Northern Ireland protocol – live: EU warns of retaliation if UK overrides Brexit deal

The EU has warned of retaliation if the UK presses ahead with the foreign secretary’s plans to ditch the Northern Ireland protocol.

Liz Truss today announced the government will bring legislation to unilaterally ditch the protocol, despite a plea from the Bank of England to avoid a damaging trade war with Europe.

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who has been involved in negotiations with the foreign secretary about the protocol, said he had “significant concerns” about the plan and warned “unilateral actions are not acceptable”.

He added: “Should the UK decide to move ahead with a bill disapplying constitutive elements of the protocol as announced today by the UK government, the EU will need to respond with all measures at its disposal.”

Ms Truss proposed the bill – due to be published in weeks – as a means of upholding the Good Friday Agreement and re-establishing powersharing in the Northern Ireland Executive.

She made the same case in calls held last night with Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, and Mr Sefcovic.

Key Points

• Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape banned from parliament

• EU will ‘respond with all measures at its disposal’ if UK overrides Brexit deal

• Liz Truss says NI protocol bill due in ‘coming weeks’

• Britain will protect EU single market – Truss

• Labour seeks vote on windfall tax on energy profits

• Brexit red tape ‘far worse for exporting to EU than NI’

Tuesday 17 May 2022 04:49 , Stuti Mishra

Welcome to The Independent’s UK politics live blog forTuesday, 17 May 2022.

Boris Johnson vows unilateral action in Brexit row

Tuesday 17 May 2022 05:09 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson has confirmed he will press ahead with legislation to override the Northern Ireland protocol, despite warnings from Brussels that it will breach the UK’s international legal obligations and a plea from the Bank of England not to spark a damaging trade war with Europe.

“We don’t want to scrap it. But we think it can be fixed. And actually, five of the five parties I talked to today also think it needs reform,” said Mr Johnson.

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has more:

Johnson vows unilateral action in Brexit row, despite warnings of trade war with EU

Major Brexit statement in Parliament today

Tuesday 17 May 2022 05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Foreign secretary Liz Truss is set to make a major statement to the House of Commons today where she will be outlining a law to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, Downing Street has confirmed.

Ahead of the statement to MPs, Ms Truss spoke with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic and US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi by phone on Monday evening.

ICYMI: Britons struggling with cost of living should get ‘better job’, says minister

Tuesday 17 May 2022 05:53 , Stuti Mishra

Britons struggling with the cost of living crisis should consider taking on more hours at work or moving to a better job, a minister in Boris Johnson’s government has said.

Home Office minister Rachel Maclean said the government wanted to see people help themselves more in the long term — arguing that they could use their local job centre in a bid to boost their pay.

“Over the long term we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better — whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a better-paid job,” she told Sky News.

Read more from Adam Forrest here:

Britons struggling with cost of living should get a ‘better job’, says minister

Labour to pressure Tory MPs with windfall tax Commons vote

Tuesday 17 May 2022 06:26 , Stuti Mishra

Conservative MPs are facing fresh pressure to support a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers in a bid to cut energy bills.

Labour on Tuesday will seek to force a Commons vote on its amendment which expresses regret at the omission of the policy from the Queen’s Speech.

It comes as MPs debate “tackling the short-term and long-term cost of living increases” on day five of the Queen’s Speech debate.

Richard Wheeler has more:

Labour seeks to increase pressure on Tory MPs with windfall tax Commons vote

Government to bring Troubles legacy proposals

Tuesday 17 May 2022 06:50 , Stuti Mishra

The UK government is set to bring forward legislation on the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The secretary of state for Northern Ireland said late on Monday that the government would introduce the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill on Tuesday.

It comes the day after prime minister Boris Johnson visited Northern Ireland in a bid to restore power-sharing, amid ongoing fall-out over the Northern Ireland protocol.

Read more:

UK Government set to bring forward Troubles legacy proposals

Labour urges MPs to back windfall tax

Tuesday 17 May 2022 07:10 , Stuti Mishra

Labour has renewed its call for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies as the party claimed household savings were being “crunched” or “disappearing altogether” as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, prepares to table an amendment to the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday, urging MPs of all political stripes to back a tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies.

The government is facing intense pressure over the issue, and last week Boris Johnson did not rule out a windfall tax, despite repeating his view it would deter green investment after months of resistance.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details:

Labour urges MPs to back windfall tax warning household savings being ‘crunched’

Priti Patel to allow volunteer police officers to carry Tasers

Tuesday 17 May 2022 07:30 , Stuti Mishra

Priti Patel is to announce that volunteer police officers will be able to carry Tasers for the first time.

Ms Patel is to speak at a conference held by the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers across England and Wales, where she is expected to announce that she has given approval for special constables to carry Tasers if they undergo the same training as regular officers and are authorised by chief constables.

The home secretary does not have the power to mandate their use, and Tuesday’s announcement comes amid allegations of a “power grab” over changes to a protocol that governs relations between the government and police.

Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden has more:

Priti Patel to allow volunteer police officers to carry Tasers

Truss to announce plans to rip up Northern Ireland protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 07:46 , Liam James

The Foreign Secretary will today declare her intention to bring forward legislation which rips up parts of the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal on Northern Ireland.

