Roll up your sleeves and let's fix the Northern Ireland Protocol together, Boris Johnson urges DUP

• Protocol blocks cost-of-living plan, says Boris Johnson

• Jacob Rees-Mogg: Fixed penalty notices not traditional

• Keir Starmer: I'm happy to risk it all over 'beergate'

• The George Osborne haircut that cost Britain £10bn

• Tom Harris: Starmer would admit defeat with Left-wing pact

Boris Johnson has urged the DUP and other Northern Irish political parties to "roll up your sleeves and get stuck in" by returning to Stormont to fix the Protocol.

Speaking on a visit to Belfast on Monday afternoon, Mr Johnson addressed the current stand-off in the Assembly, which has seen Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's party block the election of a Speaker after the elections.

Mr Johnson told reporters: "You bet I said to the DUP in particular, 'we want to see you back in the Executive. We want to see you nominating. We want to see a speaker in the Assembly'.

"Now the issue they have is that they object to the operation of the Protocol. We don't want to scrap it but we think it can be fixed, and actually five of the five parties I talked to also think it needs reform."

Asked about the prospect of a trade war with the European Union if Article 16 were triggered, Mr Johnson responded: "What we're doing is sticking up for the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and what we're doing is trying to protect and preserve the government of Northern Ireland."

06:30 PM

And that's all for today...

The start of a new week saw another day of drama around the Northern Ireland Protocol as the clock continued to tick on efforts to fix the treaty.

Speaking on a visit to Belfast on Monday afternoon, Boris Johnson urged all involved in the Northern Ireland Assembly to "roll up your sleeves and get stuck in".

Stormont continues to face gridlock after the DUP blocked the election of the Speaker, pointing to the economic harm the Protocol is doing to Northern Ireland and what it sees as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty.

Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, is widely expected to set out the Government's next move as soon as tomorrow. But whether it will make headway towards finding a solution, remains to be seen.

My colleague Jack Maidment will be back early tomorrow to guide you through what looks set to be a tumultuous day.

06:16 PM

'Robust and very frustrating'

The Alliance Party has criticised its meeting with Mr Johnson earlier today as "robust and very frustrating".

Stephen Farry, its deputy leader, said: "We were giving him a very clear warning that if he plays fast and loose with the protocol and indeed the Good Friday Agreement, then he is going to be adding more and more instability to Northern Ireland.

"On the one hand, he is coming here with a certain set of stated outcomes, but all his actions belie what he is notionally trying to achieve."

05:54 PM

John Swinney: Public inquiry into ferries scandal can be considered in ‘due time’

John Swinney has hinted for the first time that the SNP may bow to demands for a public inquiry over the ferries scandal as he came under pressure to explain his decision to give “budget approval” to the scandal-hit contract.

Speaking on a visit to the Outer Hebrides, the Deputy First Minister said his focus was on ensuring the two much-delayed vessels being built at the Ferguson Marine shipyard would be finally completed.

But he said a full public inquiry could be held “in due time” into why SNP ministers insisted on handing the contract to the yard, which was owned by an independence-supporting businessman, despite ferry chiefs warning it was too risky.

Simon Johnson, our Scottish Political Editor, has more here

05:46 PM

Northern Ireland protocol: What is it and why may Article 16 be triggered?

Britain is warning that it will move to tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol unless Brussels caves to its demands to renegotiate the Brexit treaty.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and was negotiated in 2019.

It is the treaty that created the Irish Sea border between Britain and Northern Ireland.

Here, James Crisp tells you everything you need to know about the Protocol, how Boris Johnson wants to change it and whether or not the UK and EU are headed for a trade war.

05:27 PM

Covid lockdowns left toddlers unable to speak or play properly

Toddlers’ speech and motor skills have dropped sharply in the wake of the pandemic, official data show.

Experts said that repeated lockdowns had left young children without the chance to play and learn how to communicate, setting back their development.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) raised fears that the gaps being witnessed now could widen in coming years, with increasing numbers of children struggling at school because basic skills were never learned.

Assessments show that one in five children are not meeting expected standards by the age of two-and-a-half, with thousands likely to need help such as speech and language therapy.

Laura Donnelly has the story

05:09 PM

Keir Starmer: I’ve put everything on the line - the complete opposite to Boris Johnson

Sir Keir Starmer said he has "put everything on the line" over the beergate controversy as he insists that he is the "complete opposite" to the Prime Minister.

The Labour leader has vowed to resign if he is issued with a fixed penalty notice over an Indian curry take away he had with colleagues in April 2021.

He was caught on camera drinking a beer in an MP’s office after a day of campaigning for the local elections in Durham last Spring.

At the time of the event, Covid rules meant that indoor gatherings were banned except for work purposes.

Appearing on Loose Women for the first time, the Labour leader said: "I have put everything on the line because I think that that is the right thing to do. That is the complete opposite to the Prime Minister."

