

Jeremy Corbyn and Chris Williamson – Hannah McKay

But a committee of MPs has decided his access should be suspended on account of his role as a host on Iranian state-owned news network PressTV, which has been banned in Britain for a decade.

Amy Gibbons has the scoop here

04:07 PM

Good afternoon

Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Reporter, guiding you through the rest of today.

Eurosceptic Conservative MPs will meet with the DUP leadership in the House of Commons later this afternoon amid pressure on Rishi Sunak to stand firm in talks with Brussels.

We will be bringing you all the latest as we have it.

03:41 PM

Tory Brexiteers to hold meeting with DUP leadership tonight

The European Research Group of Tory MPs is set to hold a crunch meeting in the House of Commons tonight.

It could be a major moment as the meeting will be addressed by the Democratic Unionist Party’s Westminster leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

It will do much to set the Tory Brexiteers’ strategy when it comes to how they will respond to Rishi Sunak’s expected deal on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol.

03:05 PM

‘I want the Labour Party to say as much about rural issues as it does about urban issues’

Sir Keir Starmer has told the National Farmers’ Union’s annual conference in Birmingham that he wants the Labour Party to talk about rural issues just as much as it talks about urban ones.

Answering questions after his speech, Sir Keir said: “I want to be absolutely clear today and it is something I think I said at the first conference I addressed, albeit that one was on Zoom, that I want the Labour Party to say as much about rural issues as it does about urban issues.

“There is a reason that two years ago when I first addressed this conference I was the first Labour leader for I think over a decade to address this conference because I wanted to come and have this dialogue.

“I know how important it is that all of the rural issues and concerns that you have are addressed.”

02:36 PM

Leo Varadkar calls for ‘time and space’ for UK and EU to agree Brexit deal

Leo Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach, said the UK Government needs to be given “time and space” to strike a deal with the EU on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He told reporters in Dublin: “I can’t say whether or not we’ll have an agreement this week, I know that a huge amount of progress has been made by the European Commission and United Kingdom Government in terms of coming to an agreement on the protocol.

“I know that Prime Minister (Rishi) Sunak wants to consult with his party, wants to consult with parties in Northern Ireland, and I think it’s really important that we allow some time and space for that to happen, and avoid any commentary that might make it more difficult for this to be agreed.”

02:28 PM

Ex-Cabinet minister: New Brexit laws now a ‘proverbial dead letter’

Sir Robert Buckland, the Tory former justice secretary, has argued the Government’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has “outlived its political usefulness” and is now the “proverbial dead letter”.

Writing for the PoliticsHome website, Sir Robert said: “The most effective way to reduce or end the role of ECJ will be via the ongoing negotiations, not via the bill. In short, things have changed dramatically since mid 2022.

“The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill has outlived its political usefulness and no longer has any legal justification. It is the proverbial dead letter.”

The comments illustrate the Tory split over the legislation which would give ministers the power to make unilateral changes to post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland.

Boris Johnson has argued that ditching the Bill in favour of a new Brexit deal would be a “great mistake”.

02:18 PM

Keir Starmer reveals his ‘loathing’ of Boris Johnson

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed his “loathing” of Boris Johnson – but said he is on better terms with Rishi Sunak and has his personal phone number.

The Labour leader said he “really couldn’t give a toss” about Mr Johnson claiming he cannot win the next election and nicknaming him “Crasheroonie Snoozefest”.

You can read the full story here.

01:46 PM

Analysis: Why Rishi Sunak is being haunted by the ghosts of Brexit deals past

James Crisp, The Telegraph’s Europe editor, has examined the situation Rishi Sunak is in on Brexit and concluded that the “ghosts of Brexit past are swirling around” the premier and “could add his scalp to their collection of toppled Tory prime ministers”.

He said current Tory infighting “carries echoes of the turbulence unleashed by the Brexit revolution, which did for David Cameron and Theresa May”.

You can read the full piece here.