It is understood that Liz Truss will make the announcement in a statement to the Commons following a full cabinet meeting, in an attempt to restore powersharing in the region.

The row over the Northern Ireland Protocol has created an impasse in efforts to form a new Executive in Stormont, with the Democratic Unionist Party refusing to join an administration unless its concerns over the arrangements are addressed.

The protocol created a trade barrier between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The DUP says Northern Ireland’s economy is suffering as a result but the party’s opposition is also borne of the separation the protocol created.

It is understood that the legislation planned by the UK – not thought to be introduced for a few weeks – will grant London unilateral powers not only to relax checks on goods heading to Northern Ireland from mainland Britain, but also to remove all European Court of Justice involvement in border issues and to vary VAT rates in the province without agreement from Brussels.

Britain’s threat to unilaterally change the terms of the protocol risks a trade war with the European Union.

Employment rises from March to April

Tuesday 17 May 2022 08:01 , Liam James

The number of UK workers on payrolls rose by 121,000 between March and April to 29.5 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: “While the economy was still growing in the first three months of 2022, there continued to be a mixed picture for the labour market.

“Total employment, while up on the quarter, remains below its pre-pandemic level.

“Since the start of the pandemic, around half a million more people have completely disengaged from the labour market.

“However, job vacancies are still rising, reaching yet another record high.”

Job moves were at a record high in the first quarter of the year, with 994,000 changes.

NI protocol bill was never planned this week, says Lewis

Tuesday 17 May 2022 08:17 , Liam James

Brandon Lewis said there had been no intention to introduce legislation this week to unilaterally overwrite parts of the Northern Ireland protocol.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will announce to the Commons today that the government plans to bring legislation to tear up the protocol – though a bill is not expected for weeks.

The Northern Ireland secretary, asked whether plans to bring a bill this week had been delayed, told Sky News: “Something like that this week was never on the cards.

“We’re still debating the Queen’s Speech and won’t finish debating the Queen’s Speech and voting on that until later this week, later tomorrow, so in that sense it was never on the cards.

“But what we have always said is that we will not take anything off the table.”

Labour seeks vote on windfall tax

Tuesday 17 May 2022 08:36 , Liam James

Labour will today seek to force a Commons vote to put pressure on Conservative MPs to support a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas producers in a bid to cut energy bills.

MPs will debate “tackling the short-term and long-term cost of living increases” on day five of the Queen’s Speech debate.

Labour is seeking the backing of MPs for an amendment expressing regret at the omission of a windfall tax from the Queen’s Speech – after a Labour motion in favour of the policy won the support of the Commons in February.

The government has been cold towards a windfall tax. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he was not “naturally attracted” to such a policy though had not taken the option of the table, while Kwasi Kwarteng, the business and energy secretary, is squarely opposed.

Ed Miliband, shadow climate change and net zero secretary, said of a windfall tax: “This fair and principled measure now has support from business, trade unions, across the political spectrum and most importantly, the overwhelming majority of the public.

“Conservative MPs must now join the British people in calling for a windfall tax – or explain why they continue to oppose measures that would ease the cost of living crisis.”

William Hague attacks Boris Johnson as weak and immoral over obesity plan U-turn

Tuesday 17 May 2022 08:55 , Liam James

William Hague has attacked Boris Johnson’s decision to shelve his obesity action plan as weak and immoral, warning Britain will pay a high price for it (Rob Merrick writes).

The former Conservative leader said the U-turn – delaying action on cheap fatty foods and TV advertising of them – will be added to the “long history of failed obesity strategies”.

Tory MPs who pushed the prime minister into the climbdown are “acquiescing in a future of higher dependence, greater costs, reduced lifestyle choice and endless pain,” he warned.

Lord Hague said: “For the government to give in to them is intellectually shallow, politically weak and morally reprehensible.”

William Hague attacks PM as weak and immoral over obesity plan U-turn

UK wants ‘green lanes’ for NI goods

Tuesday 17 May 2022 09:14 , Liam James

The Northern Ireland secretary said he wanted to see light-check “green lanes” established for goods entering the region from Great Britain that were not destined to travel into the European Union’s single market.

Under post-Brexit trade arrangements companies shipping from Britain to Northern Ireland can declare their goods “not at risk” at moving further on to the EU. Such goods are not subject to duties but can still face checks at the border.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Brandon Lewis said: “The solution is, and what we’ve been outlining to the EU, that products that are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland should effectively go through what has colloquially been called a ‘green lane’.

“So, those products that are being consumed in the UK, used in the UK, from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, should not be going through the same checks as products that are moving into the EU, into the single market – that’s pretty much what we have been outlining.

“There are too many companies, including major supermarkets, at the moment who have no stores in the Republic of Ireland, who are moving their products from their depots in Great Britain into Northern Ireland for sale and consumption in Northern Ireland, but going through checks as if they were going into the EU.

“That just doesn’t work and there are products that can’t travel that way.”

Bank of England governor’s ‘apocalyptic’ language ‘surprising’

Tuesday 17 May 2022 09:33 , Liam James

It was surprising to hear the governor of the Bank of England say food prices faced an “apocalyptic” rise, Brandon Lewis said.

Asked on BBC Breakfast about the comments made by Andrew Bailey to the Commons Treasury Select Committee on Monday, Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said: "I was surprised to see that particular turn of phrase, I have to say.

