Brexit news - live: ‘No major breakthrough’ on trade deal this week, Irish foreign minister predicts
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Your support makes all the difference.Britain and the EU are unlikely to agree a Brexit deal by this week’s European Council meeting the Irish foriegn minister, Simon Coveney, has said. Boris Johnson had set Thursday as his deadline for securing an agreement.
Mr Coveney told reporters in Luxembourg: "There are a number of weeks left in this negotiation, not a number of days, so when the European Council meets at the end of this week there will be a detailed stocktake on where we are in these negotiations. But certainly I don't see that there will be any major breakthrough this week."
Meanwhile, Ireland’s government announced its 2021 budget was based on the assumption of there will be no bilateral trade deal between the UK and EU, further hinting at the lack of progress.
For his part, Mr Johnson insisted Britain had “no fear” of a no-deal exit in a cabinet meeting, while acknowledging that time was running out. His spokesperson called for “urgency and realism” on the part of the EU.
But Germany’s Europe minister, Michael Roth, urged the PM not to play down the potential fallout from no deal. He said: "This would be very bad news for everyone, for the EU and even more so for the United Kingdom. In the midst of the most serious economic downturn in decades, it would inflict [on] our citizens yet another serious economic setback.
At home, UK businesses were accused of taking a “head-in-the-sand approach” to the end of the Brexit transition period by Cabinet Office minister Lord Agnew. Outrage predictably ensued with Tim Rycroft, of the Food and Drink Federation, saying Lord Agnew’s claim was neither helpful nor accurate.
On Tuesday evening, Keir Starmer shattered the consensus on coronavirus lockdown restrictions by calling for a three-week nationwide “circuit-break” in England, to include half-term, in order to drive down infections.
“The government has not got a credible plan to slow infections. It has lost control of the virus. And it is no longer following scientific advice," Sir Keir told a press conference.
Irish government’s new budget assumes no Brexit deal
The Irish government is setting out its latest budget.
According to the Irish Times, one of its major underlying assumptions is that a bilateral trade deal with the UK will not be struck.
Vince Cable: Johnson could lose his ‘red wall' seats due to pandemic incompetence
There is nothing more painful in political life than when two cherished principles pull in exactly opposite directions. Boris Johnson’s government is discovering that the hard way, with much demanded public health measures likely to alienate, and in some cases impoverish, many of his new-found voters, writes Vince Cable.
The government is effectively closing down the economy again in vast swathes of the country. In Tier 3 (very high risk), the shutdown is explicit with pubs, bars, gyms and leisure centres all closing. Some scientists in Sage are now pressing the government to go further, with a full national lockdown and all the devastating consequences that would have.
Vince Cable: Boris Johnson could lose his ‘red wall’ seats due to pandemic incompetence
Northern areas of deprivation are being singled out for economic punishment through lockdown as well as suffering from the disease itself
Government testing scheme could give relatives of care home residents better access
Relatives of care homes residents could be treated as ‘essential workers’ and given regular tests to allow them to visit their loved ones more often, writes Kate Devlin.
Care minister Helen Whately announced that the government will launch a pilot project shortly. If successful it could offer a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people this winter.
Relatives of care home residents to be treated as ‘key workers’ in pilot testing scheme
Could offer a lifeline for many this winter
Business fury over minister’s ‘head-in-the-sand’ remark
A government minister has sparked a backlash from businesses after accusing them of a “head-in-the-sand” failure to prepare for Brexit, and warned their companies may be at stake as a result, writes Andrew Woodcock.
With just 80 days to go until the UK completes its transition to post-Brexit arrangements and no trade deal agreed with Brussels, Lord Agnew told a Commons committee that thousands of exporters have still not registered for the crucial EORI trading number needed to keep selling to the EU.
The Treasury and Cabinet Office minister said that there “seems to be a lack of urgency on the part of too many traders”.
Business fury over minister’s ‘heads in the sand’ accusation over Brexit
Thousands of exporters not ready for 1 January move to new rules, MPs told
Brexit breakthrough needed in October, says Ireland – as budget based on no-deal
A trade deal is still possible before but time is running out, Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney has said – suggesting a big breakthrough was needed in the next two weeks.
“All of us need to ensure that we do everything we possibly can to make sure that we make a deal possible in the next few weeks, because we are running out of time,” Coveney said on the sidelines of an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.
“And once we get to the end of this month then I think we really are running out of time to ratify any deal that may be struck.”
Ireland’s 2021 Budget has been framed on the assumption of a no-deal Brexit. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe is anticipating that there will be no bilateral trade deal between the UK and the EU, which will reduce Irish growth by an estimated 3 per cent.
Ministers’ salaries frozen amid backlash at pay rise for MPs
Well, well. Boris Johnson has announced that his ministers’ salaries will be frozen in the coming year, amid anger about an expected £3,300 rise for MPs.
Ministers will still get the MPs’ pay rise – along with all members of Commons – but they will not receive any increase on the separate salary they receive on top as members of the government.
Government ministers’ salaries to be frozen amid backlash at pay rise for MPs
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
French and Spanish fishing chiefs join forces over access
Fishing chiefs in Spain have joined their counterparts in France in demanding the same access to British waters after the end of the Brexit transition period.
Jose Basilio Otero, president of the National Federation of Fishermen of Spain, warned they are ready to demand a veto on any deal with the UK. “Concern is at a maximum level … If there’s no agreement [on access], we will ask the government to veto the deal.”
Etienne Dachicourt, director of the Etaploise Maritime Cooperative, insisted France would not hesitate to “strike back” if they were denied access to UK waters. “If you enter into a difficult conflict, when you strike a blow, the other has the tendency to hit back.”
Starmer to hold first Covid-19 press conference
Keir Starmer will face reporters this evening, he has announced.
One of the questions he has face previously on coronavirus is how he would have done things differently to Boris Johnson. Perhaps we’ll find out.
Ministers accused of putting lives at risk with plans to reopen homeless shelters
Ministers have been accused of putting lives at risk with their plans for rough sleepers this winter, writes Kate Devlin.
Homelessness charity Crisis reacted angrily to an announcement that some night shelters, which were closed when the coronavirus crisis began earlier this year, would reopen.
The organisation warned that people must not be forced to choose between “freezing on the street or a shelter, when both needlessly put lives at risk”.
Ministers accused of putting lives at risk with plans to reopen homeless shelters
£12m funding announcement also criticised
‘Time in short supply’ to get Brexit deal, says No 10
“Time is in short supply” as the UK and EU wrangle over a Brexit deal, Downing Street has said.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said there was a need for "more urgency and realism" so that progress can be made on the "significant gaps" that remain in areas such as fisheries and the level playing field.
Asked about Michel Barnier's suggestion that talks would continue in the coming weeks, the spokesman restated the UK's desire for progress by the European Council summit on Thursday.
"There is a need for us to provide clarity in the middle of this month," the spokesperson said.
They added that while Boris Johnson had told cabinet today that he believed a deal could still be done, a no-deal Brexit held “no fear” for the country.
The Downing Street spokesperson was also asked about Lord Agnew’s suggestion earlier that businesses had their “heads in the sand” on Brexit and needed to act quickly to ensure they were ready.
The spokesperson said firms needed to be ready for 1 January, regardless of whether or not a trade deal is reached with the European Union.
They said: "Many businesses have taken very significant steps to ensure that they are ready, but at the same time there are others who still have work to do.
"We would encourage them to make sure that they take all of the steps that are necessary to carry on trading with the EU once we are outside of the single market and the customs union."
The spokesperson said the government had been "engaging extensively" with traders, hauliers and businesses to ensure they could deal with the new customs arrangements.
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