Brexit isn’t over, ‘Frost’s position shows’ – follow live

Labour’s Ed Miliband has called for the government to “clarify the mandate” for its new scientific research agency, which is expected to be modelled on the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) in the US.

The shadow business secretary said: “Labour has long called for investment in high ambition science.

“But government must clarify the mandate and mission of the new agency after engagement with the UK’s science community – and crucially address the wider funding crisis facing researchers.”

The government must “prioritise” delivering on previous commitments ahead of the Queen’s Speech, such as bringing forward long-awaited legislation to ban gay conversion therapy, MPs have said.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, the chair of the Commons Liaison Committee, noted that the coronavirus pandemic had “understandably” impacted the government’s agenda but ministers now needed to deliver on promises.

Our political correspondent, Ashley Cowburn, has the full story below:

The international community should not overlook Iran’s breaches of the 2015 deal aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions, a Foreign Office minister has said.

“It is absolutely right that Iran must come back into compliance with the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. We’ve called upon them to do so,” James Cleverly told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday.

“Ultimately it is in their hands. They are calling for the international community to ease sanctions and that kind of stuff, but ultimately that is in their hands.”

When asked if sanctions on Iran should be lifted to “unlock” talks, Mr Cleverly added: “I don’t think that we should be sending a signal that we are going to overlook this non-compliance or just brush it under the carpet.

“This is in Iran’s hands. They are the ones breaching the conditions of the JCPOA. They are the ones that can do something about this and they should come back into compliance.”

Ministers are moving forward with plans to set up a new scientific research agency, modelled on the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) in the US, the government has confirmed.

The agency has been widely-seen as the “pet project” of former No 10 senior adviser Dominic Cummings, who has advocated for funding for “high-risk high-payoff visions”.

Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has the full story below:

Brexit has forced hauliers to become “their own customs agents” due to shortages of qualified officers, MSPs have been told.

Martin Reid, the Scotland and Northern Ireland director for the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said his members had started to recruit and train administrative staff due a lack of customs officers to help with exports.

“There’s a lack of qualified customs agents, something that the government deny,” Mr Reid told the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee at Holyrood.

“But we have seen that is definitely the case, so hauliers are now having to become their own customs clerks.

“They’re having to take on admin people, train them up on systems that are still in their infancy and that we’re still learning in order to deal with the additional paperwork that’s required.”

He added: “Nobody is saying that it’s an easy time for the government but it’s not an easy time for anyone in this current environment.”

The appointment of the UK’s chief EU negotiator as a Cabinet minister shows that Brexit talks are not over, with an “ongoing and permanent negotiation” likely, a former diplomat has warned.

Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK’s permanent representative to the EU from 2013 until 2017, described David Frost’s new role as a “recognition” that talks with the EU would continue following the end of the transition period.

Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has the full story below: