Brexit latest news: Michel Barnier says deal is 'still possible' and he will give it 'every chance'

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Michel Barnier has struck an upbeat tone this morning, as he told journalists there was "every chance" of agreeing a Brexit deal in the remaining time, as he emphasised there were just two outstanding issues left to resolve.  

The European Union's chief negotiator, who is due to update ambassadors and MEPs after Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen yesterday agreed that talks should continue, said: "We've only been negotiating for nine months, we've needed at least five years for all the previous agreements, we are going to give every chance to this agreement... which is still possible.

"A good, balanced agreement. That means two conditions which aren't met yet. Free and fair competition... and an agreement which guarantees reciprocal access to markets and waters. And it's on these points that we haven't found the right balance with the British. So we keep working."

Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, echoed his sentiment.

He told Sky News: "We don't want to walk away from these talks. Businesses expect us to go the extra mile - that is precisely what we are doing."

Read the latest updates below.

09:27 AM

No UK fishing concession, source confirms

Talks of a UK concession on fishing are wide of the mark, my colleague James Crisp reports. 

In fact, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier was "guarded" on the prospects for a trade deal with Britain at a meeting with the bloc's ambassadors in Brussels on Monday, a senior EU diplomat has told Reuters. 

"Patient still alive ... but keep the undertaker on speed dial," said another senior EU diplomat on the main takeaway from the briefing.

09:23 AM

Sir Keir Starmer: MPs could be voting for Brexit deal on Christmas Eve

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "clear that no deal is against the national interest",saying he will not act "on a party political basis" when it comes to voting for a Brexit deal. 

The Labour leader said Boris Johnson had "a habit of over promising and under-delivering", saying the arty would "hold him to account" on his 2019 election promise to Get Brexit Done. 

"A deal is in the national interest an no deal is not - it looks as thought we are at a fork in the road," he added, saying it looked likely that MPs could be voting on Christmas Eve.

09:20 AM

Sir Keir Starmer: Use additional inset day rather than shutting schools

Sir Keir Starmer has said the issue about workers not being paid if they are having to self-isolate because of their children has "gone unnoticed" by the Government. 

This meant that many people have not quarantined because they could not afford to, he said.

Asked for his thoughts on school closures in Greenwich, he said he was "very reluctant" to support such a move, saying he would prefer an additional inset day instead. 

"I a really worried about what is happening in London, because we are only 12 days out of lockdown... London is in Tier 2, on the verge of Tier 3, but with very high numbers and that is a worry," he said. 

He claimed the Government had "lost the plot" on messaging, and said Test and Trace must also be improved. 

09:16 AM

Sir Keir Starmer: Taking the knee a 'recognition of injustice'

Sir Keir Starmer has defended Millwall footballers' "taking the knee", saying it was not right for the crowd to boo them. 

During an LBC call-in, the Labour leader said the movement was about "a recognition of injustice that has gone on for many, many years. We just need to hold on to that."

He added: "Where there is an injustice it needs to be righted, and that is what is symbollised by the taking of the knee."

09:09 AM

Sir Keir Starmer: Both sides must compromise to get a Brext deal

Sir Keir Starmer has said he "completely gets" the challenges that businesses face because of Brexit, as he says he is hopeful a deal can be struck before the end of the year.

Doing a call-in on LBC radio this morning, the Labour leader was asked about politicians' lack of understanding about the challenges faced by business. 

"I hope next year isn't as bad as you fear, it is one f the reasons why we absolutely have to get a deal over the line," he said. "That is one of the reasons why we are saying to the Prime Minister 'you have to get a deal'."

He added that "both sides have to move in the next coup[e of days", but said while he understood the importance that fish played in negotiations "we can find a way forward - I don't think these talks are going to fall over because of fish". 

Level-playing field issues were thornier, he conceded.

09:05 AM

People should make 'personal choice' about Christmas, says Alok Sharma

People will need to make a "personal choice" about whether to form a festive bubble and hug relatives over Christmas, the Business Secretary has said. 

