FRESH fears of UK border chaos have emerged after a key ‘haulier handbook’ guide advising firms on the new rules was delayed.

The guide was originally promised in early September – but now won’t be fully available until 7 December at the earliest – just three weeks before the new rules come into force.

In response to the latest delay, Logistics UK, which represents freights groups, warned time is running out to prevent “lorry queues at Dover and empty shelves in Northern Ireland”, when the Brexit transition period ends on December 31.

The news came after US President-Elect Joe Biden warned Boris Johnson that any post-Brexit trade deal with the US would be contingent on upholding the Good Friday Agreement.

The Prime Minister was among the first world leaders to receive a call from the incoming president and congratulated him on his US Election win.

But the Biden team’s read-out of the call detailed an exchange in which Boris “reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland”.

Follow our Brexit live blog for all the latest news and updates…

PM HAILS ‘REFRESHING’ CHAT WITH BIDEN

Boris Johnson has welcomed a “refreshing” conversation with Joe Biden as the Prime Minister labelled Donald Trump the “previous president” during PMQs today.

“It was refreshing, I may say, to have that conversation and I look forward to many more,” Mr Johnson told MPs.

He added: “I had and have a good relationship with the previous president, I do not resile from that – it is in the duty of all British prime ministers to have a good relationship with the White House.”
CANADA TRADE DEAL WILL BE ‘EASY’ FOR UK, SAYS TRUDEAU

Canada should be able to strike an “easy” trade agreement with Britain by the end of the year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today.

“I think we’re ready to have it done before January 1. One of the challenges is bandwidth,” he told an online conference hosted by the Financial Times.

“The UK hasn’t had to negotiate trade deals in the past few decades so there is an issue of not really having the bandwidth within government to move forward on this.”

But he added: “Canada is a really easy one – we’re there for it, we’d like to do it, so I’m very hopeful that it’s going to get done, but that is really up to the UK government.”
MEDICINE SUPPLY CHAINS TO CHANGE AFTER BREXIT

Medicine supply chains in Northern Ireland will change “significantly” after Brexit, MPs have been told.

Members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee heard evidence today from the pharmaceutical industry on the impact of Brexit on the supply of medical drugs.

At the moment, around 80% of drugs come into Northern Ireland via Great Britain, but in future they could be “shipped in directly from Europe”, MPs were warned.
WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES IN THE TALKS?

Negotiations between the UK and EU are in deadlock over two key issues – fishing and state aid.

One of the great promises of the Leave campaign was to deliver freedom for British fishermen, and the government is demanding that fish quotas reserved for UK vessels rise from 25 to 50 per cent.

But the EU wants access for its boasts, and says reaching a “fair deal” is vital – and that without a fishing agreement no access to the single market can be granted.

The bloc also has strict rules on state aid – the extent to which the state can subsidise private companies – which hamper the PM’s plans to “level up” the UK.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said it is key that Britain retains control over its rules on subsidies and competition.
‘TIME IS IN SHORT SUPPLY’

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has said that “time is in short supply” as the two sides continue to hammer out a deal ahead of the end of the transition period.

They told a Westminster briefing: “Time is in short supply and for our part we continue to work very hard to seek to bridge the gaps which remain between our two positions.”

We explore those differences in our next post.
SNP MP SAYS SCOTLAND ‘TRAPPED IN MARRIAGE’ WITH UK

An SNP MP has compared Scotland to a wife trapped in a marriage in a heated exchange in the Commons on the issue of a second independence referendum.

Dr Philippa Whitford, of Central Ayrshire, told Scotland secretary Alister Jack: “He (Mr Jack) seems to think the way to strengthen the Union is by forcing a hard Brexit on Scotland against our will, taking an axe to devolution with the Internal Market Bill, and denying any democratic choice on Scotland’s future until adults like me are dead.

“On that basis, does he think the best recipe for a happy marriage is to lock up the wife, take away her chequebook and just keep refusing a divorce?”

Responding, Scotland Secretary Alister Jack called on the SNP to respect the result of the 2014 referendum.
DEAL ‘UNLIKELY THIS WEEK’, SAYS IRELAND’S FOREIGN MINISTER

A Brexit deal is “unlikely this week” and talks will drag on, Ireland’s foreign minister has said.

Simon Coveney played down the prospect of a breakthrough in negotiations at an online event organised by the European Movement Ireland.

Mr Coveney said that the agreement of a trade deal in the coming weeks was “very difficult” but “doable.

According to the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier, the two sides are still yet to reach an agreement on the key issues of fishing and state aid.
MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO REINSTATE POWERS AS LORDS TO VOTE ON INTERNAL MARKET BILL

The House of Lords is expected to vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday, with the Government facing a potential defeat at the hands of peers outraged by its powers.

