Amid the rising scrutiny over the Government’s handling of the crisis, Mr Barnier indicated to EU diplomats Mr Johnson was using the Internal Markets Bill to shift the focus away from the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Barnier met with officials from eight Eastern Europe countries on Monday night. The EU negotiator also told diplomats in the meeting, he believed the UK is ready for a no deal scenario. According to Politico, he also claimed a deal could still be possible. This comes as Mr Johnson is set to reach a compromise over his Brexit plans. The Prime Minister met with Tory rebels to discuss a way to proceed before the first vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday.
Although the bill has come under increased scrutiny, the legislation was passed 340 to 263 in its first reading in the Commons.
The legislation is designed to enable the trade of goods between the devolved nations.
It also provides the Government with the ability to change parts of the withdrawal agreement which the Prime Minister agreed in October.
The legislation has also caused shockwaves in the US, with Washington warning any future deal may now be at risk.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has previously stated any risk to the peace process in Northern Ireland would hinder the chances of a US-UK trade deal.
Four Congressman wrote: “Many in the United States and in Congress consider the issues of the Good Friday Agreement and a potential US-UK Free Trade Agreement inextricably linked.
“With the issues raised in this letter in mind, we therefore urge you to abandon any and all legally questionable and unfair efforts to flout the Northern Ireland protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement and look to ensure that Brexit negotiations do not undermine the decades of progress to bring peace to Northern Ireland and future options for the bilateral relationship between our two countries.”
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8.30am update: UK moves to avoid fisheries deadlock
UK officials offered concessions on fisheries in Brexit talks with the EU last week.
A source told Reuters, offered a “modest” move on the aspect of fisheries.
The issue remains one of the area of divergence and has so far stalled any chance of free trade agreement.
The source added: “The UK definitely seems to be coming around on this, they seem to be moving cautiously towards some opening on fisheries in the technical talks.”
8.03am update: Boris Johnson ordered to exploit “huge leverage” on EU to secure deal
Despite the uproar over Brexit, the UK still has leverage over the EU in order to push through a Brexit deal.
Former Brexit Party MEP candidate Mitch Feierstein told RT UK: “The EU is playing a lot of games but the EU, if you look at what’s going on with Germany’s GDP, you look at what’s going on with the profligate Southern Europeans and all their debt.
“They need all the growth they can possibly muster.
“They need to do trade with the UK. That’s a huge amount of leverage nobody is talking about.”
7.46am update: Coronavirus test centre shuts for post-Brexit lorry park
A testing centre in Ebbsfleet was closed this month to make way for a post-Brexit lorry park.
A leaked letter from Kent County Council said: “We have been notified that the Ebbsfleet testing centre has closed, as the site is required by HMRC for EU Exit.”
According to KentOnline, this new park will be used for custom checks.
A Government spokesman said: “Regional testing sites were set up at great speed and selected for their immediate availability, security and access.
“The regional testing site at Ebbsfleet has ceased operations and a new regional testing site is operating at Curtis Way, Rochester. The relocation will allow the network to continue operating as long as needed.”
7.25am update: Michel Barnier launches attack on the UK
The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier has claimed the uproar over Brexit is merely a tactic to shift the focus away from the Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Politico, the EU negotiator told diplomats from eight Eastern European countries the Internal Market Bill, has been used as a provocation.
He did also claim the ploy could also be an indication the UK is ready to push forward with a no deal Brexit.
