Questions Remain for Labour: Rochdale Candidate; Brexit Red Tape Adds Pressure to Flower Trade

Keir Starmer said he took “tough” and “decisive” action to withdraw support for Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali, after a storm of criticism over remarks Mr. Ali made about Israel and Jews. Florists are preparing for the annual Valentine’s Day rush, but they fear that Brexit trade barriers will increasingly spell higher costs and delays for their business. A florist says a bouquet of red roses could cost as much as 55 pounds next year. Baroness Chakrabarti has dropped an amendment to the Rwanda bill that would give the U.N. high commissioner for refugees a crucial role in determining if Rwanda is a safe country. It follows responses that her amendment would outsource the UK’s responsibility to tackle illegal immigration to an unelected body.