Environment secretary George Eustice, asked if the Government would reinstate them, told Sky News: “We Will.

“The UK Internal Market Bill is not about undermining the Belfast Agreement, it’s about standing behind it, making sure that it works and looking after the interests of Northern Ireland, making sure the peace and stability that’s been hard won there can carry on.”

Peers will vote on an amendment calling for the removal of measures that the Government has admitted would give it powers to break international law in a “very specific and limited way”.
PMQS KICKS OFF

Prime Minister’s Questions has kicked off – and there’s plenty of questions expected on Brexit as crucial talks with the EU continue.

Asked by Tory MP Laurence Robertson on the progress of Brexit, Boris says: “The landmark Immigration Bill receives royal assent today, paving the way for the fulfilling of our manifesto commitment to end free movement.”

He adds that this will be replaced with a points-based system, which he claims is one of the “benefits” of leaving the bloc.
‘HAULIER HANDBOOK’ DELAYED

A “haulier handbook” set to be used as guidance for transporting goods post-Brexit has been delayed for another month, The Independent reports.

The guide was promised in September, but will now not be available until December 7.

Logistics UK, which represents freights groups, told The Independent that the handbook was “intended to give clear, vital guidance to drivers of all relevant nationalities and hence minimise the length of queues at ports”.

Elizabeth de Jong, the director of policy at Logistics UK, wrote in a letter to Michael Gove: “This product must then be translated and circulated to thousands of hauliers across Europe so they can read and understand it, and prepare for 1 January 2021.”
CAMERON TAKES SWIPE AT MAJOR

Some interesting reaction to those comments from Sir John Major just in.

David Cameron took a swipe at the ex-PM following his claims that Brexit will be “brutal” – and warned him not to “underestimate” the UK.

Tory MPs lashed out at Sir John and branded him a “second rate PM” for claiming the UK will “never again” be seen as having a forceful presence on the global stage.

And today Mr Cameron joined in a thinly-veiled attack on the ex-premier, saying people should not underestimate the strength we have.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “Looking to the future, while we should never overestimate what Britain is today, we shouldn’t underestimate it.”
JOHN MAJOR CLAIMS BREXIT WILL BE ‘MORE BRUTAL THAN EXPECTED’

Former prime minister Sir John Major claims that Brexti could be “even more brutal than expected” – and accused the government of showing “inflexibility” in talks with Brussels.

He added that “threats” directed at the EU could make future trade “less profitable”.

Sir John has been an outspoken critic of Brexit since the referendum, and also warned ministers against using the Internal Market Bill to override obligations in the Withdrawal Agreement.
TALKS TO GO PAST MID-NOVEMBER DEADLINE

Talks between Britain and the EU over a trade deal are likely to miss their mid-November deadline, sources have told Reuters.

Ambassadors of the 27 EU member states in Brussels will not be updated on the talks at a regular meeting today and the issue is now pencilled in for their meeting on November 18, a senior diplomat of the bloc said.

“The real cut-off point is late next week,” said one EU diplomat who follows Brexit in EU hub Brussels.
VOTE LEAVE ALLY ‘TO GET KEY NO10 ROLE’

The PM is reportedly set to appoint his director of communications as chief of staff in Downing Street, according to The Times.

Lee Cain served under Dominic Cummings as part of the Vote Leave campaign in 2016, and later worked as press aide to Boris Johnson during his time in the Foreign Office.
FOOD SUPPLIERS WARN OF DISRUPTION IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Two food manufacturing firms and a major international distributer say that uncertainty regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol could cause supply shortages in Northern Ireland, ITV News reports.

Tate & Lyle Sugars, which publicly backed the Brexit campaign, warned customers that the company could struggle to deliver products in the New Year.

The firm, which supplies Tesco and Marks & Spencer among other supermarkets, has advised retailers to look at plans to source sugar and syrups elsewhere.
IRISH TAOISEACH INVITES BIDEN TO VISIT IRELAND IN ‘WARM CALL’

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin invited Joe Biden to visit Ireland during a “warm and engaging” call with the US President-elect.

Mr Martin also said that the president-elect “underlined his commitment” to the Good Friday Agreement during the call yesterday.

The Taoiseach tweeted: “He brings tremendous knowledge & understanding to his new role, and has a great love for his Irish heritage.

“He underlined his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement & we spoke of importance of multilateralism.”
BORIS ASSURES BIDEN THAT GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT WILL BE UPHELD

Boris Johnson assured Joe Biden that Brexit would be implemented in a manner that upholds the Good Friday Agreement, a source told the PA news agency.

It comes in an attempt to address the US president-elect’s concerns, after Mr Biden expressed his strong aversion to a hard border in Ireland, a country with which he has close ties.

The No 10 source said: “They talked about the importance of implementing Brexit in such a way that upholds the Good Friday Agreement, and the PM assured the president-elect that would be the case.”
BREXIT AND COVID HALT INTERNATIONAL TRADE FOR 1.5M UK SMES

Over 1.5 million UK SMEs have stopped trading internationally this year which could cost the UK £20 billion, due to the impacts of COVID-19 and uncertainty around Brexit.

New research released by British fintech Currensea reveals that of the 80% of British SMEs (4.72 million businesses) that trade internationally in any given year, 1.18 million have had to pause directly because of the global pandemic and a further 283,000 because of Brexit.

James Lynn, co-founder of Currensea, said: “It’s understandably a turbulent time for SMEs in the UK at the moment.

“Many businesses were concerned about Brexit and the impact it would have, and that was before coronavirus doubled down on uncertainty.”
LARGE DIFFERENCES REMAIN

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said some progress has been done on Brexit negotiations, but “large differences” remain.

We took stock of the negotiations with UK Prime Minister @BorisJohnson today. Some progress has been made,but large differences remain especially on level playing field and fisheries.Our teams will continue working hard next week. We will remain in close contact in the next days. pic.twitter.com/UVyyzKeUyW

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 7, 2020
GERMAN FISHERMEN FEAR BEING CUT FROM BRITAIN’S WATERS

German fishermen fear being cut from Britain’s waters after Brexit, it has been reported.

Claus Ubl, head of the German Fisheries Association, warned a no-deal Brexit could be disastrous for the industry, according to the Express.

Mr Ubl said: “It’s not looking good. Because if the British implement an unregulated Brexit, then the German ships will no longer be allowed in the British territorial waters.”
MICHAEL MARTIN SAYS BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS NEED ‘SENSIBLE OUTCOME’

Irish premier Micheal Martin said the Brexit trade negotiations need to “yield a sensible outcome” and that the last thing the UK and Irish economies need is a “second seismic shock” caused by a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Martin described such an outcome as a comprehensive free trade agreement without any tariffs or quotas that would limit the damage of Brexit on jobs and on the Irish, European and UK economies.

“Given the enormous negative impact that Covid-19 has had on our economy and on jobs the last thing that our respective economies need is a second seismic shock via a no-deal Brexit,” Mr Martin told the Irish parliament.

He added that he welcomed the decision taken in the House of Lords on Monday in relation to the Internal Markets Bill.
MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO REINSTATE POWERS AS LORDS TO VOTE ON INTERNAL MARKET BILL

The House of Lords is expected to vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday, with the Government facing a potential defeat at the hands of peers outraged by its powers.

Environment secretary George Eustice, asked if the Government would reinstate them, told Sky News: “We Will.

“The UK Internal Market Bill is not about undermining the Belfast Agreement, it’s about standing behind it, making sure that it works and looking after the interests of Northern Ireland, making sure the peace and stability that’s been hard won there can carry on.”

Peers will vote on an amendment calling for the removal of measures that the Government has admitted would give it powers to break international law in a “very specific and limited way”.
CONTROVERSIAL BREXIT LEGISLATION WILL NOT RETURN TO THE COMMONS FOR WEEKS

Controversial measures which tear up parts of the Brexit divorce agreement will not return to the Commons until the end of November at the earliest.

Peers, including dozens of senior Tories, voted on Monday night to strip controversial clauses from the UK Internal Market Bill.

That bill would enable ministers to set aside key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU, breaking an international treaty.

The Government has said that it still wants the measures, and MPs would be asked to put them back in the legislation.

But by delaying until the end of November, Boris Johnson will know whether progress has been made on a UK-EU trade deal which could take the heat out of the row with Brussels.
EUSTICE HITS OUT AT CRITICS ABOUT INTERNAL MARKET BILL

Environment Secretary George Eustice hit out at critics such as Mr Biden, who has Irish heritage, for claiming the Internal Market Bill threatens Northern Ireland’s peace.

He said: “It’s about protecting it and not undermining it.”

He suggested the critics do not know what they are talking about and said the plan is actually a “safety net”.
BIDEN DELIVERS BREXIT WARNING TO BORIS JOHNSON

US President-elect Joe Biden, has delivered a warning to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a post-election call, not to let Brexit destabilise the Northern Ireland peace process, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Johnson and Biden spoke about the importance of implementing Brexit in such a way that upholds the Good Friday Agreement, the newspaper reported, citing one British official.