01:14 PM

‘We’ll always listen to former prime ministers’

Downing Street has insisted the UK was working to improve Ukraine’s air defences after Boris Johnson and Liz Truss called for fighter jets to be supplied to Kyiv (you can read the original story here).

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “We’re working with all our partners to shore up and improve Ukraine’s air defences.

“The UK has already announced training for Ukrainian pilots on Nato-standard jets and we’re working with our partners on the next steps, ensuring they have the right capabilities that meet the requirements for fighter jets and infrastructure to defend their skies. So there’s a range of ways we’re already going further.”

Asked whether Rishi Sunak welcomed his predecessors’ advice, the official said: “Of course, and we’ll always listen to former prime ministers.”

01:01 PM

Kate Forbes: ‘Wrong’ for me to have children outside of marriage

SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes said that on the basis of her Christian faith it would be “wrong” for her to have children outside of marriage.

But she said in a “free society” other people can make their own decision on the issue.

She told Sky News: “I think for me it would be wrong according to my faith. But for you, I have no idea what your faith is so in a free society you can do what you want.”

It comes after Ms Forbes said her conscience would not have allowed her to have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, which passed in Holyrood in 2014.

12:45 PM

Downing Street plays down prospect of tax cuts at the Budget

Today’s better-than-expected public finance figures may have prompted some renewed hopes of tax cuts at the Budget next month.

Downing Street has swiftly poured cold water on those hopes.

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “I think it is important to understand the context. You would expect to see a surplus in January because of the timing of self-assessment receipts and I am told the only January deficit since 2015 was in 2021 during the height of the pandemic.

“So we shouldn’t place too much emphasis on a single month’s data.”

No10 said that “borrowing remains at record highs and there is significant uncertainty and volatility which poses clear risks to the fiscal position”. The “overall focus on reducing the debt remains”, the spokesman added.

12:21 PM

No10 won’t say if it will share legal text of Brexit deal with DUP before it is announced

No10 has refused to say if it will share the legal text of any new Brexit deal with the DUP before it is publicly announced.

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “I am not going to get into who we may or may not speak to.

“Again, there are negotiations still going on with the EU so the first priority is to resolve those and see if we can agree a deal which meets those challenges I set out just now.”

12:07 PM

Downing Street rejects claims it has failed to adequately consult DUP and Tory Brexiteers

Downing Street has been criticised in recent days for failing to involve the DUP or Tory MPs from the European Research Group at earlier stages of the negotiations with the EU on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol.

No10 at lunchtime rejected the suggestion that it had failed to adequately consult the groups on its plans.

Asked why the two groups were not brought into the fold earlier, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “I wouldn’t agree with the premise of the question. I think we have been speaking to relevant parties at the appropriate times throughout this process.”

12:03 PM

Rishi Sunak told Cabinet ‘intensive’ Brexit talks with EU remain ongoing

Rishi Sunak told his Cabinet this morning that “intensive” talks with the EU on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol remain ongoing.

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman told reporters: “On the Northern Ireland Protocol the Prime Minister told Cabinet that intensive negotiations with the EU continue on resolving the issues caused by the way the protocol was being enforced and that he was seeking to address three main areas: Safeguarding Northern Ireland’s place within the union, protecting the Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions and ensuring the free flow of trade within the UK internal market.”

11:40 AM

More UK-EU Brexit talks today

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris will hold fresh video talks on Brexit with the EU’s Maros Sefcovic today.

European Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said: “There is a video call this afternoon between the vice president and James Cleverly, the UK Foreign Secretary, and Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State.

“We are still scheduling the physical meeting, which is still scheduled to take place later this week.”

11:39 AM

Record worker tax take hands Jeremy Hunt shock surplus ahead of Budget

Record tax revenues from workers and capital gains taxes helped to offset massive spending on energy bill support and soaring debt interest payments, official figures show.

In the final set of public borrowing figures before Jeremy Hunt delivers his Spring Budget, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Government received £5.4bn more in taxes in January than it spent on public services.

This is much higher than the £8bn deficit forecast by economists and £5bn larger than forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Government’s tax and spending watchdog.

You can read the full story here.

11:10 AM

Lord Hague: Kate Forbes ‘couldn’t get elected leader of the Conservative Party now’

Lord Hague, the former Tory leader, said SNP leadership contender Kate Forbes’ views on equal marriage (see the post below at 08.32) would mean she “couldn’t get elected leader of the Conservative Party now”.

He told Times Radio: “I think in practice, I think you couldn’t get elected leader of the Conservative Party now, with the view that she has, so try getting elected leader of, you know, a more left wing party with that view.

“That’s the difficulty that she’s got.”

10:43 AM

‘No point in agreeing a deal that does not restore powersharing’

Jacob Rees-Mogg said the objective of a deal on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol should be restoring powersharing at Stormont – and if an agreement does not do that then there is no point in pursuing it.

The former business secretary told The Moggcast podcast published by the ConservativeHome website: “There seems to me to be no point in agreeing a deal that does not restore powersharing, that that must be the objective.

“If it doesn’t achieve that objective I don’t understand why the Government is spending political capital on something that won’t ultimately succeed.

“And there does seem to me to be a much simpler route which is the Bill before Parliament at the moment which ensures goods can go freely between GB and Northern Ireland and the seven points set out by the DUP I think are not only perfectly reasonable but if I have understood it correctly they have taken from statements made by the Government as to what the Government’s policy is.

“So they’ve actually just quoted back at the Government what the Government intends to do so I hope the Government will meet the DUP’s concerns and go about it in that way rather than thinking that a deal that satisfies nobody is going to be a lasting solution.”

10:10 AM

Northern Ireland Protocol Bill ‘the answer’ to post-Brexit problems, says Rees-Mogg

The Government’s plan to give ministers the power to make unilateral changes to post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland is the “answer to this conundrum” over the Northern Ireland Protocol, Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.

Brexiteers have urged the Government to press ahead with its Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. The legislation is making its way through the House of Lords but its passage has effectively been paused as talks on a negotiated deal continue between the UK and the EU.

Asked how big a risk it will be to Rishi Sunak if the Prime Minister secures the wrong deal on improving the protocol, the former business secretary told The Moggcast podcast: “Well, Boris Johnson of course had a mandate and his solution was the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill which is before parliament at the moment, it is waiting for its report stage in the House of Lords.

“That is the answer to this conundrum and it has the backing of the person who had a mandate from the British voters. I think that is quite important.”

09:45 AM

Jacob Rees-Mogg suggests Rishi Sunak repeating Theresa May’s mistakes on Brexit

Jacob Rees-Mogg has compared Rishi Sunak’s approach to securing a Brexit deal with the EU to that followed by Theresa May when she was prime minister.

The former business secretary suggested Downing Street is repeating the mistakes of the past by failing to get the DUP and Tory Brexiteers “onside” before negotiating with Brussels.

Speaking on The Moggcast podcast published by the ConservativeHome website, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I don’t know why so much political capital has been spent on something without getting the DUP and the ERG onside first. It is quite surprising because this is very similar to what happened with Theresa May.

“So a story would appear… and Downing Street would say ‘no this isn’t quite right, this isn’t at all right’, and then a week or two would go by and it would turn out to be completely right and they would hope that people would just conveniently fall in behind the announced policies.

“Life doesn’t work like that. It is important to get support for it first before you finalise the details and that doesn’t seem to have been done here.”

09:41 AM

Pictured: Ministers arrive in Downing Street for Cabinet meeting

Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, arrives in Downing Street this morning - Daniel Leal/AFP

Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister, arrives in Downing Street this morning – Daniel Leal/AFP

Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, is pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning - Daniel Leal/AFP

Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, is pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning – Daniel Leal/AFP

09:16 AM

Lib Dems urge Government to implement ‘proper windfall tax’

The Liberal Democrats said the Government should extend its windfall tax as the party responded to today’s public finance figures which showed national debt is close to £2.5 trillion (see the post below at 08.49).