"But the Bank of England is independent, they will have their view of their assessment, their economic view of where things are and where things are going.”

Mr Bailey said admitted feeling “helpless” in the face of surging inflation. He said there could be a further rise in food costs if Ukraine, a major exporter of agricultural products, is unable to ship wheat and cooking oil from its warehouses because of a Russian blockade.

“Sorry for being apocalyptic for a moment, but that’s a major concern,” Mr Bailey said yesterday, noting that wheat prices alone had risen by just under 25 per cent in the past six weeks.

Brexit: Lorry drivers ‘need 700 pages of documents partly written in Latin’ to export UK goods to EU

Tuesday 17 May 2022 09:54 , Liam James

Brexit red tape is far worse for British exports to the EU than to Northern Ireland, a store chief is warning – with some information demanded in Latin and a particular typeface (Rob Merrick writes).

Archie Norman, the chair of Marks and Spencer, revealed the mountain of bureaucracy that is making international trade impossible for small producers, leading many to give up entirely.

The UK is preparing legislation to shred the Northern Ireland Protocol, arguing talks with the EU have failed to make the progress necessary to remove costly red tape.

But Mr Norman said those exports from Britain escaped the quagmire currently, because of temporary grace periods, saying: “At the moment we’re pretty much okay in Northern Ireland.”

Brexit: Lorry drivers need ‘documents partly written in Latin’ to export goods to EU

Cost of living ‘tsunami’ coming, says Labour’s Ashworth

Tuesday 17 May 2022 10:13 , Liam James

Ministers are “sleepwalking into a cost of living tsumami”, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth said.

Labour is seeking a vote on a windfall tax on the huge profits made by energy companies to help households cope with surging bills – one of many cost of living troubles.

Discussing the proposed tax on Sky News this morning, Mr Ashworth said: “Consumers are paying more for their energy bills. There’s this huge transfer of wealth from the consumer to oil and gas producers.

“Not because the producers have taken a risk or invested but because of energy markets so it is literally a windfall – so tax that windfall and use the money from that to bring the bills down for struggling households and pensioners.”

EU wants to breach Brexit treaty, says NI secretary

Tuesday 17 May 2022 10:32 , Liam James

The European Union’s desired implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol “breaches” the conditions of the Brexit treaty, according to Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis.

Britain last week formally rejected prosposals the EU laid out in October which aimed to reduce the difficulties Northern Ireland had encountered since the protocol took effect last year.

The bloc proposed changing customs arrangements to cut paperwork for goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, simplifying certification for certain goods in order to reduce checks, safeguarding medicine supplies and improving communication between relevant authorities on implementation of the protocol.

Discussing Britain’s intention to take unilateral action on the protocol, Mr Lewis told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “We agreed a protocol that says in its running paper very clearly its vision is: it won’t disturb people’s everyday lives and their communities, it will respect all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, respect the UK internal market and state functions as well as the EU single market.

“The implementation the EU wants to put in place breaches four of those things straight off the bat, and that is just something that isn’t sustainable.

“We have got to ensure that products moving within the UK can do so freely and ensure that goods that are moving into the EU via Ireland are properly dealt with, but not products that are staying within the UK.”

Reporter asks Johnson why he signed ‘bad’ Northern Ireland protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 10:51 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has defended agreeing to the Northern Ireland protocol after being asked by a reporter why he “signed up to a deal this bad”.

The prime minister said he signed up on the condition it would protect the Good Friday Agreement and the UK internal market and hoped the EU “would not necessarily implement the deal in quite the way” it had.

Poorest families yet to receive Rishi Sunak’s promised £150 for energy bills

Tuesday 17 May 2022 11:10 , Liam James

Some of the poorest families in the country have yet to receive the £150 council tax rebate promised by chancellor Rishi Sunak to ease soaring energy bills, a leading charity has warned (Adam Forrest writes).

National Energy Action said many of the hardest-pressed people in England and Wales who do not pay their council tax via direct debit were still waiting for their payment.

Local authorities were expected to distribute the £150 rebate when the energy price cap was raised in April, but say they are struggling to pay the one-off sum to everyone.

“There are serious concerns that those with the greatest need will be least able to access the money,” said chief executive Adam Scorer.

Poorest families yet to receive Rishi Sunak’s £150 help with energy bills

John Rentoul to host ‘Ask Me Anything’ about NI protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 11:20 , Liam James

Join The Independent’s chief political commentator to look beyond the sabre-rattling of the past week and get to the root of Britain’s problems with the post-Brexit arrangement for Northern Ireland and the propsoed solutions:

John Rentoul to host ‘Ask Me Anything’ about the Northern Ireland protocol

Government has ‘crucial duty’ to make Britain safe, says Boris Johnson

Tuesday 17 May 2022 11:34 , Liam James

The government’s “crucial duty” is to make communities safe, Boris Johnson told a cabinet meeting this morning.

The prime minister hailed the latest police recruitment figures which showed 13,576 new officers had been recruited since the Conservatives made their 2019 manifesto promise to recruit 20,000.

“They are bringing down neighbourhood crime and that’s a great thing to see,” he said.

The prime minister also mentioned Project Adder, a Home Office initiative which seeks to reduce drug deaths by targeting dealers more forcefully and breaking supply chains.

He said: “We will take the criminals off the streets, stopping the deaths from knife crime and gun crime.”

Unemployment lowest since 1974 but wages down

Tuesday 17 May 2022 11:53 , Liam James

Unemployment falling to its lowest level in almost 48 years shows that the government’s plan for jobs is working, Boris Johnson told a cabinet meeting this morning.

The rate of unemployment dropped to 3.7 per cent in the three months to March – the lowest level since 1974, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Addressing the news at cabinet, Mr Johnson said: “Today I am very pleased to see that unemployment is now at the lowest level is has been since 1974.

“To borrow a phrase from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, our plan for jobs is working.”

Though the government may hail a record number of people in work, the ONS figures will remind ministers they still have a crisis on their hands due to surging inflation.

Although average pay was up 4.2 per cent in the quarter, real terms pay – which considers Consumer Prices Index inflation – fell by 2 per cent.

Opinion: Our politicians won’t mention the B-word – but Brexit has made Britain’s economic crisis worse

Tuesday 17 May 2022 12:04 , Liam James

Sunny Hundal writes: Brexit is unavoidably and certainly making Britain’s rising cost of living worse. And our silence over the issue is compounding the problem.

Frankly, I’ve tried to stay away from the issue as much as possible since 2019. But it’s unavoidable. If we want to improve things we need to talk about the B-word.

The problem is that Labour doesn’t want to talk about it, because it’s worried that will alienate Leave voters – and the Conservatives don’t want to admit their mistakes. And we are all paying the price.

In the worst cost of living crisis this country has faced for decades – according to the Bank of England itself – we are unwilling to talk about the elephant in the room.

Opinion: Don’t mention the B-word – but Brexit has made Britain’s crisis worse

Domestic and sexual abuse ‘vital’ issue for government, says Boris Johnson

Tuesday 17 May 2022 12:20 , Liam James

The government wants to make victims of domestic and sexual violence confident that they are on their side, Boris Johnson told his cabinet this morning.

Mr Johnson said: “What we are also doing is making sure that we give everybody the confidence that we are on their side when it comes to their experience of crimes, and particularly crimes of sexual and domestic violence.

“We want to see more prosecutions for those who engage in such crimes. We want to see more rapists brought to justice.

“I am pleased to to see that, thanks to efforts of several of you across the table who have been working very, very hard, we are starting to see progress.

“This matters deeply to me, it matters to our government. It’s vital to every person, every woman, and every girl in this country that we get this right.”

The government brought the Domestic Abuse act to parliament last year after years of delays. The act creates a statutory definition of domestic abuse, enshrines the role of national domestic abuse commissioner in law and introduces new protections for abuse victims.

Liz Truss making statement on NI protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 12:48 , Liam James

Liz Truss said the first priority of the government is to protect the Good Friday Agreement and powersharing in Northern Ireland.

The foreign secretary is making a statement in the House of Commons on the government’s plan for legislation to override the Northern Ireland protocol.

She said the Stormont executive has not been working as planned for months now, “this is because the Northern Ireland protocol does not have the support necessary in one part of the community.”

She is referring there to unionists, namely the DUP who refuse to enter into government while the protocol is in place.

NI protocol legislation due in ‘coming weeks'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 12:52 , Liam James

Foreign secretary Liz Truss says UK government’s intention is to introduce legislation in “coming weeks” to unilaterally make changes to Northern Ireland Protocol (Rob Merrick writes).

Ms Truss revealed the legislation will go much further than seeking to ease border checks in the Irish Sea – increasing the chances that it will provoke a damaging trade war with Brussels.

Liz Truss sets out plans to override Northern Ireland protocol

‘This is not about scrapping the protocol'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 12:59 , Liam James

Liz Truss said the government’s plan to override the Northern Ireland protocol will not “scrap” the agreement Britain made with the EU in 2019.

“We will cement those provisions which are working in the protocol – including the common travel area, the single electricity market and north-south cooperation –whilst fixing those elements that aren’t.

“On the movement of goods, goods regulation, VAT, subsidy control and governance.”

She added: “This is not about scrapping the protocol”.

Watch: Liz Truss announces plan to change Brexit trade rules

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:02 , Liam James

Here’s a clip of the foreign secretary’s statement:

Truss statement response: Britain ‘should be a country that keeps its word'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:11 , Liam James

Labour’s Stephen Doughty said the government was trying to “convince people its deal was not a negotiating triumph but a deal so flawed” they cannot abide by it.

Responding to Liz Truss’s statment on the Northern Ireland protocol, the shadow international development secretary said: “Britain should be a country that keeps its word ... there are wide-ranging and damaging repercussions”.

Labour has previously called for the government to negotiate with the EU to fix any issues with the protocol.

NI protocol legislation will protect EU single market, says Truss

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:17 , Liam James

The new legislation to change Britain’s approach to the Northern Ireland protocol will include “new measures” to protect the EU single market, including “robust penalties” for those who seek to “abuse the new system”, Liz Truss said.

The foreign secretary told the House of Commons: “The bill will provide the government with the ability to decide on tax and spend policies across the whole of the United Kingdom.

“It will address issues related to governance bringing the protocol in line with international laws.