Camilla Turner, our Chief Political Correspondent, has the story

05:07 PM

Margaret Thatcher statue egger faces university investigation

A university staff member pictured egging a statue of Margaret Thatcher faces an investigation after bosses said they take acts of "defacement" seriously.

Jeremy Webster, the deputy director of the University of Leicester's Attenborough Arts Centre, put out a "call to arms" before the incident, which happened shortly after the memorial's installation in Grantham, Lincolnshire, yesterday morning.

Three eggs were thrown at the statue, with a cry of "oi" heard after one hit its target. The University of Leicester said the matter was being addressed in line with its "own procedures".

Lincolnshire Police said no arrests were made yesterday in connection with the incident, but added that the force received a report of criminal damage shortly afterwards.

Full story: Jeremy Webster put out 'call to arms' before egging statue

04:55 PM

'Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in', Boris Johnson tells DUP

Everyone in Northern Ireland should be "rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in" to enable a functioning Executive at Stormont, Boris Johnson has told Sky News.

"You bet I said to the DUP in particular, 'we want to see you back in the Executive. We want to see you nominating. We want to see a speaker in the Assembly'.

"Now the issue they have is that they object to the operation of the Protocol. We don't want to scrap it but we think it can be fixed, and actually five of the five parties I talked to also think it needs reform."

Asked about the prospect of a trade war with the EU if Article 16 was triggered, Mr Johnson responded: "What we're doing is sticking up for the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and what we're doing is trying to protect and preserve the government of Northern Ireland. And yes you're right there's a cost-of-living issue but that's certainly not being helped by extra barriers to trade, extra burdens on business that are being caused by the Protocol.

"So it certainly won't be helped if we have a situation where the Executive isn't up and running in Northern Ireland. You need the Executive, you need the Assembly, that is what the people of Northern Ireland want us as politicians to focus on."

04:47 PM

'We haven't been able to get a Government going'

Boris Johnson says the UK is "10 days after a very important in Northern Ireland where we haven't been able to get a Government going".

He cites "massive pressures on the economy... we need a government and we need that executive formed and as is often the case in Northern Ireland there are things that different parties want fixed and we've tried to come and sort some things out".

"On language and on culture and on abortion, we're moving to help and you'll hear more about that later this week... and as you'll know there's this issue with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

"In fact none of the parties... I spoke to all five parties just now, not one of them likes the way it's operating. They all think it can be reformed and improved... and the question is how do you do that. And we would love this to be done in a consensual way, with our friends and partners, ironing out the problems. To get that done to get the insurance we need we need to proceed with a legislative solution at the same time."

04:26 PM

Michael Gove faces peer pressure over House of Lords move

Not everyone in the Lords is too thrilled at the prospect of a move to Stoke (see 4.27pm).

In something of a brutal intervention, Tory peer Lord Cormack said: "Does he not realise this is not a matter for the Government? Or was this just another freelance exercise by an intellectual flibberty-gibbet?"

Taking questions from the despatch box, Lord True replied: "I couldn't possibly comment on that."

Lord Harris of Haringey said the "minister has been admirably clear... as mud... about the constitutional position", while insisting "both houses should be together".

Meanwhile, Lord Udny-Lister branded the Queen Elizabeth II Centre - which Mr Gove has warned against moving to - "one of the worst buildings in London", but he noted "alternative [arrangements] where we can stay on this site" if the scope of Parliament's refurbishment was cut back.

04:21 PM

Online Safety Bill 'vague' and cause for concern, says backbencher

John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon, said Bridget Phillipson's speech "did sound remarkably like a bid for the leadership of the Labour party" after Sir Keir Starmer vowed to resign if fined over the 'beergate' scandal.

He said he remained "concerned" the Online Safety Bill was "vague" and urged greater clarity from the Government on protecting Britons from risk rather than "regulate every" platform.

On the Media Bill, Mr Whittingdale described measures including the proposed privatisation of Channel 4 as "vital for the future of public service broadcasting in this country".

04:10 PM

Labour would rebuild schools across the country, insists Phillipson

Dr Caroline Johnson, the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, asked Bridge Phillipson whether she would have been "penalised as a working-class girl" for receiving a scholarship at a fee-paying school.

Her remarks came after Nadhim Zahawi said Britain should be "proud" of its private schools and not "tilt the system" to ensure more state pupils get into Oxbridge.

Mr Zahawi’s comments come after Professor Stephen Toope, the vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, said the "premium" afforded to private school pupils is likely to reduce over time.

Ms Phillipson said it was "hard to hear" Dr Johnson, but replied: "The last Labour government rebuilt schools right across our country. That has sadly not been the record of the last 12 years."

Nadia Whittome, a Labour MP who was still at school when the Conservatives took office in 2010, recalled buildings "falling apart" and going to university and "having to pay nine grand a year on tuition fees".

04:02 PM

Labour accuses Conservatives of failing on schools

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, accused the Conservatives of "12 long years failing Britain" and claimed there was a "significant contrast" with Labour's own plans.

