Johnson NI intervention not entirely unhelpful - Mordaunt

1. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt says an intervention on Northern Ireland from former PM Boris Johnson was "not... entirely unhelpful"
2. Johnson has urged his successor Rishi Sunak not to abandon a bill that could give Westminster the power to override trade arrangements for Belfast
3. Mordaunt told Laura Kuenssberg the bill was a reminder of the "bar" the EU had to clear in its negotiations with the UK for a new deal for Northern Ireland
4. Kuenssberg also spoke to Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who joined Mordaunt in criticising police disclosures of information about missing woman Nicola Bulley
5. Hollywood star Hugh Jackman appeared on the programme too, and said he thought Australia would one day become a republic

Thanks for reading

James FitzGerald

Live reporter

Well, that was a busy morning of political debate and comment.

We're wrapping up this live page, but there are plenty of places for you to head to now - why not start with our writeup of what Penny Mordaunt told Laura Kuenssberg earlier, or refresh your memory with Boris Johnson's latest intervention on Brexit.

My thanks to my colleagues James Harness and Jen Meierhans, who've been writing today's coverage.

What was said on Sunday with Laura Kuenessberg?

Before we close, here's a roundup of some of the key moments from this morning's show.

• Commons leader Penny Mordaunt described former PM Boris Johnson's comments on Northern Ireland and Brexit as not "entirely unhelpful" as the UK continues its efforts to strike a deal with the EU
• Mordaunt and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper voiced concern about the disclosure of private information by Lancashire Police as part of their search for Nicola Bulley
• Cooper also said there was a wider issue of concern over "standards around misogyny" within police forces
• Actor Hugh Jackman said he believed Australia will become a republic in the future, as "a natural part of evolution of a country”
• Reacting to Jackman's comments, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he might be "sympathetic to a similar evolution in Scotland in time"

WATCH: Cooper backs New Labour 'tough on crime' pledge

Yvette Cooper on tackling anti-social behaviour

Also on the programme, we heard from shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper about Labour's plans for policing and tackling anti-social behaviour. She was asked whether her party was "unashamedly New Labour again".

"Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime was right then, and it's right now," said Cooper, reciting a famous Tony Blair-era slogan.

How does London want to change the Northern Ireland Protocol?

Getty Images

As we've been discussing this morning, former prime minister Boris Johnson has reportedly urged current PM Rishi Sunak to hang onto the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. This is a piece of legislation that could allow Westminster make unilateral decisions over Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade status (the protocol itself).

But that intervention comes as the UK continues its efforts to hammer out a deal with the EU in the hope of agreeing with Brussels any changes to the protocol. So what does the government want to achieve?

• Westminster wants to create so-called red lanes and green lanes for goods imported from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland
• The green lane would be for trusted traders transporting goods to Northern Ireland only. These would be exempt from checks and customs controls
• The red lane would be for products going on to the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU. These would undergo full checks and customs controls
• Tax rules would also be changed. Businesses in Northern Ireland currently follow EU rules on state aid and VAT
• The UK government also wants an independent body to settle trade disputes, rather than the European Court of Justice - something the EU has resisted

Watch a longer Jackman interview

BBC

Make sure to check out our longer version of Hugh Jackman's discussion with Laura Kuenssberg.

Head to iPlayer to see more of his comments on the Royal Family, male mental health and of course his new film The Son.

Other highlights you might have missed

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The SNP's Westminster leader said he was "sympathetic" to the idea of a Scottish republic - "in time"

Here are a couple more memorable moments from Laura Kuenssberg's interviews earlier.

• A Scottish republic: SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was asked about the idea of Scotland being a republic - detaching from the UK and its monarchy. He said if Scotland became independent he was happy with the status quo but he'd be "sympathetic" to the idea of a Scottish republic "in time"
• US government TikTok ban: US Secretary of State Wendy Sherman described a decision by the US government to stop officials using Chinese-owned social media app TikTok on their official devices as a "very, very sound judgement". She said she'd tell any young people in her family to "think twice" about being on the app

Cooper joins Mordaunt in questioning police Bulley disclosures

Police handout

Nicola Bulley vanished on a riverside dog walk in Lancashire on 27 January

The disappearance of Nicola Bulley has filled headlines in the UK for weeks.

As Laura Kuenssberg noted in her earlier post, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt described the disclosure by Lancashire Police of private information about Bulley as "shocking". She said she thought police were trying to explain why this was a complex case, but there were still “serious questions to be asked”.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper raised her own concerns, and said the focus should now be on the ongoing investigation and a review launched by the information commissioner.