“At the same time, it will take new measures to protect the EU single market by implementing robust penalties for those who seek to abuse the new system and it will continue to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.

“I will publish more detail on these solutions in the coming weeks.”

Mark Francois asks Truss to keep European court out of NI

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:31 , Liam James

Conservative MP Mark Francois quoted Lord Trimble, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in devising the Good Friday Agreement, in saying it was urgent to address the issues with the protocol.

He then referred back to comments from Lord Trimble from 1997 when the agreement was being drafted in which he warned against the “adverse effect of the European Courts of Justice (ECJ)” on the peace process. This issue has returned as the court has take up role as final arbiter in disputes over the protocol, he said.

“Can the right honourable lady assure me ... she will take action on that issue as well?” he asked Liz Truss.

Ms Truss replied the new legislation would remove the role of the ECJ in Northern Ireland.

Watch: Labour MP says Britain ‘should be a country that keeps its word’

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:38 , Liam James

Here’s a clip of Labour’s Stephen Doughty responding to Liz Truss’s statement.

EU will ‘respond with all measures at its disposal’ if UK overrides Brexit deal

Tuesday 17 May 2022 13:53 , Chiara Giordano

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who has been involved in negotiations with foreign secretary Liz Truss about the Northern Ireland Protocol, has criticised her plan and warned Brussels could retaliate.

He said: "Should the UK decide to move ahead with a bill disapplying constitutive elements of the protocol as announced today by the UK government, the EU will need to respond with all measures at its disposal.

"Our overarching objective is to find joint solutions within the framework of the protocol. That is the way to ensure legal certainty and predictability for people and businesses in Northern Ireland.

"With political will and commitment, practical issues arising from the implementation of the protocol in Northern Ireland can be resolved.

"The European Commission stands ready to continue playing its part, as it has from the outset."

Boris Johnson urges all political parties to help get Stormont ‘up and running’

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:05 , Chiara Giordano

Prime minister Boris Johnson said: "I think that it's important that all political parties who believe in the government of Northern Ireland get back round the table and get Stormont up and running.

"Northern Ireland has got amazing opportunity now. Parts of the Northern Irish economy are going really, really well.

"What they need is leadership. They need their politicians to focus on the things that matter to the people of Northern Ireland."

EU warns it will use ‘all measures at its disposal’ if UK overrides Northern Ireland protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:11 , Chiara Giordano

The European Commission has warned it will retaliate and use “all measures at its disposal” if the UK presses ahead with a threatened bill to override the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Vice-president Maros Sefcovic said he had “significant concerns” about the plan and that “unilateral actions contradicting an international agreement are not acceptable”.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the full story:

EU warns ‘all measures at its disposal’ if UK overrides Northern Ireland protocol

NI trade barriers ‘relatively minor’, admits PM

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:20 , Adam Forrest

Boris Johnson has been speaking about the government’s plan to override parts of the protocol to reporters during a visit to see the new Elizabeth line at Paddington Station.

Asked about the possibility of a trade war with the EU, the prime minister said: “I don’t think that is likely … We need to address the problems with the protocol. What that actually involves is getting rid of some relatively minor barriers to trade.”

He added: “And I think there are good, common sense, pragmatic solutions. We need to work with our EU friends to achieve that.”

The PM said the “higher duty” of the UK government was to the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process, adding: “Of necessity, we can make some changes, I think, to the protocol …

“It makes it very clear on the face of the text that you should ensure east-west trade, and the integrity of the UK internal market.”

He added: “Let’s fix it. We don’t want to nix it – we want to fix it. And we’ll work with our EU partners to do it.”

Liz Truss says plan ‘will actually save costs’ when challenged in Commons

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:25 , Chiara Giordano

The solution the government is putting forward "will actually save costs", foreign secretary Liz Truss has said.

Ms Truss' comments came as Labour MP for Putney Fleur Anderson asked her in the Commons: "So much for getting Brexit done, so much for oven ready. What is the cost of the proposed actions? The Treasury has drawn up economic impact assessments for this course of action. When will the government release them for the House?

Ms Truss replied: "Well, the solution that we are putting forward will actually save costs by reducing the bureaucracy that traders are currently facing shipping goods into Northern Ireland.

"So, our overall proposal benefits traders into Northern Ireland. It benefits the people of Northern Ireland. It doesn't make the EU any worse off and it helps protect the single market."

Government asked to take action to ensure European judges have no ‘adverse influence’ over NI trade

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:30 , Chiara Giordano

The government has been asked to "take action" to make sure that European judges do not have "adverse influence" over trade in Northern Ireland.

Conservative MP Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford) said Lord Trimble, who helped bring about the Good Friday Agreement, had raised the issue of the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) role as an arbiter for disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol in a newspaper article.

He said: "As an architect of it with John Hume nearly a quarter of a century ago, he also raised the issue of the adverse influence of the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland.

"Can the Foreign Secretary assure the House that under her sixth heading, which I think she called governance, she will take action on that issue as well please?"

Liz Truss replied: "I can assure him that we will take action to ensure the arbitration mechanism is in place for Northern Ireland as it is in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, rather than having the ECJ as the final arbiter which it is as present."

