Brexit news – live: ‘Make or break’ trade talks stretch into night as ministers squabble over Eton

With just four weeks until the transition period ends, it is still unclear how much access the UK will retain to data gleaned from EU security tools used in everything from combating crime to business information.

A “no-deal” could mean the UK is cut off overnight from EU security data, from the Schengen Information System, the bloc’s border database, to the European police Europol, to DNA and the licence plates hub PRUM.

If there is an agreement, the UK’s data access would still be reduced, but by how much remains unclear.

Just weeks ago, Michael Gove drew contempt from former Brexit-era PM and home secretary Theresa May after he claimed the UK’s security and counter-terrorism capabilities would flourish if it fails to retain access to this data.

As reported by the BBC’s John Campbell, here is a breakdown of the post-Brexit process for moving goods from Britain to Northern Ireland, created by the government’s new Trader Support Service.

It all looks pretty straightforward…

You can access the TSS webinar here.

Maria Fyfe, the former Labour MP who has died aged 82, has been hailed as an “inspiration to generations”.

Ms Fyfe served as the MP for Glasgow Maryhill between 1987 and 2001, and during her time in Westminster fought for the establishment of the Scottish parliament.

She died on Thursday after a short illness, the Scottish Labour Party confirmed.

The party’s leader, Richard Leonard, paid tribute to her as “honest, principled and a pioneer, someone who fought for what she believed in to the very end”.

Mr Leonard added: “She was an inspiration to generations of Labour Party members, encouraging young people to become active to change the world around them, and leading by example.

“Maria believed a society built on equality, peace and socialism was possible, and it is our duty to uphold her memory by carrying on her work.

“The thoughts of the whole Scottish Labour Party are with her sons Stephen and Chris, and the family.”

Supermarkets will hand £1.7bn to the government after Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons followed Tesco in pledging to return savings they’ve made through business rates relief during the pandemic.  

Discount chain Aldi announced on Thursday that it would hand over around £100m, while Sainsbury’s said it would pay £440m, Asda £340m and Morrisons £274m, writes Ben Chapman.

Tesco said a day earlier that it would hand over the £585m benefit it has received through the tax break, which was designed to help struggling businesses.

Gavin Williamson has said he would be “very much in favour” of boys’ boarding school Eton College accepting girls, writes Kate Ng.

The school, which is the alma mater for high-profile political and royal figures including 20 prime ministers and Princes William and Harry, is embroiled in a row over freedom of speech after a teacher was dismissed for a lesson he posted on YouTube.

Mr Williamson refused to offer a comment on the situation, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was “an ongoing disciplinary procedure” he did not think he should get involved in.

But Jacob Rees-Mogg, another old Etonian, hit back at Mr Williamson. “Much though I might like my own daughter to go there, I think it works very well as it is, thank you very much,” he told MPs.

A spokesperson for Boris Johnson, another old Etonian, said: “If Eton were to become a mixed-sex school we would obviously support that decision, but it is a matter for Eton as an independent school to set their own admission criteria.”

While the prime minister’s recent 10-point plan was praised by some as a positive signal of intent, others (myself included) highlighted how it did not go nearly far enough. One glaring omission was the future of the oil and gas industry and support for the sector’s workers and communities, writes Caroline Lucas.

Even under the government’s inadequate net zero target by 2050, both production and consumption of oil and gas will need to decline significantly. This will have a major impact on workers and communities, with both local and national consequences.

Downing Street has said the UK remains focused on trying to secure a trade deal, but was forced to field questions over its decision to put bills before the Commons next week which may breach international law.

“Intensive talks are continuing in person in London as they have throughout the week, with the negotiating teams continuing to work hard to resolve the differences that remain,” the PM’s spokesperson told reporters.

“Our focus remains, and will continue to be, on trying to secure a free-trade agreement, as it has throughout the negotiations.”

Asked whether the decision to press ahead with plans to breach the withdrawal agreement could derail negotiations – as Michel Barnier has reportedly warned, the spokesperson said: “We have been clear that those clauses represent a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’s internal market and to protect the huge gains of the peace process.”

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed there are differing opinions within the party on its approach to voting on a Brexit deal, but stressed that a trade agreement with the EU is “in the national interest”.

Reports suggest he and his shadow chancellor are divided over whipping MPs into backing a deal, or abstaining to protect Labour from any backlash caused by the resulting economic fallout.

“We’ll have a look at that deal as soon as we see it and make our decisions then, but I can’t emphasise enough how a deal is in the national interest,” Sir Keir told broadcasters during a visit to Portsmouth.

“We don’t know that there will be a deal – I hope there will. As soon as there’s a deal we’ll look at it, but if the choice is a deal or no-deal, then a deal is obviously in the national interest.

“The Labour Party has pulled together hugely in the last few months, presenting a strong united front, and we will do the same on this issue. Of course there are different opinions, as you would expect, but we will pull together, discuss it as a team and be united.”

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has confirmed that the two pieces of Brexit legislation which may breach international law will both appear before MPs next week.

The Internal Market Bill will return on Monday following a series of defeats in the Lords, which saw peers remove the clauses accused of contravening the withdrawal agreement.

Mr Rees-Mogg confirmed the government will be “pushing back” on all amendments made by peers.

The new finance bill – which could see talks with the EU collapse if it also contains similar clauses – is due to arrive on Tuesday. The government claims such clauses are necessary to protect the integrity of the UK.

Mr Rees-Mogg rejected suggestions from his opposite number Valerie Vaz that the new legislation is a “dummy bill”, saying: “These are really important pieces of legislation.”

The education secretary’s claims that the UK has been quickest to approve a vaccine because “we’re a much better country” have been derided as “deeply unhelpful and frankly silly” by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s chief executive.