Katy Balls Katy Balls

Five things we learnt from Boris’s liaison committee grilling

As the government comes under fire over its Brexit tactics, testing capacity and coronavirus guidelines, Boris Johnson was this afternoon summoned before the liaison committee to answer questions on all of the above. Although dialogue remained civil between the PM and the panel – made up of select committee chairs – there were signs that Johnson might prefer to be somewhere else, at one point rolling his eyes. Here are the five main takeaways from the session:

1. The EU is not negotiating in good faith

Earlier today, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis suggested the EU is negotiating with the UK in good faith. However, it seems the Prime Minister takes a different view. Asked by Labour’s Hilary Benn, Johnson replied: ‘I don’t believe they are.’ 

He did add a slight disclaimer by adding ‘perhaps they will prove my suspicions wrong’. As for the controversial Internal Market Bill, Johnson appeared to suggest it was critical to the UK’s negotiating position – saying it needed to stay until the issue has been resolved.

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