The Labour MP said there were wider issues over how police dealt with violence against women, and over “standards around misogyny" within police forces.

She explained: "We've obviously had the terrible cases of Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, neither of whom should have been police officers, and where really standards have not been high enough."

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WATCH: Mordaunt quizzed on defence spending

Penny Mordaunt: Government made commitments to increase defence spending

Penny Mordaunt - a former defence secretary - was also quizzed about defence spending earlier.

Laura Kuenssberg quoted a headline in the Sunday Express newspaper that said the armed forces were "too broken" to defend the UK. The story follows Rishi Sunak's comments yesterday that the West needed "double down" on military aid for Ukraine.

The government has "made commitments that we are going to increase defence spending", said Mordaunt. Watch more in the video above.

What exactly did Mordaunt say about Johnson?

Penny Mordaunt: Johnson's Brexit intervention not entirely unhelpful

Let's reflect in a bit more detail on what Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt had to say about former PM Boris Johnson wading in on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade deal.

But first, a bit of essential background:

• It's thought that a compromise between the EU and UK on new arrangements for Belfast could be close. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday he'd had a "positive discussion" with European Commission President Ursula von de Leyen, despite acknowledging there was still work to do
• But Johnson has reportedly urged Sunak not to drop legislation he put in place when he was PM, which would allow Westminster to make unilateral changes to the current arrangeents

On today's progamme, Laura Kuenssberg asked Mordaunt: "Is it annoying that [Johnson is] trying to stir things up and get involved in this debate?"

Mordaunt replied: "I don't think this is an entirely unhelpful intervention. I think the prime minister would give credit to his predecessors for enabling us to get this far."

She said it was thanks in part to Boris Johnson that the EU was discussing issues it had previously ruled out.

Mordaunt didn't hang back over police criticism

Laura Kuenssberg

Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Penny Mordaunt also didn’t hang back from criticising the actions of Lancashire Police over their handling of the disappearance of Nicola Bulley. There’s been widespread political concern over the police's publication of some of her private information.

Mordaunt, a former women’s minister, as well as Commons leader now, said the disclosure was "shocking".

She said women had to "put up with all kinds of sexist behaviour in all kinds of settings". She added: "To have it play out in this kind of environment is why people are so upset."

The most acute anxieties in this case are of course around the importance of the investigation and finding Nicola Bulley.

But the police’s handling of the case has, for politicians and many members of the public, again raised concern over how sometimes women are unfairly treated by those meant to keep them safe.

Sunak may disagree with Mordaunt on Johnson's Brexit intervention

Laura Kuenssberg

Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Not unhelpful for Boris Johnson - or at least sources close to him - to stick his oar in the Brexit debate.

That was the verdict of Penny Mordaunt - leader of the House of Commons, and Johnson's companion on the Vote Leave red bus.

I’m not entirely sure that Rishi Sunak’s team will see it exactly the same way. There’s been trepidation, and an inevitability about the former PM and Brexit cheerleader getting involved in the arguments around new arrangements for Northern Ireland, after the protocol deal provoked such problems.

As the former chief whip Wendy Morton also on the show made clear this morning, Rishi Sunak faces a very tricky time indeed to get a new deal for Northern Ireland through the parliamentary party, even if he can agree something that has the backing of all parties in Belfast.

Mordaunt was careful to emphasise how an agreement simply couldn’t be done without the support and backing of the DUP in particular - the unionist party who are furious at how the existing protocol has created different rules for Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK.

There have been some whispers that there was a possibility of doing a deal, even without DUP support, but Mordaunt closed that idea down this morning.

There is a chance for Rishi Sunak to soothe the painful hangover from the Brexit talks in the next few days. But there’s no doubting there's a political headache in wait, even if the EU signs on the dotted line.

Final thoughts from our panel

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Members of the panel have just delivered their final thoughts on the topics under discussion this morning.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn responds to comments by Hugh Jackman about a potential future Australian republic. Flynn says if Scotland becomes independent, he will be happy for it to keep the UK monarchy - but over time the people of Scotland may decide to go with an alternative model.

On Brexit, former Tory Chief Whip Wendy Morton says for a deal on trade in Northern Ireland would have to work for everyone involved. "Let's just wait and see and let's give it the best chance that it can, everyone wants this to succeed," she says.

Asked how the West should deal with the Russian president, author and Putin critic Bill Browder says the UK needs approach the issue with the perspective of "criminologists". He says Putin is a "mafia thug" and a "mass murderer". Browder continues: "He needs to be soundly defeated."

That's all from the show for this week, but we'll be recapping and explaining some of the key moments on this page.

A republic would be part of Australia's evolution - Jackman

Now we reach the section of the interview in which Kuenssberg asks Jackman if he would like to see Australia become a republic.

Jackman says he appreciates and admires the Royal Family’s “genuine desire to be of service to the public”.

But, he reckons, Australia becoming a republic will happen at some point: “I guess it would be a natural part of evolution of a country.”

Jackman speaks about therapy and masculinity

BBC

Time now for a bit of stardust. Kuenssberg spoke to Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman earlier in the week.

Jackman is asked about his new film The Son – about a father and son during the claustrophobia of lockdown. He describes the film's shooting as intense, saying director Florian Zeller did not allow the actors to rehearse their scenes.

The star later speaks about his decision to seek therapy to explore issues in his life. He says this process "radically changed things". He also speaks about masculinity and says he thinks the pressure on young men to not show their vulnerability has lessened.

Cooper takes aim at antisocial behaviour

BBC

Yvette Cooper is now talking about Labour's plans for policing and tackling anti-social behaviour.

She tells Kuenssberg the country needs stronger prevention, more police officers on the streets and stronger enforcement against repeat antisocial behaviour.

"It is making people's lives a misery," he says.

Labour's "respect" orders would give police the tools to ban repeat perpetrators of antisocial behaviour from town centres or other places they are wreaking havoc, she says.

Kuenssberg asks Cooper what she would say to people who say they heard this same type of policy proposal before - and asks whether Cooper is "unashamedly New Labour".

"Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime was right then, and it's right now," Cooper says.

Unusual level of information disclosed about Nicola Bulley - Cooper

Now Laura Kuenssberg is speaking with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

Kuenssberg starts by asking about the Nicola Bulley case, and the police's disclosure of her private information.

"Cooper says the police gave a "really unusual level of information" about the missing woman. Now we have to let an investigation into the disclosure "take its course," she says.

The focus now need to be on the search for Bulley and support for her family, adds Cooper.

Is there a broader issue of how the police see women, asks Kuenssberg. Alluding to the convicitions of former police officers Wayne Couzens and David Carrick, Cooper says "standards have not been high enough" in policing more widely.

'Russia is suffering badly'

BBC

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is interviewed by Kuenssberg next, almost a year to the day since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Sherman, who is America's second most senior diplomat, says she understands why Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky is continuing to appeal for support. She adds that countries around the world have listened carefully and have provided what they've been able to.

She says Russia has been surprised to see the world so united, which is an important principle. Sherman says if Putin can invade a sovereign state, then others states around the world will think they can too.

"Russia is suffering badly," she says.

Flynn defends Sturgeon SNP succession plan

Kuenssberg suggests to Stephen Fynn on the panel that the departing SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon didn't make a good succession plan.

"I would contest that wholeheartedly," says Flynn. He says there are a number of individuals who have good skills and experience of being in government.

Flynn would not be drawn on names, but he says whoever comes forward to be party leader should have a clear plan on Scottish independence.

Mordaunt addresses Sturgeon and party leadership

BBC

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt is asked about the resignation of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

She says she wishes the SNP well during its leadership contest - and hopes the Scottish government will focus on the issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

She is then quizzed about the leadership of her own party. Mordaunt herself stood to become PM and Kuenssberg asks if she thinks she would have done a better job.

Mordaunt says: "Governments and PMs are not tested in the good times, they are tested in the tough times...that's where we are now". She says that's where the Tory party is at its best.

Boris Johnson Brexit intervention not entirely unhelpful - Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt is now being asked about Brexit - something for which she campaigned.

Kuennsberg asks about former PM Boris Johnson urging current PM Rishi Sunak not to drop the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill - something that could give Westminster the power to override current post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland. Is Johnson "stirring things up", Kuenssberg asks?

Mordaunt says it was "not an entirely unhelpful intervention" and that it is helpful to remind the EU of the passage this bill through parliament.

She says: "The EU is talking about things it previously said it wouldn't talk about".

She adds that the bill acts as a reminder of the "bar" the EU has to get over in its own negotiations with the UK over a new trade deal for Northern Ireland.

"I hope they do arrive at a deal but the deal has to work for all communities in Northern Ireland," she says.