Brexit not talked about in Macron name, Johnson says
Michel Barnier is because of make an announcement at this time in regards to the state of Brexit negotiations, updating ambassadors from the 27 EU nations, as time for a UK-EU deal runs out. Brussels’ chief negotiator can even set out the state of play to MEPs, after Boris Johnson continued to insist that the UK would “prosper mightily” and not using a deal.
The PM is presently beneath hearth for laughing throughout a Downing Road press convention on Monday evening when requested in regards to the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. The prime minister – alongside transport secretary Grant Shapps – was seen sniggering when ITV’s political editor Robert Peston mentioned: “It’s nearly the tip of the yr, you will need to know by know whether or not we’re going to get a free commerce deal. Will we?”
In the meantime, a bunch of MPs have warned that ministers should intervene to forestall Brexit driving up meals costs as overseas employees go away Britain. Neil Parish, chair of the Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs Committee, mentioned “all of us danger increased meals costs” if “British farmers and meals producers can’t get the employees they want”.
No10 denies reported breakthrough on fishing quotas
Downing Road insiders have flatly rejected stories that there was a breakthrough within the row over fishing quotas.
Experiences advised the UK had supplied a minimize of round a 3rd within the quantity of fish EU vessels catch in British waters over a five-year interval.
That’s down from an preliminary demand to chop it by 60% over three years however the compromise was reportedly rejected by Brussels.
A Quantity 10 insider described the reported compromise as “b****cks” and officers have warned that important variations stay between the 2 sides.
Mr Barnier will replace EU ambassadors at 3pm GMT earlier than addressing MEPs at 5pm.
Joe Middleton22 December 2020 13:39
What different international locations are saying as UK struggles with Covid and Brexit crises
Journalist Rory Mulholland feedback that Europe is wanting on in horror at Britain’s ‘catastrophic yr’:
Joe Middleton22 December 2020 13:19
Cable: ‘PM should recognise 2021 uncertainties to keep away from extra disasters’
Our columnist, former Lib Dem chief Vince Cable, feedback on what Boris Johnson must do shifting ahead – with the intention to cope with the happenings of this yr:
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 12:55
Labour ‘need a deal,’ Reeves says
Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves mentioned Labour “need a deal” and warned the affect of no deal for companies “could be completely catastrophic”.
Talking at Labour’s on-line Hauliers and Brexit Roundtable, she informed the PA information company: “By way of the commerce deal, clearly we’ll take a look at no matter the federal government brings again, we’ve simply obtained 9 days now till the tip of the transition interval and I feel what you’ve heard from the hauliers at this time is that they need a deal and so they need the transition to be as clean as attainable, and a part of that’s getting a deal as a result of we all know the chaos that may ensue and we’re simply getting a small style of that actually in the mean time with the disruption we’re seeing in Kent.”
She added: “So we wish a deal. I feel the affect of no deal for these companies and lots of others as effectively could be completely catastrophic, so we’ll take a look at the deal and examine it to the choice at this stage. Past the deal, we have simply obtained to get in place among the fundamentals to make it work.”
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 12:42
No 10 refuses to verify if PM and EU president spoke on cellphone
Our coverage correspondent, Jon Stone, has extra on the key cellphone name that allegedly befell between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (see put up from 10.53am).
In a extremely uncommon transfer, Downing Road would neither verify nor deny on the document whether or not the calls between the prime minister and Ms Von der Leyen had taken place, he stories.
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 12:22
Brexit ‘uncertainty’ to hit well being sector onerous, report finds
The well being and care sector faces “perilous uncertainty” after the Brexit transition interval is up on 31 December, a brand new report has mentioned.
The suppose tank mentioned there was “a perilously unsure future dealing with the UK on the finish of the Brexit transition interval might put the UK’s well being and care system in danger”.
The report mentioned new migration guidelines, attainable disruption to medicines and units, “an ongoing financial slowdown” and “boundaries to science funding” would hit the well being sector.
Referring to attainable disruption of medical provides, the examine mentioned that whereas in depth planning had been undertaken by the federal government and NHS. “it’s not clear precisely what state of affairs has been ready for and what the affect will likely be if disruption is longer or broader than anticipated”.
And the Nuffield Belief acknowledged that “plans won’t have anticipated the impact of the present border restrictions introduced in on account of the brand new Covid-19 variant”.
In its evaluation, the examine mentioned: “The well being of the general public could possibly be instantly worsened by a protracted financial slowdown that results in decrease dwelling requirements and a squeeze on public spending, in addition to the potential for much less efficient regulation of determinants of well being like air air pollution.
“These dangers might hit essentially the most susceptible hardest.”
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 12:09
No-deal might imply 2% loss in GDP
A reminder that earlier this yr, the Workplace for Funds Duty forecast {that a} no-deal final result might lead to a 2 per cent hit to gross home product – a measure of the scale of the economic system – in 2021.
That may equate to round £45bn being wiped off the worth of the UK economic system, stories the PA information company.
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 11:34
Is there motion on fishing rights?
Politico’s Alex Wickham is reporting that Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen had a “secret cellphone name on Monday” to aim to push via a fisheries settlement.
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 10:53
Barnier to make Brexit announcement at 3pm
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier is reportedly set to make an announcement in regards to the state of Brexit negotiations on Tuesday.
Mr Barnier is to replace EU envoys from the 27 member nations on the state of negotiations as time runs out for a deal. The EU’s chief negotiator can even set out the state of play to MEPs.
It comes as No 10 and EU officers proceed to try to attain a post-Brexit commerce deal, with some critics suggesting the state of the UK – after some worldwide borders closed yesterday as a result of new coronavirus variant – might present Boris Johnson no-deal just isn’t such an excellent final result.
Mr Barnier will converse at 3pm (GMT), in accordance with a number of stories.
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 10:47
ICO: Companies should type information safety earlier than finish of transition interval
The Data Commissioner (ICO) has known as on UK companies to test whether or not they’re impacted by information safety regulation earlier than the tip of Britain’s transition interval with the EU on 31 December.
Companies and organisations which might be affected must take steps to make sure that information can proceed to move from the EU lawfully from 1 January, the commissioner mentioned.
Analysis signifies that sharing private information is important to operating nearly all of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, any companies receiving information from organisations within the EU or European Financial Space (EEA) should take motion to make sure the move of information doesn’t cease.
Private information is classed as something that pertains to an identifiable particular person and may relate to details about each prospects and employees. HR information, buyer particulars, payroll data and data collected via cloud providers are all types of private information and could possibly be affected.
Sam Hancock22 December 2020 10:17