Politics latest news: France threatens to veto Brexit deal
Camilla Tominey: No vaccine against the ire of Red Wall Tories if they sense a Brexit 'sell-out'
Coronavirus latest news: Care home residents stopped from hugging visitors
France will veto a Brexit deal if the EU member state does not like it, the country's European Affairs minister has said.
Talks have been running on overnight, as hopes of reaching a deal today recede. Negotiators had been expected to agree a trade deal by today at the latest, however that deadline has been extended back to Monday.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma this morning told Sky News: "It is fair to say we are in a difficult phase" with "tricky issues still to be resolved".
Clement Beaune told local radio the risk of a no deal was real and should not be "hidden".
"But it's not what we want and the negotiations are still going on with Michel Barnier who is in London at the moment and I still hope we can have a deal but I also say to our fishermen, to our producers, to our citizens that we won't accept a bad deal," he added.
"If there were a deal that isn't good - which in our evaluation doesn't correspond to those interests - we will oppose it. Yes each country has a veto, so it's possible... We must make our own evaluation of course of this deal, that's normal. We owe that to the French people, we owe it to our fishermen, and to other economic sectors. "
The British delegation was taken aback after the EU made a series of “destabilising” last-minute new demands on fishing and other issues, although that has been contested, suggesting this could be more posturing.
Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, could break off from talks today for a briefing with ambassadors in Brussels, however it is expected that talks will continue without him.
Follow the latest updates below.
09:42 AM
MHRA hits out at suggestions it 'rushed' vaccine approval
The UK's medicines regulator has defended itself against criticism from America's top infectious disease expert, over its rapid approval of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr Anthony Fauci yesterday claimed the MHRA had not reviewed the vaccine "as carefully" as US health regulators and had "rushed" the approval, although he later apologised for suggesting "any sloppiness".
This morning the MHRA insisted it had "rigorously assessed the data" relating to the vaccine "in the shortest time possible, without compromising the thoroughness of our review".
It added: "Covid-19 vaccines, including this one, are being developed in a co-ordinated way that allows some stages of this process to happen in parallel to condense the time needed, but it does not mean steps and the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been bypassed."
The agency added: "No vaccine would be authorised for supply in the UK unless the expected standards of safety, quality and efficacy are met."
09:30 AM
Boris Johnson must focus on 'boring' policies instead of voter-friendly pledges, says former Cop26 boss
Boris Johnson must come up with "boring" policies to reach his n ew emissions target, rather than relying on more vote-winning pledges, the former Cop26 president has said.
Claire O'Neill told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while the Prime Minister's 10-point plan, announced today was "fantastic" it was "by no means a 'get out of the woods free' card".
The one-time Tory MP and clean energy minister added: "We have got to keep the pressure on and we have to also come up with the policies - we're starting to see that in terms of the 10-point plan.
"What's not in the 10-point plan, because it is boring and doesn't bring votes, is how we are going to change the infrastructure of the energy system to deliver these targets."
In particular policies should focus on cutting emissions in energy-intense sectors such as steel production, rather than fixating on reducing home heating emissions, she added.
09:20 AM
Brexit stance to be considered at European Council summit mid-month, says Charles Michel
The European Union will use next week's European Council to make a decision on Brexit talks, a senior figure has said.
European Council President Charles Michel said the remote meeting of the 27 leaders on December 10-11 will enable them to consider the latest developments, as a deal on future relations between the EU and Britain hangs in the balance.
If one side of the negotiations reject any negotiated deal it would be a no deal, he said.
“It’s unfortunate that it took longer than planned, but we’re still currently negotiating,” Mr Michel told a news conference.
“We’ll see over the next few days what the next steps are at this point in the negotiations.”
09:07 AM
Chopper's Politics: The challenge of becoming an MP just four months before Covid
One year ago, two new Conservative MPs gave The Telegaph's Christopher Hope no-holds-barred accounts of their experiences of standing in the 2019 General Election in a special edition of Chopper's Politics podcast.
Twelve tempestuous months later, Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, and Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield, return to the podcast - though sadly not to our usual recording venue of the Red Lion pub.
Last year they told us party loyalty was more important than ever heading into 2020, after a year marred by Brexit divisions. This year they reflect that rebellions over coronavirus restrictions show "how alliances have shifted".
08:53 AM
Welsh minister defends country's alcohol ban in hospitality
Wales' health minister has defended the country's ban on pubs, restaurants and cafes serving alcohol, which comes into force at 6pm on Friday.
Vaughan Gething told Good Morning Britain that the restriction was "based on the evidence of what works" and follows scientific advice, as well as similar measures taken in other parts of the UK.
"We face this awful choice of doing nothing and seeing our rates increase, and more people not surviving, or doing something like this, and doing something has a real harm that comes with it as well," Mr Gething said.
"There isn't a consequence-free choice to make but, in the balance that we have to strike, this is what appears to be effective within the UK, there's evidence supporting that and that's a choice that ministers have made.
"I don't expect people in the hospitality sector to welcome this, but hope they'll understand not just the difficult choices we have, but the responsibility we have to act to keep Wales safe."
08:46 AM
Boris Johnson unveils 'ambitious new target' to make half of all cars electric by 2030
Nearly half of all cars on the road will need to be electric in a decade to meet the "ambitious new target" unveiled by the Prime Minister of cutting greenhouse gases by at least 68 per cent.