Ireland’s Simon Coveney says he ‘deeply regrets’ UK government’s introduction of legislation that will disapply elements of protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:40 , Chiara Giordano

Ireland's foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney has said he "deeply regrets" the British government's decision to introduce legislation that will disapply elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Mr Coveney said such unilateral action "is damaging to trust and will serve only to make it more challenging to find solutions to the genuine concerns that people in Northern Ireland have about how the protocol is being implemented".

He said the unilateral action from the British government is "contrary" to the wishes of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, but welcomed foreign secretary Liz Truss's preference for a negotiated solution with the EU.

Power sharing in Northern Ireland will not be restored until EU ‘power grab’ to ‘crush’ businesses resolved, ministers told

Tuesday 17 May 2022 14:50 , Chiara Giordano

Power sharing in Northern Ireland will not be restored until an EU "power grab" to "crush" business in Northern Ireland is resolved, ministers have been warned.

DUP MP Ian Paisley (North Antrim) told the Commons about the paperwork faced by Marks & Spencer chairman and former Tory MP Archie Norman to do business on the island of Ireland.

Mr Paisley said: "His business in the Republic of Ireland to export goods has to fill in 700 pages.

"It has to do that within an eight-hour period, it has to do some of that wording in Latin to satisfy the European community, and it also has to do it in a certain type font or else it will not be allowed.

"It costs him an additional £30 million. He has said this morning on the radio that the EU has told him they would like the same procedures for his businesses in Northern Ireland."

He added: "This is power grab. People talk about trade war. This is a trade war to crush business in Northern Ireland. Will the foreign secretary ensure that whenever she is speaking to the Cabinet, that they know clearly that if they keep the protocol, power sharing isn't coming back?"

Foreign secretary Liz Truss said the government's proposed new Bill would "deal with the bureaucracy that we are seeing", adding the government was "open" to talks over a "negotiated settlement" in the meantime.

7 in 10 say government handling the economy badly

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:06 , Liam James

Seven in ten people (72 per cent) say the government is handling the economy badly, including more than half of Conservative voters (54 per cent), a YouGov poll has found.

The economy has been a growing concern in Britain since November and became the foremost issue in the public mind in January as the cost of living crisis set in.

The number of British adults who think the government is handling the economy badly is the highest in Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister and is 32 per cent higher than this time last year.

YouGov surveyed 1,810 UK adults from 14-16 May.

Boris Johnson rejects Bank governor’s claim of ‘helplessness’ over cost of living crisis

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:25 , Liam James

Boris Johnson has said he does not share the economic pessimism expressed by Bank of England governor, who admitted to feeling “helpless” amid the worsening cost of living crisis (Adam Forrest writes).

Andrew Bailey warned on Monday of an “apocalyptic” spike in food prices, predicted unemployment will rise, and conceded that the Bank is largely “helpless” to address inflation.

Asked on Tuesday if too he felt “helpless” over living costs, the prime minister said: “No – I think that this country has got a fantastic future.”

Mr Johnson told reporters: “What we’ve got to do is fix some short-term global inflation issues caused by coming out of the pandemic – particularly on supply chains, particularly on the cost of energy. But we have the fixes.”

Boris Johnson rejects Bank governor’s claim of ‘helplessness’ over cost of living

NI Brexit business group says UK protocol solution ‘sub-optimal'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 15:44 , Liam James

The Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group – an umbrella body of 14 leading groups – has responded to Liz Truss’s statement by condemning the idea of unilateral action on post-Brexit arrangements as “sub-optimal”.

The group said it would “study” the UK government proposal, but stated: “While we are frustrated with the ongoing failure to resolve the outstanding issues, it is our shared view that anything other than a negotiated outcome is sub-optimal.”

Calling for a negotiated compromise, the group added: “It is incumbent on the EU and UK to recommence discussions without delay. It will require movement and compromise on both sides to secure the workable and lasting solutions we all need to see.”

Ms Truss earlier said the government would introduce legislation to override the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit deal. Britain wants to change elements covering the movement of goods, goods regulation, VAT, subsidy control and governance.

Boris Johnson defends going back on Brexit deal he signed

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:04 , Liam James

Boris Johnson defended planning to override the Brexit deal agreed by him by saying the Good Friday Agreement was more important.

Asked how he can “justify breaking a treaty you’ve signed”, Mr Johnson said “the higher duty of the UK government in international law is to the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process”.

He added: “That is the thing we have to really look to. Of necessity we can make some changes, I think, to the [Northern Ireland protocol].”

The prime minister went on: “It makes it very clear on the face of the text that we should ensure the east-west trade and the integrity of the UK internal market.

“So let’s fix it. We don’t want to nix it, we want to fix it, and we will work our hardest to do it.”

Government has yet to return in Northern Ireland after a recent election which saw Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein win the most seats for the first time in history.

The Democratic Unionist Party has refused to enter into government without changes to the Northern Ireland protocol.

Priti Patel told police officers using foodbanks

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:21 , Emily Atkinson

Serving police officers are using food banks because their pay is too low to support their families amid the cost of living crisis, the home secretary has been told (Lizzie Dearden writes).

The chair of the Police Federation, which represents almost 140,000 rank-and-file officers in England and Wales, said praise for their actions during the Covid pandemic had “amounted to nothing”.

