Politics

Speaking out after reports that ministers are looking to torpedo trade talks with Brussels by reneging on the Withdrawal Agreement, Lammy - an avowedly pro-EU politician - said that those supporting the move were not "patriots".

The UK’s minimum pay rate was expected to rise from £8.72 to £9.21 per hour in April 2021 - but ministers are reportedly considering slamming the “emergency brake” on the plans.

“This increase, combined with the ongoing testing fiasco where ill people are told to drive for miles for tests, and the poor performance of the contact tracing system, needs an explanation from ministers."

“The outcome of negotiations between the UK and the EU on these issues remains uncertain."

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the move would constitute a repudiation by the Government of a treaty “freely negotiated by it” and which was described as “oven ready” by Mr Johnson.

A bombshell report in the Financial Times said the Prime Minister is planning new legislation that would override key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement – the treaty that sealed Britain’s exit from the EU in January.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, was praising the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme when he replied to a comment, saying: “Where they can, it’s a parents’ job to feed their children.”

In a bullish interview with the Mail on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Europe sherpa said the UK was preparing to leave the transition period “come what may” – even if that meant exiting with no deal, which officials have dubbed a so-called “Australian-style” arrangement.

The country’s shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said Mr Abbott’s knowledge of the ruling Liberal party and Australian government dealings could present an issue in trade discussions.