Brexit news: Time now ‘very short’ for deal, says No10 as non-British rough sleepers face deportation
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Your support makes all the difference.Time is “very short” for a Brexit deal to be agreed upon, No10 said ahead of talks resuming.
UK and EU Brexit negotiators prepared to embark on an "intensified phase of talks" on Thursday after Brussels said both sides needed to compromise on trade issues following a recent stand-off.
Key issues of contention are fishing rights, the governance of any deal and the “level playing field” aimed at preventing unfair competition.
Meanwhile, new immigration rules set to come into force after the Brexit transition period mean non-British rough sleepers face being deported from the UK.
Campaigners have described the plan as “completely unreasonable” and “cruel”.
Boris Johnson has said negotiations with regional leaders and metro mayors this week were “all about fairness”.
He was asked about the row over £5m with Greater Manchester this week, while a new support package costing billions was being prepared.
The PM said the government wanted to make sure “everyone got the same package”.
Vallance’s Covid estimate
The government’s chief scientific adviser gave his estimate of how many people per day could be contracting coronavirus in England, as he warned the country needs “to do more” to shrink the epidemic.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Up to 90,000 people could be infected in England each day, Patrick Vallance says
‘We do need to do more if the aim is to get R below one,’ chief scientific officer says
‘Not sustainable’
At the press conference earlier, Rishi Sunak said it was "not sustainable" to continue intervening in the economy forever.
"Whilst it is right to act I think with scale during a crisis like this to try and protect jobs and employment and ultimately that will protect our economy in the long-run," he said. "It's also right that... we always have one eye on the long-term public finances because we want to make sure that we are careful with that.
"It is clearly not sustainable to carry on acting in this way forever, so as we continue intervening in the economy, it is right that it is targeted and effective."
PA
Brexit talks
Moving away from coronavirus, an important story today is Brexit talks resuming.
Both sides promised to work “intensively” for a deal, following a recent stand-off.
Jon Stone has more:
Brexit trade talks to restart after both sides promise concessions
Negotiators to look for ‘areas of convergence’
Foreign rough sleepers post-Brexit
Non-British rough sleepers face being deported from the UK under new immigration rules set to come into force after the Brexit transition period.
Our social affairs correspondent May Bulman reports:
Foreign rough sleepers to face deportation after Brexit
Lawyers claim many homeless are forced onto street by Home Office’s own hostile environment policies
‘Time is now very short’
Here’s a reminder of the PM’s official spokesperson’s comments today, amid resumed Brexit talks:
“In terms of the timeframe, I think, what I would say is that time is now very short.
"We have been repeatedly clear that any agreement needs to be in place before the end of the transition period."
Michel Barnier in London
EU face mask
Michel Barnier wears an EU-themed face mask as he leaves The Westminster Conference Centre.
He arrived in London today to continue Brexit talks.
Talks resume after stalemate
Michel Barnier has come to London after both the EU and the UK promised to work “intensively” for a deal.
It follows a standoff between the two sides, which brought talks to a halt for around a week.
Here’s a reminder of the stalemate that was going on just days ago.
Boris Johnson still refusing to restart Brexit negotiations despite ticking no-deal clock
Second phone call on Tuesday fails to convince UK to return to table
Post-Brexit food logos
New rules and logos to protect traditional British foods such as Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies have been set out by the government.
The protections for British foods will replace the EU's geographical indication scheme - which safeguards traditional food and drink ranging from champagne to parmesan cheese - after the end of the Brexit transition period.
It will mean shoppers will be able to buy authentic food and drink such as Scotch whisky and Welsh lamb confident about where it has come from and how it has been produced.
PA
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