Brexit news – live: No date set for in-person talks to resume as negotiations stuck at crucial stage

Boris Johnson thinks that MPs should not have their salaries raised next year, the prime minister’s official spokesperson has said. 

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which determines politicians’ pay, is considering a £3,360 pay increase for all MPS, which would bring their salaries to £85,291. 

The proposal was met with criticism when it was announced in October but is now even more contentious, with the chancellor Rishi Sunak reportedly set to declare a pay freeze for millions of public sector employees. 

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the story: 

Ministers have failed to draw up plans for roadside toilets for lorry drivers stuck in long queues after Brexit, a House of Lords committee has heard. 

This comes amid fears that thousands of vehicles will be forced to contend with severe delays on motorways. 

“They cannot confirm what will be provided,” Adrian Jones, of the Unite trade union told the committee. 

The Road Haulage Association has noted that hauliers are still unsure whether they can bring food or other goods over from the Continent after 1 January.  

The Independent’s deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the story: 

With a lot of eyes now turning to Covid restrictions over Christmas, there have been been suggestions that the different nations of the UK could try and take a common approach for the festive period.

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething appeared positive about this idea at his news conference this afternoon.

He said that imposing measures in Wales that are similar to other UK nations ahead of Christmas could provide “headroom” for the festive period.

“We’re thinking about whether we should have something that is more common to the approach has been taken in both Scotland, England, and to an extent in Northern Ireland as well,” Mr Gething said.

“Thinking about would there be benefit for all of us in having a more common set of measures in advance of Christmas, because I think that would really help with the message to the public and to get us to probably have more headroom for the festive season where we know there will be more mixing between different groups of people.”

The health minister said there was “good evidence” that the firebreak lockdown imposed in Wales had been effective.

“Scotland and England have a broadly similar and common approach, and so we need to think about that too,” he said.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the planned loosening of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas will be “slight and careful”, adding that there is a “particularly difficult balance to strike”.

Although it has not been confirmed, Ms Sturgeon said it is “likely” that household bubbles would be permitted over the festive period.

However, she added that measures would most probably not be eased over New Year. 

The first minister said: “Reducing the prevalence of the virus is also what will allow us to consider a slight and careful – and I want to stress today those words ‘slight’ and ‘careful’ – easing of the rules for a few days over the festive period.

“There is an obvious desire to see loved ones at Christmas, I think we all feel that very strongly.

“There’s also a lot of anxiety about the potential risks associated with that, particularly at a time when we’re starting to see, perhaps, the end of this pandemic loom on the horizon.” 

Downing Street has confirmed that Boris Johnson will lead a press conference at 7pm on Monday, accompanied by England’s chief medical adviser Chris Whitty and Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group. 

The prime minister will take part remotely, as he is self-isolating after coming into contact with an MP who later tested positive for coronavirus. 

Mr Pollard’s appearance comes on the day it was announced that the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is up to 90 per cent effective. 

Here’s my colleague Eleanor Sly with details about the prime minister’s schedule on Monday: 

Ireland’s taoiseach, Micheal Martin, has said he is hopeful that the outline of a Brexit deal can be reached by the end of the week.

Speaking to reporters from Dublin Port on Monday, Mr Martin was upbeat about the prospects of a deal.

He said: “(European Commission) President Ursula Von der Leyen did say to the EU leaders last Thursday night that there are texts now on all areas.

“I would be hopeful that by the end of this week we could see the outline of a deal.

“That remains to be seen. It’s down to political will. One must remain hopeful that a deal can be arrived at.”

Nicola Sturgeon has said that plans to ease restrictions across the UK over Christmas are yet to be finalised, Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports.

The first minister said she hoped details could be set out later this week.

She also implored the public to think carefully about whether or not they would take advantage of any lowering of restrictions.

Saying “I’m afraid the virus won’t take Christmas off”, she said that just because people may be allowed to visit family over Christmas did not necessarily mean they should.

Michel Barnier said UK-European Union trade negotiations were continuing online after one of his team tested positive for coronavirus.

The EU’s lead negotiator said: “Time is short. Fundamental divergences still remain, but we are continuing to work hard for a deal.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on Boris Johnson to ditch the 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants when lockdown ends on 2 December – as he set out his own recovery plan for the capital, Adam Forrest reports.

Downing Street is reportedly set to announce an extension to the curfew until 11pm in parts of England where pubs are allowed to re-open from 3 December.

However, Mr Khan urged the prime minister to scrap any curfew within his strengthened, three-tier regional system. The mayor claimed there was a “route out of this crisis” without such harsh restrictions on hospitality.

The prime minister has spoken confidently about the chances of a UK-Australia trade deal being reached, while joking about the products that will be exchanged between the two countries. 

Speaking on Monday, Mr Johnson chose humour to express his optimism, mentioning biscuits flowing in both directions. 

He said: “And, I am delighted that we are doing a deal, I hope that we will be able to conclude a deal, that will see, finally, the people of Britain able to access the supplies of Tim Tams – Tim Tam chocolate biscuits – in the quantities that we need.” 

“And the people of Australia able to get Penguins in exchange,” he added.