DUP leader claims to have 'lots of support' in parliament

During PMQs, the DUP's leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson called for the legal text of the Northern Ireland Protocol to be rewritten.

In response, Rishi Sunak said he heard Sir Jeffrey "loud and clear" - read more in our 12.31pm post.

Speaking after PMQs, the DUP politician said: "Obviously we haven't seen any of the legal text of any agreement, and there remain matters that need to be addressed and those are quite significant issues.

"But I welcome the progress that has been made, I welcome what the prime minister had to say in the House of Commons, that we are not just talking about tinkering around the edges of the protocol.

"This is about significant, substantive change to the treaty itself, that respects Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom and our ability to operate freely within the internal market of the UK.

"What is important here is we get the right deal for Northern Ireland. We are not working for a timetable, we are working to get the right outcome for Northern Ireland.

"I don't know what the timing will be for any agreement.

"I am clear we have a lot of support here in parliament for the stance we are taking."

Public opinion on PM's ability has fallen to all time low, poll suggests

Rishi Sunak has fallen to a new low in YouGov's tracker of who would make the best prime minister.

The pollsters released their research, carried out on 15 February, today - before the talk of a deal on Northern Ireland ramped up.

Compared to the week before, Mr Sunak dropped four points, with only 21% of people thinking he would do a better job than Sir Keir Starm

Tube strike announced for budget day

A Tube strike will take place on next month's budget day amid an ongoing dispute over jobs and pensions for London Underground drivers.

The Aslef train driver's union said 99% of its members - on a 77% turnout - voted in favour of the walkout on 15 March. 

This is the day that MPs will gather in the Commons to hear Jeremy Hunt's spring budget announcement.

It said the dispute is over management's "failure to accept that changes to our working arrangements and pensions should only happen by agreement".

Thousands of Aslef drivers are set to go on strike, as well as some workers in management grades. 

Finn Brennan, Aslef's full-time organiser on the Underground, said members "are not prepared to put up any longer with the threats to their working conditions and pensions".

"We understand that Transport for London faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government's failure to properly fund London's public transport system", he added.

Mr Brennan says there have already been "cuts to safety", while plans to "slash pension benefits" are set to be announced in the next week.