Brexit news: EU chief ‘vows to ignore Boris Johnson’s deadline’, pushing talks beyond Brussels summit
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Your support makes all the difference.EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier holds “intensified” Brexit talks with UK counterpart David Frost in London today. Mr Barnier has reportedly told EU leaders to ignore Boris Johnson’s mid-October deadline for an agreement before the European Council summit.
Elsewhere, chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new, local furlough scheme today which will subsidise the wages of workers in pubs and restaurants forced to close under coronavirus restrictions.
With pubs and restaurants in northern England expected to be closed next week, it will cover two-thirds of affected workers’ wages. It comes as figures show the economy grew by only 2.1 per cent in August – far below what was expected and a dramatic slow down in the recovery.
Treasury will cover two-thirds of workers’ wages in new local furlough
Rishi Sunak has now unveiled plans to pay the wages of pub and restaurant workers in businesses forced to shut down to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The Treasury will cover two-thirds of pay packets, up to a maximum of £2,100, in what will be seen as a continuation of the furlough scheme for some.
Grants of up £3,000 per month will also be available for businesses required to close during a local lockdown.
Sunak said the announcement “will provide a safety net for businesses across the UK who are required to temporarily close their doors, giving them the right support at the right time”.
Government to pay 2/3 salary for businesses forced to lock down, Rishi Sunak announces
Scheme will start in November
London headed for tighter lockdown rules as capital at 'tipping point,' Sadiq Khan warns
London is heading for additional coronavirus restrictions, Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned, describing the capital as being at a “tipping point”.
Clea Skopeliti has the story:
London headed for tighter lockdown rules as capital at 'tipping point,' Sadiq Khan warns
Further restrictions are ‘inevitable’ in the capital, Mr Khan says
Time running out for Brexit deal as EU hints Boris Johnson’s deadline may need to flex
EU and UK negotiator will get back to the negotiating table next week in Brussels, ahead of Boris Johnson's deadline to get a free trade agreement and avert a no-deal Brexit.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Time running out for Brexit deal as EU hints Boris Johnson’s deadline may need to flex
Talks could continue until the end of the month rather than break off next week
Nicola Sturgeon says she will do all she can to avoid reintroducing shielding
Shielding is a "very blunt tool" in the fight against coronavirus and will not be reintroduced unless absolutely necessary, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said.
Professor Jason Leitch, Scotland's national clinical director, said the government "won't hesitate" to protect vulnerable groups, but it wants to avoid another "blanket approach" for the most at-risk people.
And the first minister said she does not want to bring back shielding because of the "extreme isolation" it can cause.
She said new rules forcing central belt bars and restaurants to close and prohibiting the sale of alcohol at indoor venues are in part designed to reduce the likelihood of stricter restrictions for the most vulnerable in society.
Boris Johnson must immediately introduce emergency coronavirus restrictions, Indy Sage urges
Boris Johnson has been urged by a group of scientists to not “waste a moment” in introducing a package of emergency restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus.
In a stark warning, Independent Sage said hospital admission rates in the north of England could reach levels seen in London on 23 March – the day the prime minister imposed a nationwide lockdown – within a week if infection rates continue to increase rapidly.
Political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details:
Boris Johnson must immediately introduce emergency coronavirus restrictions, Indy Sage urges
‘Don’t waste a moment – take the steps that are necessary to slow down the pandemic in its tracks today,' scientists warn
Universities may face cuts if they reject definition of antisemitism, says education minister
Universities could have their funding cut if they refuse to adopt an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, the education secretary has warned.
Gavin Williamson has said he will take action against higher education institutions if they do not adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism before Christmas.
In a letter to vice-chancellors on Friday, the minister said there were still “too many disturbing incidents of antisemitism on campus and a lack of willingness by too many universities to confront this”.
Universities may face cuts if they reject definition of antisemitism, says education minister
Gavin Williamson says there’s ‘too many disturbing incidents of antisemitism on campus’ in the UK
‘Massive holes’ in government safety net, Ed Miliband says
There are “massive holes” in the government’s coronavirus safety net, the shadow business secretary, Ed Miliband, has said.
Mr Miliband tweeted: "Rishi Sunak has been forced into the principle of supporting shut-down businesses.
"But there are massive holes in the new safety net, including for businesses forced to shut in all but name like weddings, theatre, cinemas, events and many suppliers.
"It's not good enough."
Nicola Sturgeon admits ‘lack of clarity’ as cafes are exempted from bar and restaurant shut down
Last minute changes to Scotland’s new coronavirus restrictions which will allow cafes to stay open if they do not sell alcohol have created a “lack of clarity", Nicola Sturgeon has admitted.
Pubs and licensed restaurants across the country’s central belt will be forced to close for all but takeaway service for 16 days from 6pm on Friday.
But the first minister later revealed cafes will be exempt from the shutdown if they do not sell booze – triggering ongoing questions about how exactly a cafe is defined.
Colin Drury has the story:
Nicola Sturgeon admits ‘lack of clarity’ as cafes are exempt from coronavirus shutdown
Confused hospitality bosses left asking: what exactly constitutes a cafe?
Boris Johnson told to withdraw attack on 'lefty human rights lawyers' by top barrister
Boris Johnson must withdraw his attack on “lefty human rights lawyers”, the head of the Bar in England and Wales has urged him in a letter.
The prime minister claimed during his Conservative Party conference speech on Tuesday that his government was working to stop "the whole criminal justice system from being hamstrung by what the home secretary would doubtless – and rightly – call the lefty human rights lawyers, and other do-gooders".
Jon Sharman reports:
Boris Johnson told to withdraw attack on 'lefty human rights lawyers' by top barrister
‘It is the continual lack of investment that hamstrings the system,’ not lawyers doing their jobs, says Bar Council chief
Scotland calls for clarity over extra £700m funding for Holyrood
Scotland's finance secretary has called for clarity from the UK government over an extra £700m in funding provided to Holyrood.
In an update to his winter economic plan, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced an increase in cash being made available to the Scottish government for its response to coronavirus.
Mr Sunak also announced an extension to the furlough scheme, which was due to end this month, for the next six months - with those working in businesses forced to close having two-thirds of their wages covered by the UK government.
The Treasury said the increase in funding means £7.2bn extra cash has been provided to the Scottish government, but Kate Forbes said there should be more clarity on what it covers.
She wrote on Twitter: "I welcome further consequential funding announced by the chancellor today, though some clarity still needed on what it covers in terms of health, transport and business support.
"Adapting the job support scheme to mitigate the impact of localised lockdowns is also welcome."
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