Alok Sharma told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "If people feel that they would be safer not doing that, that is up to them.

"I know on your programme people have talked about 'families will hug' but I also know that there are people who have taken a conscious decision that, whilst they may have their elderly parents come over Christmas, they will ensure that they don't hug them."

Mr Sharma added that the approach to Christmas is "proportionate" and "balanced".

08:59 AM

Voters can have their say on Government's handling of Brexit in future elections, says minister

Voters will be able to give their verdict on the Government's handling of Brexit at the ballot box, Alok Sharma has said. 

The Business Secretary rejected a call from Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan to promise to resign if a no-deal outcome turns into a catastrophe for the UK in the next two years, instead pointing to the next election - currently due in 2024.

Mr Sharma told the ITV show: "We have general elections in this country and we are all accountable to the electorate at every general election.  The people will be able to make their own decisions."

He again insisted that the country would "prosper" under World Trade Organisation terms, which would see tariffs and quotas imposed on exports to the UK's largest trading partner.

08:51 AM

There will be a Brexit deal 'one day', says French MEP as she suggests talks will run into 2021

A French MEP has said she is still "somewhat sceptical" over Brexit negotiations, but suggested that talks between the UK and EU may continue into 2021 if a deal cannot be reached.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Nathalie Loiseau said: "If there is any chance to reach a deal we will not let it go.

"There will be a deal one day between the United Kingdom and the European Union, there is no doubt about it.

"If mindsets are ready for a deal in London, well, let's celebrate. If they are not, then we'll talk again next year."

08:38 AM

Michel Barnier briefs EU ambassadors as negotiators go the 'extra mile' on Brexit

Michel Barnier is now briefing ambassadors on the latest on Brexit talks, an EU spokesperson has tweeted. 

Sebastian Fischer also used the hashtag #ExtraMile - the phrase used by both Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson yesterday, prompting more than a little commentary over whether the use of imperial measurement was a sign of compromise.

08:33 AM

Government to begin talks on building £20bn nuclear power plant

The Government is to begin talks over the construction of a new £20 billion nuclear power plant as it set out plans for a clean energy system it said will create thousands of jobs.

It confirmed negotiations are taking place with EDF Energy over the Sizewell C site in Suffolk, which could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to provide seven per cent of the UK's energy demands.

In a statement, it said the discussions are part of its "options to enable investment in at least one nuclear power station by the end of this Parliament".

It came as the Government put forward its Energy White Paper, which outlines plans it said will support 220,000 jobs in the next 10 years.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the Today programme it was not yet a "green light on construction" which would only go ahead "if this delivers value for money for taxpayers and consumers."

08:30 AM

Alok Sharma dodges questions on why no-deal Brexit would be 'wonderful' for businesses

Alok Sharma has failed to answer a series of questions about why the Prime Minister has said the UK will "prosper mightily" without a post-Brexit trade deal.

The Business Secretary was asked repeatedly about Boris Johnson's assertion that trading on Australian terms would be "wonderful" for British businesses. 

"If the premise is somehow that we will not be able to prosper under WTO terms that is not correct," he told the Today programme, stressing that investment would continue to come t the UK "irrespective of the type of deal we get with the EU". 

08:17 AM

Minister plays down prospect of talks running until New Year's Eve

Business Secretary Alok Sharma played down the prospect of trade talks with the EU continuing right up until the New Year's Eve deadline.

"We have always said the transition period ends at the end of December and we will not be continuing discussions beyond that," he told the BBC.

"Any deal that we have will then have to go through Parliament, so that would really be cutting it quite fine."

But he added that Parliament "can move very quickly" to approve a deal if it had to.

08:13 AM

Minister rejects Sadiq Khan's call to shut London schools

Schools are under the microscope again today, as we wait to see whether Gavin Williamson will overturn Greenwich council's advice to shut all schools in the borough, or whether he might advise something similar for other parts of the country.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan is calling for the capital’s schools to shut from Monday as new "catastrophic" infection rates pushed the city to the brink of Tier 3. 

