Labour accuses government of ‘running away from scrutiny’ on Australia trade

In an urgent question, trade under-secretary Ranil Jayawardena came under fire for “ministers running away from scrutiny” on the UK-Australia trade deal.

This criticism comes after no time being made available for a debate on the first new trade agreement” since leaving the EU.

Jayawardena rejected the criticism, telling MPs that there will have been “over six months” for scrutiny taking place in parliament for a deal that “will benefit the British people”.