Boris Johnson news: Brexit deal ‘closer and closer’ as PM says life cannot go back to normal
The latest developments from Tuesday 6 October
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK and the EU are getting “closer and closer” to a Brexit trade deal, according to diplomats in Brussels. EU officials are said to be gearing up to negotiate until as late as mid-November to avoid a damaging no-deal scenario at the end of the year.
It comes as Boris Johnson claimed life “cannot go back to normal” after the pandemic – but said he expected no more social distancing by October 2021. The PM promised 5 per cent deposits for first-time buyers and extra investment in wind power at his conference speech.
MPs voted to retain the rule of six restricting gatherings to six people - despite a backbench rebellion as senior Tory MPs urged the prime minister to change direction. The regulation was approved by 287 votes to 17, with Labour abstaining.
Government suffers defeats in Lords over immigration bill
The Lords inflicted a string of defeats on Boris Johnson’s flagship immigration bill on Monday, writes Kate Devlin.
This included an amendment by Lord Dubs to allow unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with close family members in the UK, a proposal which received large support from other peers.
Speaking before the vote, Lord Dubs had asked: “Surely it is right that when there are young people who have got relatives here that family reunion must be a basic, basic thing that we should support?"
Lord Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a child, later urged MPs to support the amendment and “do the right thing by these uniquely vulnerable children” when they vote on the legislation later this year.
Government dealt string of defeats on post-Brexit immigration bill in Lords
Including on rights of unaccompanied child refugees
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