UK coronavirus live: Starmer accuses Johnson of incompetence over shortage of testing

Labour leader says PM is undermining trust in test and trace system; Nicola Sturgeon says cases in Scotland tripled in three weeksStarmer accuses government of lack of competence over testing Gatherings of more than six people banned in EnglandWhat are you allowed to do in England from MondayOxford vaccine trial on hold after participant has adverse reactionGlobal coronavirus updates – live 2.57pm BST One of the criticisms of Boris Johnson over his internal market bill is that effectively involves seeking to redraft a treaty, the withdrawal agreement, that he signed in January. If the agreement was flawed, why did he accept it at the time?At the Downing Street lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman answered this by claiming that the deal was agreed in a hurry, on the assumption it would be clarified later. He said:The withdrawal agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol aren’t like any other treaty.It was agreed at pace in the most challenging possible political circumstances to deliver on a clear political decision by the British people with the clear overriding purpose of protecting the special circumstances of Northern Ireland.In the General Election it was, according to the PM ‘oven ready’ – now, when they want to jettison it in breach of international law, it was ‘signed in a rush’. What a bunch of incompetent and unscrupulous chancers – and they are trashing the UK’s international reputation https://t.co/xrxVxUI764 2.46pm BST The European Commission has called for urgent talks with Britain following the publication of the government’s plans to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. (See 2.03pm.)As PA Media reports, speaking at a news conference in Brussels, the commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said he was seeking an urgent meeting of the joint EU-UK committee on the Brexit withdrawal agreement to enable the British to “elaborate” on their plans.I expressed our strong concerns and sought assurances that the UK will fully and timely comply with the withdrawal agreement, including the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.The withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation and we expect the letter and the spirit of the withdrawal agreement will be fully respected. I think on that we have to be very, very clear. Continue reading…
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