Boris Johnson news – live: PM urged to end reliance on Cummings as UK to stop being 'uncomfortable lodgers' of EU

Chief negotiators instructed to ‘work intensively’ to bridge gaps in Brexit talks

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, spoke today about the state of play in the negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

“They agreed on the importance of finding an agreement, if at all possible, as a strong basis for a strategic EU-UK relationship in future.

“They endorsed the assessment of both chief negotiators that progress had been made in recent weeks but that significant gaps remained, notably but not only in the areas of fisheries, the level playing field, and governance.

“They instructed their chief negotiators to work intensively in order to try to bridge those gaps.

“They agreed to speak on a regular basis on this issue.”

Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen agree ‘significant gaps’ remain in trade negotiations

The prime minister and the European Commission president have agreed that “significant gaps remain” in negotiations on a UK/EU trade deal, after direct phone discussions between the pair this afternoon.

Dominic Raab: UK will no longer be ‘held over a barrel by Brussels’

The Foreign Secretary has said the UK will no longer be “held over a barrel by Brussels”, during his conference speech at the virtual Conservative Party conference.

“Yes, we want a free trade deal with the EU, but any deal must be fair,” he said.

“The days of being held over a barrel by Brussels are long gone. Under the Conservatives, there is no question: our Government will control our fisheries, our Parliament will pass our laws and our courts will judge them.”

Why is Nicola Sturgeon more popular than Boris Johnson?

As the prime minister sees opinion polls turning against him, many have wondered how Nicola Sturgeon has maintained her popularity amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul boils it down to the Scottish first minister reacts to MPs breaching coronavirus regulations, which she does swiftly and decisively.

Read his analysis here:

‘Pick which side you are on’ on Scottish independence, Tory MPs urged

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has urged his fellow Tories to “pick which side you are on” when it comes to the issue of Scottish independence.

During his speech at the Conservative Party’s virtual conference on Saturday, he called on the party to turn away from “defeatism and disinterest” around the union.

Mr Ross’ comments come as opinion polls show that a majority of Scots are now in favour of independence.

He said: “Too many treat Scottish independence as a question of when, not if.

“They question why Scottish interests should be put first, if Scotland won’t always be around. Many, including some who govern our country, want to see a UK Government focused on England.

“We pretend these are the views of only a small minority, but I hear them far too often. If you think this way, ask yourself a question – whose side are you on?

“If you think Scotland’s place in the UK isn’t worth the fight, then you’re in the wrong party. Far too many Conservatives in England have forgotten that unionism is in our party’s DNA.

“And independence would shatter the image of our United Kingdom. Instead of a global Britain, there would be a little England.

“My party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, is not going to give in, not now, not ever.”

What Brexit problems haven’t been solved yet?

Denis MacShane, the UK’s former minister of Europe, outlines 20 aspects of Brexit that remain to be solved and could blow up in our faces in the years ahead.

Michael Gove expands on plans to move Civil Service departments out of London

Michael Gove has expanded on his desire to move parts of the Civil Service out of the capital during the Conservative Party Conference.

He said that in the past, people have felt London is the place to be to develop their career.

“I want it to be the case that, whether you are in Middlesbrough, Mansfield or Manchester, that economic and career opportunity is close to home in the community you care about.

“That’s part of what levelling-up means and the Civil Service can play a part in that,” said Mr Gove.

The development of virtual working during the pandemic could help pave the way for departments to be based outside of London, he added.

“You can have the decision makers dispersed, you can have people who are operating digitally who may come in for particular meetings but who can live and work and contribute to the life of the communities that they love outside of London or outside some of our major urban centres.

“So thinking more flexibly about how we work can help with levelling-up and it can also help, once the economic recovery really takes hold, in helping people to have more time for the family life which is at the heart of the happiness of so many.”

Michael Gove ‘optimistic’ about securing Brexit trade deal with EU

The Cabinet Minister has said he is “optimistic” that the UK will be able to strike a Brexit trade deal with the EU, echoing the prime minister’s fervent enthusiasm.

Michael Gove said during a conversation with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street during the virtual Conservative Party conference that negotiations have been “a tough process because the EU has never had to cope with any country leaving its orbit before”.

“As we leave the nest and become good neighbours rather than uncomfortable lodgers, the EU has to adjust,” he said.

“And several aspects of the adjustment have proved difficult for the European Union – recognising that we share the same high environmental and workforce standards as they do but we want to do things in our own way is a bit difficult for them and also there is the very vexed issue to do with fisheries.

“The EU think that they should have exactly the same access to our waters outside the European Union as they have inside.

“But I think with goodwill we should be able to get a deal.”

Boris Johnson forgets details of hospital spending

The prime minister’s memory has failed him again as he struggled to remember details of his hospital spending plans during a car crash interview, and had to yell to aides for help.

Andrew Woodcock reports that Boris Johnson was unable to remember how much the government was putting into which hospitals in Leeds, and scrabbled around on the floor searching for a crib sheet with the correct figures.

Watch the cringe-worthy moment below:

Tory MPs welcome announcement of new Leeds headquarters

The Conservative Party will open a second headquarters in Leeds, it was announced during the party’s virtual conference today.

Tory MPs have been welcoming the announcement, calling it a “great move”.

But the Labour Party in Yorkshire and the Humber responded by saying: “The north shrugs.

“When we asked for a fairer share and more of what the south gets… this isn’t exactly what we had in mind.”