Boris Johnson has admitted that “substantial differences” remain in trade talks over a post-Brexit deal with the EU as the two negotiating teams prepare to resume discussions in London this weekend.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, reportedly told a closed-door meeting for national diplomats in the bloc on Friday that he was not able to say yet whether a trade deal with the UK would be ready in time for the end of the year.
The talks between the UK and the EU have been stalled for months over the issues of fishing rights, the governance of any deal and the “level playing field” conditions aimed at preventing unfair competition between the two sides.
It came as Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed she wanted to hold a second Scottish independence referendum as soon as next year.
Ms Sturgeon said she thought a second referendum should take place “in the earlier part” of the next Scottish parliament, which will begin in 2021.
UK faces ‘major gap’ in action over harmful online content post-Brexit
The UK will be relying on tech giants to police harmful online content until new legislation is introduced post-Brexit, a former home secretary has warned.
Lord Blunkett said a “major gap” would exist in the weeks and months after the end of the transition period over who can exert control on video sharing platforms (VSPs) and on-demand services, such as Facebook and Netflix.
He added that this would leave the country “at the mercy” of tech companies to prevent child abuse and terror content appearing online.
His remarks came as peers approved regulations to maintain Ofcom’s remit to regulate VSPs within the UK jurisdiction once the transition period ends on 31 December.
Peers were told that power would reside with regulators in Europe to deal with platforms based in the remaining 27 member states.
Speaking during the debate, Lord Blunkett said: “What we have in this order is a recognition that without the online harms legislation promised by the former prime minister Theresa May, we have not just a gap in terms of the maintenance of what Ofcom may or may not be able to do to this date, but a major gap in terms of any control over these video sharing platforms.
“We’re talking about Netflix, Facebook and TikTok, and tick tock it is because the time is passing but the fingers have fallen off the face of the clock.
“So between now and some point the online harms legislation comes in, we’re at the mercy of these big international tech companies.”
Culture minister Baroness Barran said draft online harms legislation to protect internet users was expected to be “ready in early 2021”, with responses to a consultation published this year.
She also outlined how “informal cooperation” will exist with the EU to ensure regulation of VSPs in their jurisdiction helps protect the UK.
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 14:41
Johnson pledges to ‘strengthen UK-India relationship’ in call with Modi
Boris Johnson told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi that “2021 would be a year to deepen and strengthen the UK-India relationship” during a call on Friday, Downing Street has said.
“The leaders discussed the work the UK and India are doing together across trade, climate change, defence, security and health,” Mr Johnson’s spokesperson said.
“The prime minister said 2021 would be a year to deepen and strengthen the UK-India relationship.”
They added: “The prime minister and prime minister Modi discussed joint efforts to find treatments and vaccines for coronavirus, and welcomed the collaboration between our countries’ leading scientists.
“They looked forward to next month’s Climate Ambition Summit, which will be an opportunity to reinvigorate the global efforts against climate change ahead of the UK-hosted Cop26 summit next year.”
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 14:16
Some insight on the fishing rights offer to the UK by Michel Barnier, from the BBC’s Brussels correspondent:
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 14:05
Our reporter, Clea Skopeliti, has put together a brief explainer below on what the end of the Brexit transition period could mean for the UK:
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 13:56
UK government unlikely to accept EU’s fishing rights offer, reports say
The UK government will not accept an offer from the EU’s chief negotiator on fishing rights to secure a post-Brexit trade deal, according to reports.
The Sun reported on Friday afternoon that a proposal for 15-18 per cent of the value of fish quota that European fleets catch in British waters be restored to the UK would not be acceptable.
“Needless to say it’s a no from UK,” Harry Cole, the newspaper’s political editor, said.
Joe Barnes, the Daily Express’ Brussels correspondent, said he had heard similar negative reactions to the proposal.
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 13:47
Downing Street tried to have Oxford vaccine branded with Union flag
Downing Street officials attempted to have doses of the Oxford University coronavirus vaccine branded with the Union Jack, it has emerged.
The request came from No 10’s newly-formed “Union unit”, which has been given the job of countering calls for Scottish independence and other campaigns to break up the United Kingdom.
Prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman did not deny a report on the HuffPost UK website that the unit had approached the government’s vaccine task force with a request for the flag to be included on the packaging of the potentially life-saving jab.
Asked if any such idea had been put forward by Downing Street officials, the spokesman said only: “There are no plans for the Union Jack to be on doses.”
From my colleague Andrew Woodcock:
Joe Middleton27 November 2020 13:23
Johnson says Brexit deal ‘determined by our friends in the EU’
In a pool interview with reporters, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that a Brexit deal will be determined by our ‘friends and partners in the EU’, as reported by Sam Coates at Sky.
Mr Johnson refused to comment on how likely as deal is but said “we’re getting on with it.”
Joe Middleton27 November 2020 13:11
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is reportedly set to propose a compromise on fishing rights, with 15 to 18 per cent of the fish quota caught in UK waters by EU fleets being restored to the UK under a post-Brexit agreement.
It is unclear if this would be a satisfactory compromise for the UK government.
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 12:34
Harsh benefit cuts to blame for rising poverty, former Tory minister admits
Harsh benefit cuts are to blame for rising poverty in Britain, a former Conservative Cabinet minister has admitted as he warned chancellor Rishi Sunak against making the same mistake.
Stephen Crabb said his party took “too much money out of Universal Credit” during his time as a minister, acknowledging that the reductions had failed to raise wages.
“That’s what gives you a lot of the reasons behind the increase in hardship in this country,” he added.
Our deputy political editor, Rob Merrick, has the full story below:
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 12:22
‘Brexit deal is still possible but must respect UK sovereignty’, negotiator says
The UK’s chief Brexit negotiator has said a deal with the EU is “still possible” but warned that the agreement must “fully respect UK sovereignty”.
David Frost shared his thoughts on the state of the talks on Friday as the two negotiation teams prepared for another round of face-to-face meetings this weekend.
“Some people are asking me why we are still talking. My answer is that it’s my job to do my utmost to see if the conditions for a deal exist,” Mr Frost said.
“It is late, but a deal is still possible, and I will continue to talk until it’s clear that it isn’t.”
He added: “But for a deal to be possible it must fully respect UK sovereignty.
“That is not just a word – it has practical consequences. That includes: controlling our borders; deciding ourselves on a robust and principled subsidy control system; and controlling our fishing waters.”
Conrad Duncan27 November 2020 12:07
