PM Faces Day Of Questioning On COVID, Brexit, Gov't Conduct

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a tough day of parliamentary questions, with prime minister's questions in the House of Commons at 1200BST (0700ET, 1300CET), followed by an appearance before the House of Commons Liaison Committee - the most senior committee of the Commons, comprised of all the chairs of the 32 subject-specific select committees - at 1530BST (1030ET, 1630CET).

• PMQs Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vanr9EJTk7Y
• Liaison Committee link: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a7caea0e-0d8...
• The prime minister's announcement on Monday of the planned removal of nearly all COVID-19 restrictions amidst a significant spike in new cases is likely to feature heavily in questioning from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (boosted by his party's recent win in the Batley and Spen by-election) and the committee chairs.
• The continued poor state of relations between the UK and the EU over the application of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is also likely to feature in questioning. Last week, the EU agreed to a 3-month extension to the grace period on the export of chilled meats from GB to NI, but this has not solved the seemingly intractable issues surrounding the NI protocol as the UK attempts to avoid a customs border in the Irish Sea, the EU attempts to protect the integrity of the Single Market, and both sides attempt to preserve the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.
• Another cutting issue for the gov't at the moment is its personal conduct. Following the resignation of Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the wake of revelations about his personal life, the opposition has utilised an effective line of attack against the gov't, arguing that 'it is one rule for them, another for the rest of us'. There is a strong chance Starmer will continue this line of attack for the foreseeable future while it makes a cut-through with the public.