Brexit news – live: EU may not turn up to trade talks as foreign aid cut to stay for ‘foreseeable future’

Follow the latest updates from parliament

Rishi Sunak announces foreign aid to be cut to 0.5 per cent

Downing Street has admitted that it does not know if EU negotiator Michel Barnier will turn up for face-to-face Brexit trade talks which are due to resume tomorrow.

The admission came after reports suggested Mr Barnier was pulling out of the talks unless there is a major shift in the UK’s negotiating stance.

It came as Boris Johnson faced a growing backlash from senior Tories over plans to cut foreign aid from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI) - a cut which would account for more than £4bn.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in Wednesday's Spending Review that the plans were needed to repair the economy following the coronavirus crisis.

Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and ex-prime minister David Cameron were among those who criticised the proposal, while Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said it was “shameful and wrong” to remove support to some of the world’s poorest people during the pandemic.

And the prime minister risked further antagonising Tory MPs and much of England as the government announced nearly every part of the country would be subject to Tier 2 and Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions upon exiting lockdown.

• Key numbers and policies from Rishi Sunak’s spending review
• What did we learn from the latest economic forecasts in the spending review?
• Boris Johnson facing growing backbench revolt over England tiers

Key Points

• Brexit trade talks in fresh crisis as UK admits it does not know if EU will turn up
• Foreign aid cut will not be restored in ‘foreseeable future’, Raab admits
• Union leaders oppose chancellor’s public sector pay freeze
• US politicians urge Boris Johnson to set up public inquiry into murder of human rights lawyer
• Labour MP Andrew Gwynne says he may oppose tier 3 measures for Greater Manchester
• Cut in foreign aid is temporary, foreign secretary says
• Brexit: Time running out to find side-deal on Gibraltar, says Spain

[26 November 2020 21:01 · Andy Gregory]

Nicola Sturgeon wants IndyRef2 ‘early in next parliament’

The SNP is pushing for a second Scottish independence referendum early in the next Holyrood parliament, which will be elected on 6 May.

“I think the referendum should, for a whole variety of reasons, be in the earlier part of the next parliament,” Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Scotland.

Scotland’s first minister added: “If people in Scotland vote for a referendum, there will be a referendum. Across the Atlantic, even Trump is having to concede the outcome of a fair and free democratic election.”