The target, which is an overall cut from 1990 levels, would be the fastest rate of emissions cuts of any major economy.
It means a 50 per cent increase in the rate of decarbonisation, and will require widespread changes to the way we travel and heat our homes.
Labour welcomed the strengthening of the UK target but warned it was the "minimum" the country should aim for and called for a plan to meet the goal, including a £30 billion stimulus for a green recovery in the next 18 months.
Read more about that story here.
08:41 AM
Camilla Tominey: No vaccine against the ire of Red Wall Tories if they sense a Brexit 'sell-out'
As a Brexit deal approaches, Boris Johnson would be wise not to mistake the Covid-19 cavalry for his own political salvation.
The approval of the Pfizer vaccine certainly heralds a potential new dawn for the Prime Minister’s pandemic-plagued administration in the New Year.
However, if he thinks he can ride out presenting Parliament (and indeed the public) with a Brexit fudge before the transition period ends on December 31, then the latest polling strongly suggests otherwise.
Read Camilla Tominey's analysis here.
08:37 AM
First doses of Pfizer vaccine to be administered in UK on Tuesday
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the first doses of the vaccine will be administered on Tuesday.
He said it will be "a marathon, it's not a sprint", telling BBC Breakfast: "We're looking forward to the race starting on Tuesday."
Business Secretary Alok Sharma reiterated that the "bulk" of vaccine rollout would take place in 2021, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca version likely to considerably boost supply.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We will expect more (Pfizer vaccine) by the end of the year but what we have always said is that the bulk of the vaccination programme will take place next year."
08:27 AM
Government not looking to discourage people from flying, says Business Secretary
The newly-unveiled plan to cut the UK's emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2030 would not involve discouraging passengers from using air travel, the Business Secretary has said.
The new scheme would offer "incentives" to make green choices when it came to housing, heating and cars, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Asked about whether the Government wanted people to fly less, Mr Sharma said: "That is a matter of personal choice. No, that is not what the 10-point plan is about.
"It is about ensuring we are supporting the sunrise industries of the future which are going to create jobs and, at the same time, cut emissions."
He added that a "transition council" had been set up to look at developing sustainable fuels to improve transport emissions.
08:25 AM
Business Secretary vague about how many of 800,000 Pfizer doses have arrived
Alok Sharma has been vague about the number of doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine currently in the UK, just saying that "some" of the 800,000 due have arrived so far.
Asked several times how many of the doses had arrived so far, the Business Secretary told BBC Breakfast: "Well, some are in the UK, but as we said the programme will start next week, and I think I'm confident that we will have all of those available from the start of the programme.
"People should feel confident about this vaccine. The MHRA is regarded as the gold standard of regulators around the world by scientists."
Mr Sharma said people should feel "entirely confident" that the vaccine is safe.
"If it wasn't it wouldn't have been approved and wouldn't have got the clearance from the MHRA," he said, adding the MHRA have been "absolutely meticulous" in the process.
08:23 AM
Anthony Fauci backs UK vaccine approval process, Business Secretary says
Anthony Fauci is "confident in the process we have followed" in the UK, the Business Secretary has said, following comments made by the the top US infectious disease expert that appeared to throw doubts over the UK's vaccine approval.
Dr Fauci told Fox News that the MHRA did not review the vaccine "as carefully" as US health regulators. He later told CBS News that the UK had "rushed" the approval.
He later rowed back his comments, telling the BBC: "Our process is one that takes more time than it takes in the UK, and that's just the reality. I did not mean to imply any sloppiness even though it came out that way."
This morning Alok Sharma said: "He is confident in process we have followed. This is about giving people confidence the vaccine is safe. The MHRA is regarded as gold standards of regulation."
He added: "People should be really confident this vaccine is safe. I can only talk for regulator we have in this country, but they have been carrying out heroic work."
08:08 AM
Brexit talks in 'difficult phase', admits Cabinet minister
Brexit talks are in a "difficult" phase with "a number of tricky issues" still outstanding, the Business Secretary has warned.
Alok Sharma told BBC Breakfast: "We are committed to reaching an agreement with the EU on this particular discussion that we are having.
"But, of course, time is short and we are in a difficult phase. There's no denying that. There are a number of tricky issues that still have to be resolved.
"The fundamental point - I want to make this really very, very clear to your viewers - is that we have said all along, right from the start of these negotiations, and I've come on your programme, other programmes, as have other ministers over the past months, and said that we want the EU to recognise that the UK is a sovereign and independent nation.
"It is on the basis of that that a deal will be done.
"It is tricky, but we are working hard. David Frost and his team are working incredibly hard on this, in good faith, so let's see where we get to."
07:45 AM
Brexit talks heading for weekend showdown
Brexit talks are heading for a showdown between Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron this weekend with the prospect of an EU deal now dependent on French access to fish in British waters.
The two leaders are at odds over the right to fish in British waters with senior Downing Street sources unsure as to whether the French president might "torpedo" the proposed Brexit deal at the last possible moment.
They fear he may be tempted to scupper a compromise fishing deal ahead of the French presidential election in 2022.
There had been growing hopes that a deal was about to be agreed but the British delegation was taken aback after the EU made a series of “destabilising” last-minute new demands on fishing and other issues.
“Our hopes of any movement on Friday are pretty much gone now,” said one UK source, with Monday now set as the unofficial deadline for a deal by Downing Street.
