More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The Internal Market Bill Returns to the Commons today with the government determined to take out amendments proposed by the House of Lords.
This is the legislation that has been controversial as it effectively would give the government the power to override parts of the Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU.
It has created a fuss as critics say that it would allow to government to effectively break the law - and would create an impression the government could in future disregard other treaties and legislation.
The former Conservative Party leader and Folkestone MP Lord Howard was among the rebels in House of Lords and voted for amendments to the Bill. He said lawmakers should not be lawbreakers.
The Bill has also been opposed by the veteran North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale. He too says the government risks being seen as not trustworthy and has indicated he intends to vote against the Bill if changes are not made.
There will be a game of political ping pong on this: It looks like MPs will take out the amendments put in by the House of Lords; peers will probably re-instate them on Wednesday before they come back to the comment for a final vote on Thursday.
Meanwhile talks aimed at reaching an agreement over the terms of the UK's departure from the European Union look like going to the wire, with mixed messages coming out of both camps as negotiations continue.
After the unveiling of the government strategy for agriculture and farming last week, a cross-party backbench committee will quiz George Eustice, the minister in charge, about the long-term plan on Tuesday.
He could face some questions about the impact of border delays for the sector too; as well as the fisheries negotiations.
Later on this week (Thursday) county councillors will consider just how ready Kent is to deal with what could be in store in January when the transition period for Brexit ends.
A report suggests that the government has yet to formally finalise some arrangements, chiefly around how mitigation measures to limit the scale of potential disruption that might ensue if there is no deal.
The report says “There is still much to do to complete the preparations.
"We are relying on government to provide medical and welfare facilities at each of the key sites, to ensure that a fully tested 'Check an HGV service’ online system is ready and functional for hauliers to be able to cross the Channel as smoothly as possible and to grant Kent County Council powers to enforce against anti-socially parked HGVs.”
That is quite a hefty list - we can expect the issue of the Kent Access Permit to be raised too.