"Of course there are challenges which every country faces, and there are the challenges bequeathed by the pandemic and its legacy.

"But there are also the challenges brought to us by 12 years of Conservative failure and what they all have in common is that every single one of them is a challenge from which this Government flinches."

Ms Phillipson said hundreds of thousands of children were on free school meals, children endured "botched" for two years and class sizes had reached record levels.

03:57 PM

'The best place to grow up and grow old in'

Nadhim Zahawi praised the "substantial policies" in the Queen's Speech - "policies that will provide more rungs on the ladder of opportunity".

"Policies that put skills at the heart of our economy to unleash its potential, policies that back our public services so they can deliver what our country needs, policies that sustain the truth that this is the best place in the world to grow up and grow old in."

03:49 PM

Free speech and skills uplift at heart of Nadhim Zahawi's vision

"To steal a phrase" from Robert Halfon, the chairman of the education select committee, Nadhim Zahawi vowed the Government was "committed to building a skills-based economy".

"I will pledge to the House to make T-Levels as famous as A-Levels - watch this space," he said of the new technical vocational qualification.

Adding that recent legislation placed employers "at the heart of the skills system", Mr Zahawi emphasised the Government's ambition for "everyone to be able to move into highly-skilled jobs".

"We will bring forward further legislation through the Higher Education Reform Bill to ensure that our post-18 education system does promote real social mobility... Alongside this, we are meeting our manifesto commitment to challenge any restriction of lawful speech and academic freedom."

03:39 PM

'Fairer and stronger' system and funding key to schools success, says Zahawi

Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, is opening today's debate in response to the Queen's Speech.

"The evidence is clear that our plan is working and the recovery is happening," Mr Zahawi said, referring to progress in mathematics and English language recovery since the end of most Covid restrictions last summer.

"We are giving schools the resources they need to focus on student outcomes. It is money that will help schools increase teachers' pay, including delivering on our manifesto pledge of £30,000 starting salary, money that will help schools deliver resources for students and money that will help schools meet inflationary pressures in these uncertain times."

Mr Zahawi recognised there is "more to do" in classrooms because "too many children leave primary school unable to meet the expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics despite the remarkable progress in the last decade".

Under the Government's plan, 90 per cent of children will achieve the expected standards in reading, writing and maths by 2030, he pledged. The Schools Bill will go further on safety and attendance, he added - "all underpinned by a fairer and stronger schools system".

03:33 PM

We're helpless to counter inflation, claims Bank of England chief

The Governor of the Bank of England has claimed that policy makers have been left helpless in the face of surging inflation, James Warrington and Guilia Bottaro report.

Appearing in front of MPs this afternoon, Andrew Bailey admitted he’d felt helpless to control soaring prices amid an energy market shock and the war in Ukraine, adding: "It's a very, very difficult place for us to be in."

Fellow Monetary Policy Committee members Dave Ramsden and Michael Saunders said external factors contributed around 80 per cent of the recent inflation surge and insisted that even if the Bank had raised interest rates more aggressively, it was unlikely inflation would have fallen back to the target of two per cent.

The hearing comes amid a slew of attacks by senior Tory MPs on the Bank of England for its handling of the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Bailey said he didn’t respond to political comments, but admitted the Bank was facing the biggest test in its 25 years of independence.

03:27 PM

Michael Gove stokes the fire of levelling up

Michael Gove has said he would "wholeheartedly welcome" the Lords moving out of London after it emerged his preferred location for peers would be Stoke when Parliament is refurbished.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Gove said: "If the House of Lords were to relocate to Stoke-on-Trent I think you could be assured of a warm welcome in one of the most attractive places in England".

Repairs to the House of Lords do not yet have a fixed start date but are likely to involve a full decamp and could force members to sit elsewhere for up to two decades.

The Queen Elizabeth II Centre, a Government-owned conference facility a short walk from Parliament, was considered as a possible replacement venue since it was recommended by a committee in 2016.

But Mr Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, warned against the use of a location "a mere 200 yards from the Palace of Westminster" and instead listed more than half a dozen prospective locations across the North and the Midlands.

03:18 PM

Shireen Abu Akleh: Britain has 'led the pressure'

Vicky Ford said Britain had "led the pressure" at the United Nations to ensure a fair investigation into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.

After Andy Slaughter, a Labour backbencher, claimed the "occupation of Palestine is at the root of this violence", the foreign affairs minister replied: "We absolutely are very clear settlements are illegal under international law, they call into question Israel's commitments to the two-state solution.

"We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion that threatens the viability of a Palestinian state and we will continue always to press for peace."

She called for a "thorough" investigation in response to the Palestinian Authority refusing to hand over the bullet that killed the journalist, adding: "I believe that 26 journalists have been killed across the world during this year, six in Ukraine. It may even be more since that update I received. We must stand for journalists and for media freedom."

03:08 PM

Minister urges 'immediate, impartial' investigation into death of Al-Jazeera journalist

Afternoon all - Dominic Penna here to guide you through the rest of the day in Westminster.

A minister has just condemned the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al-Jazeera journalist covering a military raid in the West Bank, as "outrageous".

Responding to an urgent question in the Commons from Labour, Vicky Ford, a Foreign Office minister, Ford said: "He is absolutely right that Shireen's death was outrageous and shocked the world. He is also right to speak about the very disturbing scenes at her funeral.

"It is so important that mourners are paid respect, that they are paid dignity, and actually that the deceased is shown respect and shown dignity... What we are doing is working with other members of the UN Security Council to give that very firm statement that we want this investigation.

"It needs to be immediate, it needs to be thorough and also crucially needs to be impartial."

02:52 PM

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson sets out DUP demands

The Government is expected to unveil new laws later this week which would give ministers the power to tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson suggested simply announcing such legislation would not be enough to assuage DUP concerns and that the party would only back down once the laws are on the statute book.

That means there could potentially be a long wait for a new Executive to be formed.

He said: “The tabling of legislation is words. What I need is decisive action and that means I want to see the Government enacting legislation that will bring the solution that we need.

“But let’s see what the Government are prepared to do, I haven’t seen that yet, I want to see it and I am hoping that the Government are going to do the right thing and help restore a consensus in Northern Ireland to address the very genuine and real problems that have been created by the Northern Ireland Protocol. It is actions that I will judge these things on, not just words.”

02:44 PM

'I want to see what the Government have to propose'

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the DUP, said he is yet to see any UK Government plans on unilaterally overriding parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He said he will "suspend judgement" until he has seen the proposals which are expected to be unveiled at some point this week.

He said: “I want to see what the Government have to propose. I welcome the Prime Minister being here today and the opportunity to speak to him. We have waited a long time for this moment.”

02:40 PM

DUP: 'We now need to see the action'

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, has just answered media questions after his meeting with Boris Johnson at Hillsborough Castle.

Sir Jeffrey said: "We want a fully functioning Executive, we want that to happen as soon as possible and therefore we are looking now to the Government.

“We have had the words, we now need to see the action.”

02:30 PM

Sinn Fein: Meeting with PM was 'tough'

Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Fein, described the party's meeting with Boris Johnson this afternoon as "tough".

She said: "It was a lively meeting. Tough I think is the word. We are not here to beat around the bush or to try and sugarcoat anything. This is a very serious situation.”

02:27 PM

Sinn Fein accuses UK of 'game of brinkmanship' with EU

Sinn Fein this afternoon accused Boris Johnson of "playing a game of brinkmanship" with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Mary Lou McDonald, the party's President, said: “We have not given up on powersharing or the Executive. Far from it. Powersharing is the only game in town. Working together is the only option. There is no plan B."

She added: “The unfortunate thing is that the British Government now is playing a game of brinkmanship with the European institutions, indulging a section of political unionism which believes that it can hold a veto and frustrate and hold society to ransom. That is what needs to change.”

02:17 PM

'We did not manage to convince him of the error of his ways'

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald suggested that the standoff over the formation of the new Northern Ireland Executive would not be acceptable in any other part of the UK.

She said: "It is not acceptable in the north of Ireland and I dare say it would not be acceptable anywhere else in England.

"In Boris Johnson’s own backyard, would he deem it acceptable for one minute to say to struggling families and workers ‘struggle on while we hold a veto on the government that can deliver for you'?

“It is not acceptable there, it is not acceptable here. We have made that very clear to him. We did not manage to convince him of the error of his ways. But be very, very clear that we will persist on these matters.”

02:15 PM

Sinn Fein accuses PM of 'obstructionist tactics'

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has just been speaking to the media after her meeting with Boris Johnson at Hillsborough Castle.

Ms McDonald accused the Prime Minister of engaging in "very unacceptable obstructionist tactics" as she called for the Northern Ireland Executive to be formed as soon as possible.

She said: "There is an established mechanism through the joint committee to deal with those elements of the protocol that need to be smoothed out, finessed and altered.

“The Prime Minister is aware of that. The government in Dublin is aware of that. The European institutions are aware of that.

"And yet here we find ourselves in a situation where the British Prime Minister is quite willing to act in coordination with the DUP, with very, very unacceptable obstructionist tactics.”

02:03 PM

Labour criticises Government's new aid strategy

Labour said the Government's new International Development Strategy (see the post below at 11.16) amounts to "aid for trade" which "simply doesn't work".

Preet Kaur Gill, shadow international development minister, said voters want the aid budget "to help those most in need around the world, not horse-traded for favours to big British corporations".

She added: "Where once we led, this strategy risks relegating Britain to a secondary role in the international order."

01:52 PM

Sinn Fein delegation arrives for talks with PM

Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein President, has accused the UK Government of "very cynical antics" as she arrived for talks with Boris Johnson at Hillsborough Castle this afternoon.

Speaking to the media as she arrived at the venue, Ms McDonald said her party's delegation intended to tell Mr Johnson that the Stormont Executive must be set up as soon as possible.

