Brexit news – live: EU ‘deeply regrets’ protocol mistake as Liz Truss accused of ignoring trade disruption

The EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic has apologised to Ireland’s parliament for the recent attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol over vaccine orders. He said the commission “deeply regrets” how it handled the issue.

Meanwhile international trade secretary Liz Truss is accused of refusing to answer questions about the trading crisis caused by Brexit. Opposition parties claimed Ms Truss was trying to “shirk responsibility” by transferring enquiries to other departments.

Sir Ian McKellen and other leading actors have urged Boris Johnson to secure visa-free EU travel for performers. It comes as MPs were told some UK musicians are thinking in “quite desperate terms whether they have a career left” because of post-Brexit touring restrictions.

• Brexit disruption is sign of things to come, economists warn

• Trade department urged to engage with Brexit problems

• Is Boris Johnson guided by science or Tory backbenchers?

Watch: What could scrapping EU labour rights mean for UK workers?