Mr Khan’s spokesman said: “The mayor is backing the early closure of schools and would like the Government to consider shutting schools from Tuesday. He wants tomorrow (Monday) to be the last day at school.”

But this morning Alok Sharma said it was "not the policy" to shut schools , saying the Government was providing home testing kits and working with local authorities on a case by case basis.

"Our overall message is that we want to keep schools open," he added.

08:10 AM

No change to UK's plans for Christmas 'window', says minister

Government plans to allow people to celebrate Christmas across three households between 23-27 December will not change despite a surge in cases and warnings of a "third wave", Alok Sharma has said.  

The Business Secretary said a decision would be taken later this week about whether London will be placed into Tier 3 - something viewed as increasingly likely. 

But he stressed the Christmas plan was a "balanced and proportionate approach", that would give people a "window" to see their family.

"That is not going to be changing," he added. 

08:03 AM

CBI: Brexit 'optimism this morning'

Tony Danker, director general of the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI), said there had been "optimism" from businesses following reports at the weekend that Brexit negotiations have been extended.

"The main message has to be 'keep going, it's worth it," he told the Today programme. "The closer we get to December 31 the more high-stakes this becomes and the risk is that a last-minute no-deal means no good will on New Year's Day.

"It seems that legislators are getting to the point now where you can't legislate for every outcome, what you can do is put in place mechanisms to resolve disputes when things change.

"That's why I think there's optimism this morning."

08:03 AM

Talks underway to extend Covid furlough for no-deal, minister admits

Alok Sharma admitted this morning that discussions were taking place about the possibility of using the Covid furlough scheme for businesses affected by a no-deal Brexit.

The Sun reported today that Rishi Sunak is poised to tell firms affected by any disruption from leaving the EU will be able to access government-backed loans and the furlough scheme.

Although he did not comment on specifics, he told Sky News: "We are discussing all eventualities, we are having internal discussion about all those matters."

He added: "We don't want to walk away from these talks. Businesses expect us to go the extra mile - that is precisely what we are doing."

07:59 AM

EU will continue to 'stick together' throughout Brexit talks, Boris Johnson told

Boris Johnson has been warned against trying to "divide the EU", after the Prime Minister reiterated his offer to speak directly to leaders such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in a bid to seal a Brexit deal. 

Mr Johnson, who has already been rebuffed at least three times, yesterday said:"I've repeated my offer, which is if it is necessary to talk to other capitals, I'm very happy to do that."

Belgian MEP Kris Peeters told Sky News he believed a deal could be reached "in the next few hours, in the next few days", but warned against trying to split the EU27 off.

"Some negotiators are trying to divide the EU but it is not the case [that they will be split off] and will not be, right to the end, because the EU must have one position, one negotiator - Michel Barnier - and one team negotiating."  

07:48 AM

People urged not to panic buy over Brexit no-deal concerns

Alok Sharma has urged people not to begin panic buying ahead of a possible failure to reach a trade deal with the European Union.

The Government is reported to have warned supermarkets to stockpile food and other essential supplies amid increasing fears of a no-deal Brexit.

But this morning the Business Secretary told Sky News: "I'm very confident that actually the supply chains will still be in place.

"I would say to everyone just do your normal shopping as you would do and I think we will find we are going to be absolutely fine."

07:41 AM

Brexit trade talks to continue until New Year's Eve

There was mounting speculation on Sunday evening that Brussels is preparing to back down over one of the key obstacles to a Brexit deal.

The EU is reportedly ready to drop its demand for the right to impose immediate “lightning tariffs” on the UK if it unilaterally decided the terms of a deal had been broken.

Brexit trade talks could go on until the end of the year after the EU abandoned Sunday’s negotiating deadline, amid rising expectations that a deal could now be done.  

Sunday had been billed as a deadline for a decision on deal or no deal, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to continue talks.

Neither the UK nor the EU has set a new deadline, meaning a deal could be ratified as late as December 31, the day the current Brexit transition period ends.