She said: "People have had it now with the choreography between No 10 and the DUP. People have voted for real change and that’s what people are going to get.”

01:46 PM

Oxfam accuses Government of shift to 'aid for trade'

The charity Oxfam has described the Government's new International Development Strategy (see the post below at 11.16) as the "latest body blow to the UK’s position as a global leader in tackling poverty".

Sam Nadel, Oxfam's head of government relations, accused ministers of prioritising "aid for trade".

He said: "While there are some welcome words on the importance of addressing the climate emergency and supporting women and girls, when push comes to shove, this strategy prioritises aid for trade and the financialisation of development."

He said the Government is "putting geopolitics above poverty".

01:39 PM

Lib Dems respond to Government's new aid strategy

The Foreign Office today published its new International Development Strategy, setting out how the UK will spend its aid funding in the years ahead (see the post below at 11.16).

The Liberal Democrats have criticised the announcement, accusing the Government of failing to mention the fact that aid spending has been significantly reduced in recent years because of the decision to temporarily downgrade a target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income to 0.5 per cent.

Layla Moran, the party's foreign affairs spokeswoman, said: “The Conservative Government is trying to run and hide from the devastating impact of their aid cuts. The callous decision to slash aid spending is so scarcely mentioned in the Strategy it’s like they’re pretending it doesn’t exist."

She added: “The Conservatives’ true strategy on international development is demonstrated by their actions, not their words."

01:26 PM

Boris Johnson booed in Northern Ireland

Boris Johnson's talks with Northern Ireland political leaders this afternoon are taking place at Hillsborough Castle, which is south west of Belfast.

Mr Johnson has now arrived at the venue and he was reportedly booed and jeered by approximately 200 protesters when he went through the gates.

Some held banners which read "Back off Boris. Protect The Protocol”.

01:21 PM

Pictured: Michelle O'Neill speaks to the media

Michelle O'Neill, the Vice President of Sinn Fein, held talks with Micheal Martin, the Irish Taoiseach, in Dublin this morning.

She is pictured after leaving government buildings. She is due to meet Boris Johnson for talks near Belfast this afternoon.

12:40 PM

Sir Keir Starmer: 'I have put everything on the line'

Sir Keir Starmer told ITV's Loose Women programme that he had "put everything on the line" by promising to resign as Labour leader if he is fined over "beergate".

He said: “I think the big difference is I have been very clear I haven’t broken the rules but equally I have said that if the police do issue me with a fixed penalty notice I will do the right thing and I will step down.

“So I have put everything on the line because I think that is the right thing to do. That is the complete opposite of the Prime Minister.”

12:26 PM

No 10 slaps down Liverpool boss

Downing Street has slapped down Jurgen Klopp for suggesting Liverpool fans had a reason to boo the national anthem during the FA Cup Final.

Klopp defended the club's supporters as "wonderful people" after MPs criticised a section of spectators who also appeared to jeer the Duke of Cambridge ahead of kick-off at Wembley. "I know our people wouldn't do it unless there's a reason for it," the manager said of the national anthem booing on Monday.

Immediately afterwards, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman was asked whether Klopp was right to say Liverpool fans would have had a reason to boo the national anthem. "No," the spokesman replied, before adding it was a "great shame" given the FA Cup was meant to "bring people together".

You can read the full story here.

12:21 PM

No 10 'fully committed' to independence of Bank of England

Anonymous Cabinet ministers recently criticised the Bank of England's record on forecasting inflation (see the post below at 09.55).

Downing Street was asked at lunchtime if it believed the Bank has been doing a good job of controlling price rises given that inflation is predicted to hit 10 per cent by the end of the year - significantly above the Bank's target of two per cent.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: “The Bank of England has independence over monetary policy, it is not for the Government to comment on the conduct or effectiveness of its monetary policy.

“We are fully committed to its independence and to the two per cent inflation target but we also recognise that inflation will sometimes deviate from that target as a result of global shocks and disturbances.”

12:04 PM

No 10 defends minister over 'better paid jobs' remark

Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, suggested this morning that the answer to cost of living pressures is for people to find a better paid job or to work more hours (see the post below at 08.47).

Downing Street defended her remarks, telling reporters: “I think the minister was clear in what she said, that people’s individual circumstances will vary. That’s why we have a range of measures available to people.”

Asked if Boris Johnson agreed with the idea that people should work more if they can, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: "I think you are seeking to twist the words unhelpfully there. People’s individual circumstances will vary. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.”

11:45 AM

Downing Street insists Brexit plans will not break law

No 10 has insisted any proposals it brings forward to unilaterally make changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol would be consistent with international law.

The EU has warned that acting unilaterally could break international law but the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: "Obviously we always do what is right for the UK within the rule of law.”

11:40 AM

No 10: UK does not want trade war with EU

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman was asked if it would make sense, given the cost of living crisis, for the UK Government to risk starting a trade war with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The spokesman said: "That is obviously not something that we want… we believe our approach is about protecting peace and democracy.