“Over the last decade, we have seen a real term pay cut of around 20 per cent and other costs haven’t stood still – gas, electric and fuel costs all continue to rise, and national insurance contributions increased,” Steve Hartshorn told a conference in Manchester.

The Police Federation withdrew from the official police pay review body last year, saying it “no longer has confidence” in the home secretary following a pay freeze for officers earning more than £24,000.

Cost of living crisis sees police officers using food banks

Government to continue ‘discussions’ with EU over NI protocol, says No 10

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:32 , Emily Atkinson

No 10 has said it understands the EU’s opposition to plans to bring forward controversial legislation overriding parts of the NI Protocol, but insisted action is needed.

Prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “We absolutely understand the EU’s position but we disagree with their assessment of the protocol and how to address it.

“We’ve been discussing this for around 18 months now, that’s why the foreign secretary and the prime minister have taken the decision to move ahead with this twin-track process.”

He said the government will continue to have “discussions” with the EU, pointing towards Liz Truss inviting the EU’s Maros Sefcovic of the joint committee.

Asked if a date had been set, the spokesman said he was “not aware they have agreed a date”.

Changing NI Protocol 'will increase likelihood of a recession’

Tuesday 17 May 2022 16:46 , Emily Atkinson

A top Scottish official has warned that abandoning parts of post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland risks pushing the UK closer to a recession.

Responding to the UK government’s announcement that it was seeking to overwrite parts of NI Protocol, the Scottish government’s constitution secretary Angus Robertson warned it would be in breach of an international treaty and could provoke a trade war with the EU.

Mr Robertson said: “Today’s announcement that the UK Government are now intending to legislate to enable unilateral action to dis-apply parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol is deeply concerning.

“Let us be very clear - to breach an international treaty, signed in good faith and hailed by the Prime Minister as a ‘fantastic’ moment, is bad enough.

“To contemplate this action when facing a cost-of-living crisis is unthinkable and indefensible.

“The Bank of England warns of UK recession this year and the UK Government provoking a possible trade war with EU could make it more likely. Neither businesses nor consumers will forgive such recklessness.

“This news will be met with dismay by Scottish businesses, who stand to face weeks and months of uncertainty, in a year with record increases in their input prices.”

He continued: “If the UK Government continue down this path, this could result in an increase in waiting times at borders, the risk of tariffs or quotas imposed on goods, or ultimately even the UK’s trade deal with the EU being suspended.

“Increased costs will come straight out of the pockets of the people of Scotland at a time when the cost of living is already rising and post-Brexit trade barriers have led to a 6% increase in UK food prices.”

UK government to publish statement on post-Brexit legal obligations ‘in due course'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:00 , Emily Atkinson

A senior Conservative peer has said moves to override parts of the NI protocol are “very much consistent” with the UK’s international legal obligations.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon told Parliament today that the government would be publishing a statement on its legal position “in due course”.

Referring to the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, he said: “What is very clear is that it is not working.

“I assure all members that taking forward this Bill... this is very much consistent with our obligations to international law and we will be putting forward a statement on the Government’s legal position in due course.”

He added: “We believe we need to act and move forward, but do so always with the hand of co-operation and collaboration with the EU and the door remains very much open in terms of future discussions.”

‘Dude from Silicon Valley’: Sunak’s reputation has ‘crashed like crypto Ponzi scheme’, says Ed Miliband

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:13 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak’s reputation has “crashed like cryptocurrency”, said senior Labour MP Ed Miliband in a stinging attack over the chancellor’s failure to provide fresh help with the cost of living crisis.

The shadow climate minister condemned Mr Sunak over his refusal to impose a windfall tax on oil and gas giants, accusing him of being “in denial” and “wholly out of touch”.

Mr Miliband also ridiculed of the chancellor for blaming the government IT system for not being able to uprate benefits – saying “the dude from Silicon Valley” was capable of fixing the computer problem.

“Over the last few months crypto has crashed and so has the chancellor,” said Mr Miliband in the Commons.

Adam Forrest has more:

Rishi Sunak’s reputation has ‘crashed like crypto Ponzi scheme’, says Ed Miliband

DUP peer calls for action to deal with ‘deeply offensive protocol'

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:27 , Emily Atkinson

A DUP peer has warned “a fudge will not satisfy” in dealing with the NI Protocol controversy.

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown said: “There is not doubt that resolute action to deal with this deeply offensive protocol must be taken.

“Firm and welcome words alone will not satisfy the community, which certainly I come from.

“Devolution in Northern Ireland will not be restored until the protocol issue is resolved and a fudge will not satisfy.”

MP asked to stay away from Parliament amid sexual assault investigation

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:39 , Emily Atkinson

Conservative whips have confirmed that a Tory MP has been asked to stay away from Parliament after it was reported an unnamed MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape.

A Conservative whips office spokeswoman said: “The Chief Whip has asked that the MP concerned does not attend the Parliamentary Estate while an investigation is ongoing.

“Until the conclusion of the investigation we will not be commenting further.”

Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape banned from parliament

Tuesday 17 May 2022 17:48 , Emily Atkinson

A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.

The unnamed MP has been asked not to attend parliament while a police investigation is ongoing.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “In January 2020, the Met received a report relating to alleged sexual offences having been committed between 2002 and 2009.

