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Boris Johnson news – live: ‘Clearly clueless’ Priti Patel insists PM not racist, as Downing St tweet appears to reveal basic Brexit deal misunderstanding

Getty
Getty

Boris Johnson’s plan to block low-skilled workers from the UK after Brexit has been branded “toxic” by Labour. The opposition called Priti Patel “clearly clueless” after she suggested more than eight million “economically inactive” people could help meet any job shortages.

The home secretary – who conceded in a LBC interview her own parents may not have been allowed in under the new immigration rules – defended Mr Johnson after he was called “a real racist” by rapper Dave at last night’s BRIT Awards.

It comes as the government is accused of failing to understand the EU’s basic Brexit negotiating position, after the No 10 press office claimed Brussels had “changed” its stance from a previous willingness to agree a “Canada-style” free trade deal.

Here are the day's events as they happened.