Asked if the drama in No 10 has been a distraction to the Brexit talks, and whether Dominic Cummings’ departure makes a trade deal more likely, Simon Coveney told Sky News: “I think there of course have been huge distractions in No 10 this week, but they’re not distractions for the EU. 

“We’ve never focused on the personalities when it comes to Brexit. It’s always been the issues. That’s really a matter for the prime minister. He’s the decision-maker here for Britain. David Frost is still the key negotiator. 

“So regardless of who is advising the prime minister, in terms of how to finalise a deal here, which is hopefully a space we’ll be in this week, the EU will remain consistent and respectful of Britain.”

Asked if the deal could fall down on fishing, Simon Coveney said: “It could, it could. I certainly hope that won’t be the case, it will be extraordinary if it does, but I think that is possible. 

“And if the UK side takes an approach of let’s get everything else agreed and then let’s say to the EU ‘surely we’re not going to allow this to collapse on fishing, so give us what we want on fishing’, that is a negotiating tactic that won’t work. Like everything here, there’s a middle-ground position that’s needed.”

Ireland’s foreign minister added: “The EU has already moved on fishing, on its position of trying to hold the status quo, but it hasn’t moved enough for the UK to be happy. 

“But the way in which the EU see fish – because it’s important British listeners understand this – the UK is looking for facilitation from the EU in many, many areas. 

“Take the energy market, for example. The UK wants to access the EU energy market. And the EU says ‘well that’s fine, we can try to facilitate that, but we want access to British fishing grounds as well’. This is about give and take. 

“And these fish – fish don’t hold passports. If you take mackerel, most of the mackerel caught in Scottish waters are born off the west coast of Ireland, they mature off the northwest coast of Ireland, and then they swim as adults into Scottish waters where they’re caught, by both EU fleets and British fleets. These fish aren’t owned by anybody. They are transitory, they move between jurisdictions. 

“And we’re trying now to a shared arrangement so that we can manage stocks in a way that is sustainable for both sides.”

“Yes, we have seen three months of growth in our GDP but again, it’s been mixed,” Sir Ian Diamond has told Sky’s Sophy Ridge. 

“Where we’ve seen growth has been in places like couriers and computer repair, in retail – driven of course by online – but at the same time, still there are still major slowdowns relative to February in transport, tourism and the creative industries – one of the jewels in our crown, which are down 61 per cent on their place in February.

Meanwhile, there are 700,000 less people on payrolls now than in February while job vacancies have plateaued in the most recent period, he said, adding: “So it’s a very mixed story on the economy but key to get the economy back flowing is getting on top of the pandemic.”

Government must be “absolutely tireless” in attempting to increase with face mask regulations, the UK’s national statistician has said.

Sir Ian Diamond told Sky News that the Office for National Statistics find “a high degree of compliance”, with 95 per cent of the public wearing masks, but warned the remaining five per cent of the population represents a lot of people.

Sir Keir Starmer has opened up about his complicated relationship with his father during an interview on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs, Tim Wyatt reports.

The Labour leader, who grew up in a left-wing working class family in Surrey, said he was not especially close to his father, Rodney, a toolmaker, who he described as a “difficult man”.  

“I don’t often talk about my dad,” Sir Keir told the programme’s host Lauren Laverne. “He was a difficult man, a complicated man. He kept himself to himself. He didn’t particularly like to socialise, so he wouldn’t really go out very much.”

For a recap on yesterday’s events, here’s our policy correspondent Jon Stone’s round-up of the Tory reaction to Dominic Cummings’ exit – replete with hopeful visions for the future, references to long-gone empires and Barnard Castle repentance.

Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of UK politics, following the departure of Dominic Cummings from Downing Street.