“European judges will be blocked from having the final say on Northern Ireland disputes under a new Brexit law set to spark a fresh Tory rebellion against Boris Johnson. The proposed legislation will remove the oversight of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and hand the final judgment on disputes to the British courts under new powers that will effectively mean parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol do not apply. “There will still be a limited role for European courts but they won’t get the final say,” said a government source… It will also fix “the unacceptable situation” whereby people in Northern Ireland cannot avail of the same tax benefits as everyone else in the UK, Whitehall sources said.” – Daily Telegraph
Analysis:
>Today: ToryDiary: The Northern Ireland Protocol. Johnson’s new weakness is feeding the EU’s rapacity, his colleagues’ fervour and Ministers’ ambitions.
“Ministers have told unionist politicians that they must re-establish full power-sharing with Sinn Fein before parliament is asked to pass a law that would override swathes of the Northern Ireland Brexit deal. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, is due to announce legislation today that would allow the government to disregard key elements of the Northern Ireland protocol in a move that critics claim would breach international law. Truss will deny this and say that the measures are vital to protect the Good Friday agreement and are fully in line with the government’s obligations.” – The Times
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Reeves – “This government appears to be creating a record for law breaking”
“Rebel Tories are targeting dozens of “flipper” MPs who could end up destroying Boris Johnson’s premiership. Plotters have drawn up lists of MPs who were on the verge of voting against the PM last week. The rebels plan to plug away at the fed-up group, knowing that just 32 switchers are needed to depose him. The senior backbenchers want to be ready to pounce if and when there is a second vote of no confidence in the Conservative leader. Backbench chief Sir Graham Brady said the current 12-month grace period is likely to remain in place after Monday’s dramatic vote.” – The Sun
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: “In my constituency, I’ve had people in full support of the Prime Minister”, says the Northern Ireland Secretary
“Priti Patel could be banned from putting Channel migrants on the first flight to Rwanda, it emerged last night. Home Office sources said human rights lawyers had tabled a ‘deluge’ of legal claims on behalf of 31 individuals due to be deported tomorrow. They said there was a ‘real prospect’ the courts could delay the removal of all 31. It means that even if the Court of Appeal today grants the Home Secretary the right to go ahead with the first removal flight, there may be no one to put on it. Lawyers acting on behalf of the 31 are said either to have lodged legal appeals or warned they would do so today.” – Daily Mail
More:
“When migrants arrive in Rwanda, they will find safety and security, and be treated with dignity and respect. We will facilitate their asylum claim and house them in suitable temporary accommodation while their claim is processed. Throughout this time, they’ll be free to come and go as they please and the Rwandan authorities will look after their needs. Whether their claim is approved or rejected these migrants will be offered a legal pathway to stay in Rwanda. They will have the right to work and access services, and we will do all we can to support them to integrate into Rwandan society.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: There is “no silver bullet to deal with the issues around illegal immigration”, says Lewis
“The government’s lead adviser on food issues has condemned what ministers have billed as a landmark national plan to combat food poverty and obesity, saying it is “not a strategy” and warning it could mean more children will go hungry. Henry Dimbleby’s verdict is further bad news for Boris Johnson as the white paper is a direct response to last year’s wide-ranging review of Britain’s food system, which was led by the restaurateur. Johnson’s plan was billed as the first such blueprint since rationing 75 years ago, positioning England as a leader on food and environment in a post-Brexit world. But the final plan strips away many of Dimbleby’s key recommendations.” – The Guardian
“Ministers are drawing up plans to sever the link between the prices of gas and electricity in an effort to cut household bills for millions of families. In what would be the biggest reform of Britain’s power market in decades, the government proposes to end the system by which the wholesale cost of gas in effect determines the price of electricity for consumers. More than a quarter of the UK’s electricity is from renewable sources, for which costs have been largely unaffected by rising global energy prices. However, the link has been blamed for exacerbating the cost of living crisis as it has forced customers to pay over the odds for electricity because of spiralling wholesale gas prices linked to the conflict in Ukraine.” – The Times
More:
>Today: Andrew Griffith MP in Comment: Tax cuts are now a when, not an if – and this is a time to hold our nerve
“Rail workers planning to strike this month will be “hit in their pay packets” under plans being drawn up by Grant Shapps with industry chiefs. The Transport Secretary is proposing to bar striking rail staff from claiming overtime to which they are traditionally entitled to return the service to normal as quickly as possible after a walkout. Mr Shapps is determined that striking rail workers should not be allowed to “milk the system” by claiming overtime after “inflicting misery” on the public when they walk out on June 21, 23 and 25. The crackdown comes on top of plans to make it easier to bring in cover and possibly agency workers to break strikes…” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: Anthony Browne MP in Comment: Passport delays, hospital appointments, parkings permit, VAT registration. How to get the public sector working better.
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Labour must “come out on the side of workers” over strikes, says the Public and Commercial Services Union’s general secretary
“Universities will be forced to reveal investment from “foreign actors” under plans being put forward by the government this week to crack down on undue influence. Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, will set out rules requiring them to report any financial arrangements they have with individuals or organisations overseas, “to ensure that UK values cannot be compromised”. The change, which will be proposed today as an amendment to the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, is proposed against a backdrop of universities accepting money from hostile nations such as China and Russia.” – The Times
“Labour’s entire shadow cabinet has been missing in action in Tiverton and Honiton during the by-election campaign, Telegraph analysis has shown, as the Tories accused them of a “grubby backroom deal” with the Liberal Democrats. Not a single member of Sir Keir Starmer’s frontbench has visited the Devon constituency or referred to the poll since campaigning started last month, despite the party coming second there in 2019 and beating the Liberal Democrats. By contrast, all except three Labour MPs with shadow cabinet roles have visited Wakefield since the start of May, with many posting pictures of them with activists on the doorstep.” – Daily Telegraph