Northern Ireland Protocol

Telegraph
The EU appears to have “moved significantly” with its offer of a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland that dramatically cuts border checks on British goods, Lord Frost said as he called for intensive talks with Brussels to begin.
Brussels said it had gone “far beyond tinkering at the edges” of the Northern Ireland Protocol and urged Britain to show “pragmatism” over its demands on the European Court of Justice, which the EU rejected.
Lord Frost wants to strip EU judges of their role in Northern Ireland. The province follows some single market rules to prevent a hard Irish border, and the UK has also called for a substantial overhaul of the protocol, which it says has had a chilling effect on trade.
Brussels warned that Northern Ireland would lose access to the single market if it did not accept the jurisdiction of the EU’s top court in Luxembourg, which has divided Tory MPs between those welcoming the offer and those demanding Lord Frost stand firm on the ECJ.

Several media cover this subject including the Mail, Sun, Guardian, City AM, Yahoo News, Huffington Post

Express
MAROS SEFCOVIC has laid out major changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol, originally agreed under the Brexit agreement, but has refused to budge on the involvement of the European Court of Justice.
European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic announced in a news conference on Wednesday Brussels’s decision to reform the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Sefcovic announced the EU will scrap up to 50 percent of customs checks on British goods entering Northern Ireland. He also announced an 80 percent reduction in checks and regulations for all retail goods travelling into Northern Ireland but has refused to budge on the involvement of the European Courts of Justice.
Jayne Adye, Director of grassroots, cross-Party campaign Get Britain Out comments on the speech from Maros Sefcovic: “Mr Sefcovic also slipped up in one specific area.
“Several times he referred to the United Kingdom as a so-called ‘third country’ – however, he then singled out Northern Ireland as a separate entity.
“As much as the EU may wish it to be so, this is not the case.
“Northern Ireland is part of the UK and this is not up for debate!”

The Times, Independent, and ITV News cover this aspect of the negotiations.

EU

Telegraph
Brussels has been accused of driving building businesses across Europe to the brink of insolvency after imposing a levy on imports of Russian timber.
The anti-dumping duty – which adds a charge of as much as 15pc to Russian wood – risks piling more pressure on companies already reeling from chronic supply shortages and battling a surge in inflation, according to a letter signed by more than 100 companies.
Officials imposed the anti-dumping tariff following an investigation into a surge in cheap Russian timber exports, amid fears producers from the country were flooding the European Union market and pricing out domestic rivals.
But building companies said on Wednesday that the decision robs them of a vital source of cheap timber.In a letter to the European Commission, the Birch Plywood Alliance, which represents importers and distributors of timber across 25 nations in the EU, said: “The imposition of anti-dumping measures is not in the [European] Union interest, in particular as they will exacerbate supply shortages, since Russia is the only viable solution for half of the EU’s demand, and disastrously affect EU importers and users in a context of skyrocketing prices.”

Illegal migrants

Times
Priti Patel wants to grant Border Force officers immunity from criminal prosecution if migrants die during new “turnback” operations in the Channel.
The home secretary has sanctioned the tactics under which Border Force jet skis will intercept small boats and redirect them back towards France.
The powers have prompted a significant backlash from opposition MPs, charities and immigration campaigners. France has said the tactics breach international law and that it will retaliate if they are used in the Channel.
It is an offence in UK law to violate international maritime legal obligations to rescue a person in distress at sea, with a maximum penalty of two years in jail.

Eco activists

Mail
More than a dozen Insulate Britain activists will finally face court action – and possible jail – within days, the Mail understands.
Just over a month after the first roadblocks brought chaos to the motorways, officials are set to ask judges to take action against the eco-zealots.
There has been increasing dismay among ministers about the slow pace of action at National Highways, previously known as Highways England, and with police who have made arrests only to release protesters hours later.
But final details are now being added to legal papers which could see Insulate Britain demonstrators taken out of action at last.
The number of activists being targeted is understood to be between 12 and 15. The group are part of the 113 people named in a National Highways junctions which they will be accused of breaching.
A government source said: ‘We’ve identified a considerable number of protesters who have breached at least one of the injunctions we have in place.

See also Breitbart.

Lorry drivers

Telegraph
The critical shortage of HGV drivers is set to get worse, with union members set to vote on further strike action at the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) warned on Wednesday night that the possible industrial action “could not come at a worse time” and would aggravate the driver shortage that has led to empty supermarket shelves and a fuel crisis.
The DVLA said any strike action would hold “millions of drivers to ransom”. The Government agency is currently working through a backlog of a reported 50,000 vocational driving licences stretching back more than two months.
But the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at the DVLA’s offices in Swansea will vote in the coming weeks on further industrial action over fears that 2,500 staff working in its offices are at risk of Covid.
DVLA staff working from home due to the pandemic – currently about 3,500 – are not allowed to handle driving licence applications or medical certificates needed to issue HGV licences.dvertisement : 14 sec
An RHA spokesman said: “As far as we are concerned, this action could not come at a worse time. We currently have a 100,000 driver shortage and clearing the 50,000 licence applications backlog would make a massive difference. If the strike goes ahead it will make an already bad situation much, much worse.”

iNews also has the story.

GPs

Telegraph
GP surgeries will be “named and shamed” if they fail to offer sufficient face-to-face appointments as part of a major NHS drive to improve access for patients.
On Thursday, the Government will unveil a blueprint for doctors that includes an extra £250 million for general practices to increase capacity over the winter.
Practices will be told they must “respect preferences” for face-to-face care and should consider using the cash to extend opening hours and offer walk-in consultations to allow more patients to see a GP in person. Those failing to offer sufficient in-person appointments will be denied access to the fund.
The measures, to be announced by Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, also include a review of social distancing at GP surgeries – rules said to be hampering patients’ ability to see a doctor in person.
Announcing the scheme, Mr Javid will say he is “determined to ensure patients can see their GP Ain the way they want, no matter where they live”. He will add: “This will tackle underperformance, taking pressure off staff so they can spend more time with patients and increase the number of face-to-face appointments.”

See further details in the Mail, Times, Guardian, BBC News, Sky News.

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