Brexit minister Lord Frost
(Aaron Chown/PA)
The European Union has been asked to go further than removing its ban on British sausages to resolve a Northern Ireland Protocol dispute.
Brexit minister Lord Frost is to make a speech in Lisbon on Tuesday in which he will call for “significant” changes to the post-Brexit agreement he negotiated, including to the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Northern Ireland.
His warning will come a day before the EU is expected to produce plans to resolve issues with the protocol, which has led to economic barriers between Northern Ireland and Britain.
Brussels is likely to propose that chilled meats can continue crossing the Irish Sea from Britain after the end of current grace periods, in a move to end the so-called sausage wars.
But Lord Frost will use his speech to warn that compromises must go far further, and that the EU “needs to show ambition and willingness to tackle the fundamental issues at the heart of the protocol head on.”
Lord Frost will also share a new legal text with the European Commission to propose the “foundation” for a new protocol to support the Good Friday Agreement.
Pharmacists to be given right to prescribe drugs
Pharmacists will be given the right to write prescriptions under plans reportedly being considered by health secretary Sajid Javid.
Last month he promised the government will “do a lot more” to ensure GPs see more patients face-to-face following complaints from the public.
The proposals would see more prescriptions provided through pharmacies and hospitals for routine illnesses to allow doctors more time to see patients in person, according to The Sunday Times.
GPs will also reportedly be able to pass off bureaucratic processes such as providing supporting medical evidence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency over a patient’s fitness to drive.
The plans are expected to include sanctions for doctors who do not increase the number of face-to-face appointments with patients, the paper added.
Lamiat Sabin10 October 2021 08:50
Boris swaps Downing Street for luxury villa
The Prime Minister is reportedly on a week-long holiday on the Costa del Sol.
Boris Johnson left Britain on Friday and is reportedly staying in a luxury villa – between Marbella and Benahavis – in southern Spain.
It was not clear whether his wife Carrie and son Wilfred were with him.
Liam James has all the details
Lamiat Sabin10 October 2021 08:30
Energy price cap a ‘non-negotiable for me,’ says Kwarteng
The energy price cap will remain in place, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says as he rejects demands from suppliers to remove it.
He said that keeping the cap in place this winter is “non-negotiable for me” after some firms lobbied for an increase to prevent collapses due to the energy crisis.
But Mr Kwarteng did not set out any additional support for struggling businesses, after bosses and some Tory MPs called for help to prevent them from going bust while wholesale prices of natural gas reached record highs.
Mr Kwarteng sought to reassure the public of “the safety net that we have in place to shield consumers from instant price hikes this Christmas, and ensure everyone gets the supply they need”.
“Despite some pushing me to lift the cap, I am absolutely clear it is here to stay and will remain at the same level throughout winter,” he wrote in the Sunday Express.
“Keeping this protection in place is non-negotiable for me.”
Some energy firms have said the cap is not “fit for purpose” and called for reforms and emergency support to prevent collapses, which will also burden costs on the taxpayer.
Lamiat Sabin10 October 2021 08:02
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Lamiat Sabin10 October 2021 07:58