Sarah Olney, the Lib Dems’ Treasury spokeswoman, said: “Today’s figures highlight the mess caused by this Conservative Government and Liz Truss’ infamous mini-budget, which sent the UK’s borrowing costs soaring.

“It is scandalous that this Government has refused to put a proper windfall tax in place. The Conservative party would rather saddle households with higher national debt than touch the energy giants’ sky-high profits.

“More and more people across the country are being hit with unfair tax rises to pay for the Government’s incompetence – it’s high time big energy producing companies paid their fair share.”

09:01 AM

Kate Forbes ‘regrets pain caused’ by comments on equal marriage

Kate Forbes, the SNP leadership contender, has said she regrets the pain caused by her comments on equal marriage (see the post below at 08.32).

Ms Forbes received criticism from members of her own party after she said she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been in office during the 2014 vote.

Speaking on Times Radio, Ms Forbes said: “I regret enormously the pain or hurt that has been caused because that was neither my intention, and I would seek forgiveness if that is how it’s come across.”

Ms Forbes added that she defends the rights of LGBT+ people to live “free of harassment, fear and prejudice”.

08:55 AM

Chancellor: ‘Getting debt down will require some tough choices’

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said reducing the nation’s huge mountain of debt “will require some tough choices” as he responded to today’s public finance figures published by the Office for National Statistics (see the post below at 08.49).

Mr Hunt said: “We are rightly spending billions now to support households and businesses with the impacts of rising prices – but with debt at the highest level since the 1960s, it is vital we stick to our plan to reduce debt over the medium-term.

“Getting debt down will require some tough choices, but it is crucial to reduce the amount spent on debt interest so we can protect our public services.”

08:49 AM

Government records surprise January budget surplus

The Government recorded a monthly surplus in January despite “substantial spending” on energy support schemes, record debt interest and one-off payments to the EU.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed this morning that there was a public sector net borrowing surplus of £5.4 billion for the month.

That was a £7.1 billion smaller surplus than in January 2022 but was £5 billion larger than had been previously predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility. A budget surplus takes place when tax revenue received is larger than government spending.

Meanwhile, public sector debt at the end of January was just shy of £2.5 trillion. That is about 98.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), putting the debt-to-GDP ratio at levels last seen in the early 1960s.

08:46 AM

Brexit deal may not be finalised this week

Rishi Sunak had planned to present his Brexit deal to Cabinet this morning but the timeline for unveiling the agreement has been pushed back as negotiations continue.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said she was unsure if a deal would be done this week.

She told Sky News: “I don’t know about this week, I know that the Prime Minister is working really hard and working with a number of politicians from across Northern Ireland, politicians within the EU, to try and resolve this.”

08:32 AM

Kate Forbes insists SNP leadership bid is not over despite backlash over gay marriage views

Kate Forbes has insisted her campaign to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister is “absolutely not over” despite a backlash over her views on equal marriage.

The Finance Secretary said yesterday in an interview that her conscience would not have allowed her to have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, which passed in Holyrood in 2014.

Ms Forbes was asked during an interview on BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme if her leadership campaign was over before it really began.

She replied: “Absolutely not. We have a large party membership, most of whom are not on Twitter. I understand people have very strong views on these matters. I think the public are longing for politicians to answer straight questions with straight answers and that’s certainly what I’ve tried to do in the media yesterday. That doesn’t necessarily allow for much nuance.

“My position on these matters is that I will defend to the hilt everybody’s rights in a pluralistic and tolerant society, to live and to love free of harassment and fear.”

08:27 AM

BMA’s pay demands for junior doctors are ‘unrealistic’, says minister

A health minister has criticised the British Medical Association’s pay demands for junior doctors after it announced plans yesterday for a 72-hour strike next month.

Maria Caulfield said the BMA is seeking a 26 per cent pay rise and that is simply “unrealistic”.