“The offences are alleged to have occurred in London.

“An investigation is ongoing, led by officers from Central Specialist Crime.

“A man, aged in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. He remains in custody.”

More to follow from Kate Devlin has we have it:

Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape banned from parliament

EU resistance to changes would ‘act against spirit of protocol’, says Tory peer

Tuesday 17 May 2022 18:04 , Emily Atkinson

A prominent Brexit supporter has pointed out the precedence of Northern Ireland’s 1998 Good Friday peace agreement was written into the protocol.

Speaking in the Lords, former Tory cabinet minister Lord Lilley said: “So the UK as guarantor of the Belfast agreement has not just a right but a duty to ensure that elements of the protocol which threaten the Good Friday Agreement are changed.

“And if the EU, as I hope they will not, resist this they will be acting against both the letter and the spirit of the protocol itself.”

Labour peer takes aim at Lord Frost over NI Protocol

Tuesday 17 May 2022 18:18 , Emily Atkinson

An influential Brexit critic has lashed out at its former chief negotiator Lord Frost, who was sat on the backbenches in the upper chamber for the government statement on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said: “We are just a wee bit fed up with those people who were responsible for it and got their peerages as a result of supporting that campaign get up now and criticise what they advocated.”

Having “pushed this on us”, Lord Foulkes said the Tory peer now “snipes from the sidelines”.

“We should blame those whose responsibility it really is,” he added.

Referring to the protocol, former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said: “All of the consequences were foreseeable and indeed were foreseen.”

Cost of living: Children ‘getting food poisoning’ as parents turn fridge off to save money

Tuesday 17 May 2022 18:33 , Emily Atkinson

Children are suffering from food poisoning because parents are switching off fridges at night amid the rising cost of living, according to a foodbank.

Truro Foodbank, in Cornwall, said it had received reports of children having stomach upsets from eating meals that had been incorrectly stored.

Parents are being forced to find ways to save on energy usage as the cost of living continues to rise.

“The parents are not washing [school] uniforms as much as they used to to save energy and water,” foodbank manager Simon Fann told BBC.

Zaina Alibhai reports:

Cost of living: Children ‘getting food poisoning’ as parents turn fridge off

EU won’t ‘overreact’ but will prepare retaliation, says top analyst

Tuesday 17 May 2022 18:47 , Emily Atkinson

Mujtaba Rahman, analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy firm, said the EU would “not overreact at this stage” since Brussels chiefs are aware it could take six to 12 months for Boris Johnson’s legislation to move through parliament.

The expert told The Independent that he expected the European Commission to start “preparatory work” on possible retaliatory moves – including tariffs and the suspension of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) – as a bill moves through parliament.

But Mr Rahman thinks Brussels “remains keen to avoid unnecessary escalation” and will hold off in talking action until the legislation is passed.

Unions call on parliament to take responsibility for staff following Tory MP rape allegations

Tuesday 17 May 2022 19:02 , Emily Atkinson

The Prospect union, which represents hundreds of staff working in parliament, said firmer action is needed following the arrest of a Tory MP on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.

Deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: “What will it take for parliament to finally take its responsibility to its staff and visitors seriously and suspend access to the estate for parliamentarians under investigation for sexual offences?

“Voluntary agreements to stay away do not work, as demonstrated by Imran Ahmad Khan’s attendance at Westminster whilst investigations were ongoing, despite agreeing to stay away.

“Parliament has the same responsibilities towards its staff as any other workplace and it must live up to them.”

Commons votes against imposing windfall tax on energy producers

Tuesday 17 May 2022 19:21 , Emily Atkinson

MPs have voted by 310 to 248 against Labour’s motion to impose a windfall tax on oil and gas producers amid spiralling energy costs.

Labour today sought to force a Commons vote on its amendment which expresses regret at the omission of the policy from the Queen’s Speech.

Highlighting forecasts produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) at the spring statement on savings ratios, Labour yesterday said that ministers needed to “wake up” to the cost-of-living crisis and back a windfall tax.

Channel crossing continue for fourth consecutive day

Tuesday 17 May 2022 19:40 , Emily Atkinson

Swathes of people continued to arrive on Kent beaches after crossing the Channel for a fourth consecutive day, reports say.

Since Saturday, more than 600 migrants have arrived in the UK, while more were brought to Dungeness beach by lifeboat on Tuesday.

It comes after 19 people made the crossing in one boat on Monday, following another 436 in nine boats on Sunday and 167 in 13 boats on Sunday, according to Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures.

Boris Johnson under pressure to publish legal advice in Brexit row

Tuesday 17 May 2022 19:55 , Emily Atkinson

Legal experts questioned foreign secretary Liz Truss’s assertion in the House of Commons that a proposed parliamentary bill, which would drive a coach and horses through the finely-balanced agreement struck by Boris Johnson in 2019, is “legal in international law”.

And there was unease on the Conservative benches over the potential damage to the UK’s reputation if it is seen to be breaching its international obligations.

“MPs will want to see the legal advice and know it is sustainable and arguable before going ahead with this,” one former minister told The Independent. “We don’t want to be back in the same battle as we had with the Internal Market Bill, with ministers talking about breaking the law in a limited way.”

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the story:

Boris Johnson under pressure to publish legal advice in Brexit row