“We know that in fact some of the measures we are seeking to introduce on things like cost of living are hindered for people in Northern Ireland because of the way the protocol is enforced currently.”

11:34 AM

Downing Street rejects claim of 'choreography' with DUP

Sinn Fein has accused the UK Government of "choreography" with the DUP over the latest Stormont crisis (see the post below at 11.33).

But Downing Street rejected the accusation at lunchtime as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman answered questions from journalists.

The spokesman said: "Obviously we wouldn’t agree with that. This is not about working with any one party. This is about respecting peace and democracy.”

10:43 AM

DUP: 'Words don't cut it'

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the DUP, said he wants to see action, not just words, on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“Words don’t cut it for me, I need action and that’s how I will judge what the Prime Minister does, not necessarily what he says,” he told the BBC.

“I want his words translated into clear action. I will judge what the Government does and I will look at the credibility of what that is and the impact it has in terms of removing that Irish Sea border."

He added: "If the Government takes decisive action, then, of course, we will consider what steps we can take.”

10:40 AM

UK risks 'full on collision' with EU over Brexit border rules

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has claimed unilateral action by the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol would break international law and risks a "full on collision" with the EU.

She told the BBC: "The issues around the protocol, he [Boris Johnson] knows full well, have an avenue for resolution, there is a joint committee, that’s where matters of concern are aired, assessed and addressed, and it is very, very foolish of him, and reckless of him to pursue again the threat of unilateral action, to break international law and create a full on collision with the European institutions, with the government in Dublin and with the US administration.

“The only thing that that brings is uncertainty and tension, and real difficulties for families, for communities and for the economy."

10:33 AM

Sinn Fein: We don't need a 'pep talk' from the PM

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has accused the UK Government of "choreography" with the DUP over the latest crisis at Stormont.

“We’ll be telling him [Boris Johnson] directly that the hold-up in the establishment of the Executive and the Assembly is unacceptable,” she told the BBC.

“Boris Johnson should know that the other parties, the vast, vast majority of us, don’t need a pep talk about getting back to work or getting back to business in government. It is in fact the DUP that is holding everyone else to ransom and that’s deeply unacceptable.

“We’ll also put it to Boris Johnson that there has been choreography between Downing Street and the DUP in this play of events. We believe strongly that the Prime Minister has given cover to Jeffrey Donaldson and his party and their antics of holding everything back, and we’ll be saying to him very clearly that that needs to stop.

“There is no reason why the Executive and the Assembly cannot and should not meet and should be working, and working hard on behalf of the people.”

10:28 AM

Sinn Fein warns against UK action on NI Protocol

Michelle O'Neill, Vice President of Sinn Fein, said unilateral action by the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol would "represent an appalling attack on the international rule of law”.

She told The Irish Times: “Only through joint agreement with the EU can solutions to problems or concerns be resolved.

“I will be telling Boris Johnson that unilateral action deepens political instability and economic uncertainty and must not happen.”

10:24 AM

Simon Coveney warns of legal challenges over UK's Brexit plans

Simon Coveney, Ireland's foreign affairs minister, has warned unilateral action on the Northern Ireland Protocol could result in "legal challenges" and even put the overall Brexit trade deal in jeopardy.

He told reporters in Brussels: “This is a time for calmness, it’s a time for dialogue, it’s a time for compromise and partnership between the EU and the UK to solve these outstanding issues.

“If that is the approach taken by the British Government then we can make significant progress and we can make progress quickly to respond to the concerns of both the business community and the unionist community in Northern Ireland.

“That alternative is unilateral action which means tension, rancour, stand-offs, legal challenges and of course calls into question the functioning of the TCA [Trade and Cooperation Agreement] itself, because the TCA and the Withdrawal Agreement are interlinked, they rely on each other."

10:18 AM

Senior Labour MP criticises aid strategy

Sarah Champion, the Labour chairman of the International Development Select Committee, has criticised the Government's new aid strategy (see the post below at 11.16).

Ms Champion said: "This scant document is little more than a rehash of existing slogans when what the aid sector needs is vision.

“The Foreign Secretary's strategy has two main thrusts. It advocates aid for trade - linking the provision of aid to access for UK goods and services. And it says more of our money should go on direct government-to-government spending rather than spending through international bodies such as the United Nations.

“I fear that adds up to a double whammy against the global poor."

10:16 AM

Foreign Office launches its new International Aid Strategy

The Foreign Office this morning launched its new International Development Strategy - a blueprint for how the UK will spend its aid cash in the coming years.

One of the key changes is a much greater focus on bilateral aid programmes, with the UK planning to reduce the amount it hands out via major international organisations.

The Foreign Office intends to spend 75 per cent of its aid budget bilaterally by 2025. It argues this will enable the UK to have much greater control over how money is spent.

The strategy also includes a vow to cut red tape to make the application process faster.

10:01 AM

PM must 'summon degree of statecraft we have not seen from him to date'

Peter Kyle, Labour's shadow Northern Ireland secretary, warned that while tearing up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol could win support from the DUP it could also alienate Sinn Fein.

He told Sky News: “What the Prime Minister needs to do as he goes to Northern Ireland today simply to parade his failure of recent years, what he needs to do is sit down and summon the kind of degree of statecraft we have not seen from him to date in order to find a way through that can take both communities with him.

“It won’t be easy, I’m afraid, but it can be done if the Prime Minister applies diligence, statecraft and graft.”

09:58 AM

Labour: Government's Brexit plan could harm trust in UK

Peter Kyle, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said if the UK takes unilateral action to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol it could negatively impact trade negotiations with other countries like the US and India.

He told Sky News: “There are lots of problems with the approach the Government is taking. Firstly we are in this mess because of the protocol that the Government designed itself and then introduced into the negotiations and signed into international treaty.

“But now it is an international treaty, it is domestic law and international law, if the Government unilaterally rip it up then our negotiating partners, not just with the EU… all of them are going to say ‘can we trust the UK?’.”

09:37 AM

Labour claims Tories are 'out of touch' on cost of living

Labour has now responded to the suggestion from Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, that people could protect themselves from cost of living pressures by finding a "better paid job" (see the post below at 08.47).

Tulip Siddiq, the shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, said: "This Tory government could not be more out of touch or out of ideas. As energy bills rise by record amounts for millions of families, comments like this are ridiculous - as is the Prime Minister's refusal to back a windfall tax on oil and gas producer profits that could tackle the cost of living crisis.

“Tomorrow, Labour will give this Conservative government another chance to support our windfall tax. Britain needs a government that is on working people’s side. Only Labour can tackle the cost of living crisis and deliver the stronger economy we need.”

09:20 AM

Senior Tory MP insists Bank of England must remain independent

Mel Stride, the senior Tory MP, was asked if he believed the Bank of England's recent failures on accurately forecasting inflation had put its independence in jeopardy.

The chairman of the Treasury Select Committee told the BBC: “I certainly hope not because one of the really good moves in the last 25 years has been that the Bank has been independent so it is not politicians who are setting interest rates, not politicians that are setting those rates in line with the political cycle, trying to stoke up the economy ready for a general election.

“We do need an independent central bank.”

09:10 AM

'We are now in the foothills of a wage price spiral'

Mel Stride, the Tory chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, has criticised the Bank of England for failing to see that the UK labour market was becoming "overheated".

He told the BBC: “The area where you can really criticise the Bank… is around what has happened in the labour market which has become very overheated and I think we are now in the foothills of a wage price spiral with wages chasing higher prices, leading to higher wages in turn.

“There I think the Bank of England and the Monetary Policy Committee have been rather slow off the mark and I think that is going to lead to a requirement for a more aggressive monetary policy going forward than would otherwise have been the case had we nipped that in the bud.”

08:55 AM

Mel Stride: 'Not a good look' for Bank of England to get inflation forecasts wrong

Cabinet ministers recently turned on the Bank of England over rising inflation, with one warning that the Bank had been failing to "get things right" and another suggesting that it had failed a "big test" (you can read the full story here).

Mel Stride, the Tory chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, was asked this morning during an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme if he agreed the bank had failed on inflation.

He said: “Undoubtedly if you look at the headline figures, having a target of two per cent and moving up to be on 10 per cent this autumn as is forecast is not a good look.

“But I think it is fair to say that we are not unique in that position. There are a number of countries around the world, the US and Spain in the Eurozone, for example, have worse inflation than we do at the moment.”

08:42 AM

Senior Tory MP: There is a case for looking at windfall tax

Mel Stride, the Tory chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, made a significant intervention this morning as he said he believes there is now a "case" for looking at imposing a one-off windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help tackle the cost of living crisis.

Labour and the Lib Dems have repeatedly called for the tax but there is now a trickle of Tories who are pushing for the move. The Government has not ruled out the tax in the future but stressed it is against doing it now, with Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, saying yesterday that the policy is a "bad idea".

Mr Stride told the BBC: “I think you have to take a balanced view of all these things. Kwasi is absolutely right that in principle putting up taxes unannounced, effectively retrospectively just puts a large sign up that says ‘not a good place to invest’ and we don’t want to do that.

“At the same time we are in extraordinary circumstances. The supernormal profits that these companies have made are vast and I personally think there is a case now for looking at a one-off windfall tax and channelling that money in towards those who are really struggling and are bearing the brunt of these cost of living challenges.”

08:19 AM

'This shows just how out of touch they truly are'

The Liberal Democrats have accused Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, of "blaming people for not earning enough" after she suggested one way to alleviate cost of living pressures is for people to move to a "better paid job" (see the post below at 08.47).

Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dems' work and pensions spokeswoman, said: "So the Conservatives' answer to the cost of living emergency is that people should just earn more? This shows just how out of touch they truly are.

“Millions of families have had to make huge cutbacks and taken on extra work in order to weather the cost of living crisis. They simply cannot do any more.

"Instead of blaming people for not earning enough, ministers should take real action to help families and pensioners now - by slashing VAT to give people £600 back in their pockets and putting a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to bring energy bills down."

08:15 AM

Julian Smith on Northern Ireland Protocol: 'We need a fudge'

Julian Smith, the Tory former Northern Ireland secretary, said the UK and the EU should lock their negotiators in a room in order to negotiate a "fudge" to fix problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Cautioning against unilateral action, he told the BBC: “I think there is a landing zone where east/west checks are more or less removed, where the regulatory divergence, the challenges that come of UK goods and EU goods in the same Northern Ireland market that there can be fudges there.

“I think we do need the EU and UK negotiators to spend some positive time in a locked room and come up with a deal. We need a political deal, we need a fudge.”

08:04 AM

Senior Tory MP: EU needs to 'go the extra mile'

Julian Smith, a senior Tory MP and the former Northern Ireland secretary, said the EU needs to "go the extra mile" and be more flexible in talks with the UK if a compromise deal on post-Brexit border checks is to be found.

He told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that many unionists want to see "significant change" made to the protocol.

He said: ​“We need that to be done in a negotiated way, we need the EU to go the extra mile, they didn’t do that when I was government chief whip and we were looking for flexibilities under the Theresa May deal and we now need them to be flexible.

“But we also need our government, I think, to focus on negotiation.”

07:55 AM

'It may be right for some people'

Home Office minister Rachel Maclean admitted working more hours is not suitable advice for someone who is already "working in three jobs" as she clarified her comments on the cost of living crisis (see the post below at 08.47).

She said: "It may be right for some people, they may be able to access additional hours but of course it is not going to work for people who are already working in three jobs.

"That is why we need to have the other measures in place such as all the help we are putting into the schools, the help that the local authorities, help and support that I have already measured, and these are where we are going to target the help where it is most needed."

07:50 AM

Minister grilled over 'better paid job' remark

Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, was told that some people are already working "every hour that God sends them" but they are still reliant on food banks as she was asked about her "better paid job" comments (see the post below at 08.47).

Told that it is not as straightforward as simply working more for many people, Ms Maclean told Sky News: "I am not suggesting that for one moment, but we have often heard in the past when people are facing problems with their budgets that one of the obstacles, and it may not be for everybody, is about being able to take on more hours or even move to a better paid job.

"But of course it is an individual situation depending on that particular family's situation but that is why the Job Centres exist, that's why the work coaches exist, that's why we put the support into those job centres to work with individuals their own individual situation."

07:47 AM

People should get a 'better paid job' to cope with cost of living crisis

Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, has suggested that in the long term the answer to cost of living pressures is for people to find a better paid job or to work more hours.

She told Sky News: "I think what we need to focus on now is over the long term, we have got these short term pressures that we are all aware of and that your families in Wigan are seeing, but over the long term we need to have a plan to grow the economy and make sure that people are able to protect themselves better, whether that is by taking on more hours or moving to a better paid job.

"These are long term actions but that is what we are focused on as a government."

07:36 AM

'Hopefully we see some movement from the EU'

While the UK Government has now stated plainly it is preparing to act unilaterally on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Boris Johnson has also stressed he is open to "genuine dialogue" continuing with the EU in the hope of agreeing a negotiated settlement.

Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, said the UK is still hoping to "see some movement" from Brussels.

She told Sky News: “All of the parties in the recent elections have called for changes to be made to the protocol, everyone acknowledges that it is not working, so that is why it is really important that we see, hopefully we see some movement from the EU, but the Prime Minister has been clear that nothing is off the table.”

07:33 AM

Minister insists UK will not break international law

Boris Johnson is expected this week to approve a law which would enable the UK Government to unilaterally scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol (you can read the full story here).

The prospect of the Government acting on its own is likely to reignite warnings from the EU that the UK could end up in breach of international law if it goes ahead with overriding parts of the Brexit deal it struck with Brussels.

Rachel Maclean, a Home Office minister, insisted this morning that the UK will not break the law, telling Sky News: “Of course there are always going to be measures that have to be negotiated and I think that is the point of a negotiation with our European partners.

“This has been going on at pace with officials, with our interlocutors on the European side and as far as the subsequent actions that are going to be taken, a lot of it is speculation.

“But of course the UK is a country that always lives up to its international legal obligations and we will continue to do that.”

07:28 AM

Good morning

Good morning and welcome to today's politics live blog.

Boris Johnson is heading to Northern Ireland for crunch talks with Stormont political leaders as he tries to plot a path to getting the powersharing Executive up and running.

The standoff over the Northern Ireland Protocol will dominate discussions after the Government announced it intends to act unilaterally to suspend some post-Brexit border checks if the EU continues to refuse to budge on making changes.

It could be a day of high drama and I will guide you through the key developments.