She told Times Radio: “The Health Secretary has been meeting regularly with unions. He met on a weekly basis during January. He has met with unions during this month as well.

“Let’s be clear what the BMA are asking for. They are asking for 26 per cent pay increase and junior doctors are on a different pay deal to other NHS workers, they are not in as part of the independent pay review body, they are on a multi-year settlement and they got 8.4 per cent at their last multi-year settlement.

“26 per cent, we have to ask ourselves how we could afford that and I think that is unrealistic.”

08:24 AM

PM seeking Brexit deal ‘agreeable by all sides’

Rishi Sunak is trying to secure a Brexit deal with the EU which is “agreeable by all sides”, a minister said this morning.

Maria Caulfied, a health minister, told Times Radio: “Without the DUP the assembly is not going to get back up and running and that is why he has met with politicians on all sides in Northern Ireland to try and see what will be acceptable and to try and get a deal that will be agreeable by all sides and absolutely we need to get this resolved.

“It has been going on for too long. Others have tried to resolve it and not succeeded and so I think we need to support the Prime Minister.”

08:21 AM

Pictured: Boris Johnson enjoys a morning run in central London

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, is pictured going for a morning run in central London today - Jeremy Selwyn/SelwynPics

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, is pictured going for a morning run in central London today – Jeremy Selwyn/SelwynPics

08:17 AM

Minister urges Tories to give Rishi Sunak ‘time and space’ to agree Brexit deal with EU

Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, yesterday fired a warning shot at Rishi Sunak as she praised a piece of Brexit legislation he may ditch as “one of the biggest tools” to end the Northern Irish impasse (you can read the full story here).

Maria Caulfied, a health minister, said this morning that the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is still going through Parliament as she urged Tory MPs to give the Prime Minister “time and space” to do a deal with Brussels.

She told Times Radio: “I think what Suella has actually said is she welcomes the Prime Minister’s negotiations on this both with the EU, with politicians in Northern Ireland, to try and get this resolved and absolutely, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill was put in place as kind of a mechanism to fall back on and that is still going through parliament ayt the moment.

“But we have to give the Prime Minister time and space. We have to get this resolved because everyday that there isn’t a functioning government in Northern Ireland it is the people there that suffer.”

08:13 AM

Rishi Sunak targeting Brexit deal ‘as quickly as possible’

Maria Caulfield, a health minister, said Rishi Sunak is trying to secure a deal to improve the Northern Ireland Protocol “as quickly as possible”.

She told Times Radio: “The Northern Ireland Protocol does need sorting out for the people of Northern Ireland. There are disparities between GB and Northern Ireland and importantly that has resulted in the assembly there and the executive and the government in Northern OIreland not functioning and as a health minister, for example, in Northern Ireland health is a devolved matter and whether it is education or policing, decisions aren’t being made in Northern Ireland and a big factor in that is the unhappiness with the protocol.

“So the Prime Minister is absolutely right to try and get this sorted. He is at the negotiation stage, we know he has met with the DUP and they are happy with a number of elements but a deal has not been reached and I think we have to give the Prime Minister space because we have got get this right because ultimately we can all speculate about what’s in or isn’t in the deal but it is the people of Northern Ireland who are suffering at the moment without an assembly in place and I welcome that the Prime Minister is putting so much effort into trying to get this resolved as quickly as possible.”

08:12 AM

Minister attempts to pour cold water on claims of potential Government resignations over Brexit deal

A minister has attempted to pour cold water on numerous reports that some of her Government colleagues are prepared to resign over Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal if it is not up to scratch.

Maria Caulfield, a health minister, told Times Radio this morning: “I am not quite sure what people are resigning over because a deal hasn’t been done.

“Let’s wait and see what the final deal looks like. I was in Parliament yesterday, I was meeting with ministerial colleagues, it was not the first thing that we were talking about.

“And so I am not sure that the speculation actually matches the reality of what is happening in Parliament at the moment.”



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