“When Boris Johnson’s government on Tuesday unveils its legislative programme for the coming year, there will be some striking omissions. Legislation to improve UK auditing and corporate governance, provide statutory powers for a technology watchdog, and create a new football supervisory authority — all meant to enhance the operation of business or to enable fairer market conditions — have been dropped from the Queen’s Speech. Whitehall officials said the government’s decisions to jettison the bills reflected political priorities and practical issues, but also highlighted the influence of one key figure in Downing Street: David Canzini, a deputy chief of staff to the prime minister.” – FT
Comment:
>Today:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech is the Government’s last chance to get a grip
“The foreign secretary has concluded that there is little point trying to reach a Brexit deal with the European Union and will move as soon as next week to scrap large parts of the Northern Ireland protocol in British law. Officials working for Liz Truss have drawn up draft legislation that would unilaterally remove the need for all checks on goods being sent from Britain for use in Northern Ireland. It would also allow businesses in the province to disregard EU rules and regulations and take away the power of the European Court of Justice to rule on issues relating to Northern Ireland.” – The Times
More Union:
>Today: ToryDiary: The elections and the Protocol. A United Ireland is no nearer, but Northern Ireland is more unstable.
>Yesterday: David Gauke’s column: Picking a fight over the Northern Ireland Protocol would be a mistake
“Priti Patel has admitted that it will take time to establish the government’s high-profile plan to send people who arrive in the UK without authorisation to Rwanda, amid growing suspicion that it will not solve the migration crisis in the Channel. In a further attack on the legal profession, the home secretary blamed “specialist lawyers” as the main reason for the delays in setting up the scheme. Under a partnership agreement, people arriving in the UK via unauthorised routes, including by crossing the Channel in small boats, will face the possibility of being flown 4,000 miles to Rwanda. Boris Johnson has said that the scheme will be up and running by the end of this month.” – The Guardian
“Detectives investigating Keir Starmer’s alleged breach of lockdown rules are considering interviewing the Labour leader face to face, with his Beergate agony likely to last at least a month before a decision on a fine is made. Questionnaires are expected to be sent to those who police identify as having been present at a meal of takeaway curry and beer, but some may be questioned in person, the Guardian understands. Durham police’s investigation is likely to last at least until June and any of the at least 15 people present, including Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, could face a fine if detectives decide they have broken the law.” – The Guardian
“Having called so unequivocally for the prime minister’s resignation after he was fined, Starmer’s position would have been untenable were he to be similarly punished over a legitimate campaign event in Durham which was rounded off with curry and beer. He would be the former Director of Public Prosecutions, the self-proclaimed hard man on law and order, who himself broke the law. The risks are therefore not as great as they might appear. And the potential gains are large. The Labour leader lacks Boris Johnson’s charisma. His biggest selling point to voters was that, unlike the prime minister, he is a man of integrity — again the former DPP — who believed in the rules.” – FT
>Yesterday: