Brexit news live: Ministers in ‘ferocious row’ over Australia trade deal

The variant first detected in India will be the dominant variant in the UK “in the next few days”, a leading scientist has warned.

After 2,323 cases of the Indian variant had been identified across the country, microbiologist Paul Hunter told the Guardian: “There is no evidence that the recent rapid rise in cases of the B.1.617.2 variant shows any signs in slowing. This variant will overtake [the Kent variant] and become the dominant variant in the UK in the next few days, if it hasn’t already done so.”

His warning comes amid concerns that the spread of the variant will jeopardise the UK’s route out of lockdown.

My colleague Shweta Sharma has the story:

British holidaymakers can head abroad to countries on the UK’s amber list “to visit family or friends”, a minister has said.E

Environment secretary George Eustice’s comment sowed further confusion about the new travel rules, as Matt Hancock said recently that people should not travel to these countries unless they have a “compelling reason”.

The amber list is for those who “feel they need to travel either to visit family or friends”, Mr Eustice said.

Rob Merrick has the details:

Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis has met with the newly elected DUP leader Edwin Poots in Belfast.

The meeting at Stormont House was also attended by Ian Paisley, the North Antrim MP.

The encounter comes four days after Mr Poots, a creationist who believes the world is only 6,000 yearss old, was elected party leader, following Arlene Foster’s decision to step down.

His appointment comes at a crucial time for the territory, amid ongoing discontent at the economic barriers caused by Brexit.

Environment secretary George Eustice has refused to comment on an alleged row between him and his ministerial colleagues over a potential trade deal with Australia.

Mr Eustice and Michael Gove are worried by the implications of giving Australian farmers tariff-free access to the UK market, according to the Financial Times, while the international trade secretary Liz Truss is reportedly in favour of the move.

The minister said: “I’m not going to get into discussions that are going on in Government about individual trade agreements.”

“At the moment there’s a very clear consensus in government that we want to do a trade agreement with countries like Australia, but obviously on the right terms,” he added.

Dominic Cummings has said the government’s border system is a “joke”, after it delayed halting travel from India to stem the spread of a variant of concern.

Labour similarly criticised the government for its “catastrophic misstep”, with shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth calling the border “about as secure as a sieve”.

For those who missed it, Keir Starmer addressed Labour MPs yesterday for the first time since his party’s bruising Hartlepool by-election defeat.

He said that Labour should “face outwards and not inwards” and needed to modernise to cut through to voters.

Local lockdowns are an option amid concerns about the spread of the Indian variant, a minister has admitted.

Asked by Sky News about the possibility of regional lockdowns being implemented, George Eustice, the environment secretary, said: “That would be an option — we cannot rule anything out at this stage.”

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the details:

In today’s politics newsletter, Adam Forrest examines David Frost’s latest comments on Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol.

The Brexit minister has his detractors, including Prof Michael Dougan, professor of European Law at Liverpool University, who tweeted: “It’s clear from his latest propaganda statements on the protocol that David Frost either totally failed to grasp the details & significance of the deal he supposedly negotiated – or now follows his master’s cue in lying about them.”

The UK economy will more closer resemble Italy’s than Germany’s if it does not take decisive action this decade, a think tank has warned.

The Resolution Foundation (RF) said Britain must address the “seismic economic shifts” caused by Brexit, the pandemic and the transition to net emissions.

Without a new strategy, the RF suggested the UK would fall behind its competitors.

Sir Clive Cowdrey, the think tank’s founder, said: “The UK’s recent record of weak productivity, stagnant living standards and high inequality makes a new economic approach desirable. What makes a new approach essential is the scale of coming change.

“The UK now faces a decisive decade as the aftermath of Covid-19, Brexit and the Net Zero transition come together with major shifts in technology and demography.

“This matters for far more than economics. Failing to rise to this challenge risks leaving the nation diminished and divided.”

The prime minister’s former chief Brexit negotiator has warned the EU of “turbulence” in Northern Ireland this summer if the protocol crisis is not resolved.

Speaking to the Commons European Scrutiny Committee on Monday, David Frost said: “We all know that late spring and summer in Northern Ireland can sometimes be turbulent and some days are significant in that. We have to take that reality into account.

“We have a responsibility to try and avoid further deterioration and difficulties in the situation – and that obviously is a possibility as we go into the spring and summer.”

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports: