Brexit talks in deadlock as both UK and EU admit a deal is looking ever more unlikely

Cat Neilan
·46 min read
David Frost and Michel Barnier met in Brussels this week for the latest round of talks - Reuters
David Frost and Michel Barnier met in Brussels this week for the latest round of talks - Reuters

The chief negotiators from both the UK and the EU have warned that a post-Brexit trade deal is looking increasingly unlikely, following the latest round of talks.

Speaking during his regular press conference, Michel Barnier said: "Too often this week it felt as if we were going backwards more than forwards.

"Today, at this stage, an agreement between the EU and UK seems unlikely. I simply do not understand why we are wasting valuable time."

A trade agreement must go hand-in-hand with fair, mutually agreed standards; a long-term agreement on fishing and no cherry picking when it comes to the Single Market, he said.

"Brexit means Brexit," Mr Barnier added. "There is nothing tactical about this."

But failure to secure a Brexit trade deal will result in "economic turbulence, if not social and political disruption", he added.

David Frost, the UK's chief negotiator, seemed similarly gloomy about the prospects of securing a deal before the October deadline, saying: "Agreement is still possible, and it is still our goal, but it is clear that it will not be easy to achieve."

The two sides have remained entrenched in their positions, particularly on fisheries and the level-playing field, for many months.

Read the latest updates below.

03:14 PM

And that's it for another day...

The week has ended with a bang, as gloomy prophesies about the Brexit talks pushed the pound down. 

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier and UK counterpart David Frost have at least had one thing in common this week - neither of them think a deal is on the cards at this stage. Despite both professing their desire to reach an agreement, there was an air of frustration in their respective statements about the other side's refusal to compromise. 

Mr Barnier went even further, saying he thought talks were going backwards.

Several commentators believe a deal is still within grasp, however you are split, with 49 per cent thinking no deal is the only available option, while 29 per cent say a basis deal can be struck before transition ends. A quarter are more positive, saying there is time for a full deal to be reached. 

Meanwhile Gavin Williamson has clung on - as have Priti Patel, Matt Hancock, Robert Jenrick and the Prime Minister himself - despite widespread criticism of those Cabinet ministers, and more. Reading the headlines this week, it's safe to say the honeymoon is well and truly over. 

But will his holiday have put a tiger back in Boris Johnson's tank? And is he ready to "grip" the never-ending issues that keep cropping up? I'll be back on Monday to find out. 

03:04 PM

Russia 'won't let Navalny go to Germany until poison has cleared his system', claims Bill Browder

Alexei Navalny is "in excellent physical shape" but his survival depends on what the poison is, Bill Browder has said. 

"It is very difficult to predict what is going to happen in terms of the poison," the financier and Putin critic told Sky News. "They may well let him go to Germany but they won't until the poison has cleared his system."

The opposition politician is in a coma in a hospital in Siberia. Doctors claim it is not poison, but a condition brought on by low blood sugar. 

However they insist he cannot be transferred to Berlin for treatment.  

02:59 PM

Navalny poisoned because Vladimir Putin is 'looking at Belarus', claims Bill Browder

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been poisoned because Russian President Vladimir Putin is afraid he could lead an uprising against him, in the wake of the situation in Belarus, Bill Browder has said. 

Vladimir Putin "has been afraid of touching Alexei Navalny" until now, but has "really put him in mortal danger like this" because he is "looking at Belarus", the financier said. 

The uprising against Alexander Lukashenko "may very well jump across the border to Russia, and who would lead that uprising, but Alexei Navalny," he told Sky News. 

Mr Browder, whose lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in police custody after uncovering mass fraud by the Russian state, has become an outspoken critic of the Kremlin and has been detained under red notices in the past. 

He called on the west to impose sanctions in response to the attack. 

"We have to not tolerate these things, we have to punish these things." 

02:40 PM

Andrew Lilico: A UK-EU trade deal is desirable - but there is no need to rush it through at any cost

In their report back from the latest round of talks on a possible EU-UK Free Trade Agreement today, both the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and his UK counterpart David Frost struck a pessimistic pose.

Mr Barnier said matters are going “backwards more than forwards” and that the current form of negotiations is “wasting valuable time”. Frost said it is clear that an agreement this year will clearly “not be easy to achieve”. 

Now this could of course be a game of chicken, with both sides saying they are reconciled to accepting there will be no agreement in the anticipation the other will buckle. 

But on the other hand, writes Andrew Lilico, there is a pretty good chance they mean it.

02:33 PM

Robert Jenrick confirms evictions U-turn, amid calls for him to go further

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed the evictions ban in England and Wales will be extended for four weeks - despite growing pressure for the Government to go further. 

The extension will apply to all cases other than those raising serious issues such as antisocial behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators until at least March 31.

Mr Jenrick said: "I know this year has been challenging and all of us are still living with the effects of Covid-19. That is why today I am announcing a further four-week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for six months.

"I am also increasing protections for renters - six-month notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.

"However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for example those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators, begin to be heard in court again; and so when courts reopen, landlords will once again be able to progress these priority cases."

Even before Mr Jenrick confirmed the U-turn both Labour (2:20pm) and the Lib Dems (3:25pm) had already called on the Government to go further.

02:25 PM

Extending evictions ban 'just kicking can down the road', say Liberal Democrats

Extending the ban on evictions for a month is "nothing more than kicking the can down the road", the Liberal Democrats have said. 

Layla Moran, who is vying to become leader of the party, said: "No-one should face losing their homes while this deadly virus still hasn't been properly brought under control.

"Extending the eviction ban by just a mere month is nothing more than kicking the can down the road. It is a dereliction of duty. 

"For families who have been days away from the threat of eviction, this news will go down like a bucket of cold sick.

"The Government must get real on renters right and immediately ease worries by extending the ban until there is a proper long-term solution for people who have found themselves in crisis." 

02:11 PM

Cross-party MPs call for independent investigation into Navalny case

A cross-party group of MPs and peers have called for an investigation into the alleged poisoning of Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny, who has been in a coma since Thursday when he fell ill on a flight.

Chris Bryant, Labour MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia, and Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, are among those to have written to the Russian ambassador. 

The  MPs call for a "full and independent investigation led by international investigating officers" into the allegations that Mr Navalny was poisoned. This is the "only way to avoid the suspicion that the Russian state has been directly involved" in Mr Navalny's condition.

Russian doctors say no poison was found in his body, claiming his condition has been brought about by low blood sugar. Authorities are also refusing to allow him to be transferred to Berlin for treatment. 

Mr Navalny, a prominent critic of the Russian president, has consistently exposed official corruption in Russia and has served several jail sentences.

02:01 PM

Further five people die with coronavirus in English hospitals

A further five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in English hospitals, official figures show. 

There were three reported fatalities in the North West, one in the East of England and one in the South East. 

That brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,490.

Patients were aged between 41 and 96 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.

01:46 PM

More than 5,000 migrants cross Channel so far this year

More than 5,000 migrants have crossed to the UK in small boats so far in 2020.

Numbers of people trying to reach British shores have surged in the summer months, prompting the Government to deploy RAF planes to the English Channel in an effort to tackle the problem.

The milestone comes as French prosecutors investigate the death of a Sudanese migrant whose body was found on a beach in France earlier this week.

Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed last year that the crossings would be an "infrequent phenomenon" by now, and her recent pledge to make the route "completely unviable".

This week she was accused of creating "toxic policies" that led to the death of the 28-year-old, originally thought to have been 16, was today named as Abdulfatah Hamdallah.

01:20 PM

Eviction U-turn may just buy renters 'a few more weeks to pack their bags', warns Labour

Labour has backed the "necessary" move to extend the evictions ban to 20 September, but warned there is a "real risk that this will simply give renters a few more weeks to pack their bags". 

 Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Boris Johnson has been warned for months about the looming evictions crisis, but stuck his head in the sand.  

“People living in rented accommodation should not be paying the price for this Government’s incompetence.

"Section 21 evictions must be scrapped and renters must be given proper support. The ban should not be lifted until the Government has a credible plan to ensure that no-one loses their home as a result of coronavirus.” 

01:16 PM

Prime Minister told to 'get a grip' of Brexit talks

Labour has urged Boris Johnson to "get a grip" and "rapidly accelerate talks", after negotiators on both sides warned that a deal was unlikely today.  

Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said despite the Prime Minister's claims that he had an "oven ready deal", deadlines were being missed, which "only adds to the uncertainty for UK industries". 

 "When [the] Prime Minister returns from his holidays he needs to get a grip of the negotiations," she added. "The Government and the EU must rapidly accelerate talks and deliver the deal he has promised the UK electorate."

"Let's not forget an agreement with the EU is by far the most important deal the UK will strike. No-one can afford the Conservative Government's recent incompetence to spread to negotiations and preparations given how much is at stake."

01:13 PM

Birmingham added to watch list because 'some people not been strict enough', says Andy Street

Birmingham has been added to the watch list because "some people have not been strict enough" in following social distancing measures, the Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands has said.  

Andy Street, the former John Lewis boss, said: "People across the region have made an enormous sacrifice since the start of lockdown to keep the virus at bay, but the virus is now returning and recent efforts to counter that have been insufficient.

"It is evident that some people have not been strict enough when it comes to keeping up the basics of social distancing, hand washing and wearing a face covering, nor following the guidelines on avoiding mass gatherings.

"This has to change immediately and I would ask every single citizen, both across Birmingham and the West Midlands, to redouble their efforts.

"We are in an extremely challenging situation and every individual has a part to play."

01:11 PM

Adding Birmingham to watch list 'a wake-up call' for city's residents, says councillor

Leader of Birmingham City Council, councillor Ian Ward said the city being added to the watch list should be a "wake-up call for everyone".

The Department for Health and Social Care said Birmingham had been added to this week’s watch list as an ‘Area of Enhanced Support’, while Northampton has become an ‘Area of Intervention’. (1:26pm).

Mr Ward said the announcement had been expected "following rising coronavirus case numbers here in Birmingham".

He added: "If our previous warnings to keep doing the basics haven't been enough, this has to be the wake-up call for everyone.

"Wash your hands, wear face coverings wherever possible, keep 2m apart from others and get tested if you have Covid-19 symptoms."

01:08 PM

UK R-rate and growth rate rise week-on-week, Sage figures show

The reproduction number (R value) of coronavirus in the UK has risen to between 0.9-1.1, figures from the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) show.

For the last few weeks, Sage has been warning that it was no longer confident the R-rate was below one, suggesting that the rate of infection is on the increase. 

The latest growth rate for the whole of the UK is between minus three per cent to plus one per cent, an increase on last week's rate of between minus four per cent to minus one per cent. 

The growth rate of coronavirus transmission reflects how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day.

01:05 PM

Have your say: Is a Brexit deal possible at this stage?

The two chief negotiators believe the chances of a Brexit deal are looking increasingly unlikely, following a set of talks that appeared to go "backwards more than forwards", Michel Barnier said today. 

Both sides have said a deal is possible - but are clearly expecting their interlocutor to be the one to blink first. 

Mr Barnier and David Frost have agreed to remain in close contact over the next two weeks before the next Round in London in the week of 7 September. The deadline has been set for October, in order for ratification and legal verification to take place before transition ends at the new year. 

But is this the drama before a deal? Or is it genuinely unlikely at this stage? 

Have your say in the poll below.

12:50 PM

Leo McKinstry: Why are the Conservatives governing like socialists?

Last December, the Tories won an overwhelming victory at the General Election. A new era of robust, patriotic Conservatism seemed to beckon.

Yet now, as the Government sinks ever deeper into the mire of incompetence, debt and progressive dogma, it often feels as if Labour actually won the contest.    

As Leo McKinstry argues, left-wing values are in the ascendant on everything from immigration to crime and bureaucracy to public spending. And, as always happens when the socialists are in charge, the expansion of the state is accompanied by chronic inefficiency and petty authoritarianism. 

12:30 PM

Government to take 'maximum possible local consensus' in lockdowns, says Matt Hancock

The Government will champion a new approach to dealing with local lockdowns that emphasises "the maximum possible local consensus", Matt Hancock has said. 

Speaking after a new lockdown was agreed with the leaders of Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn, the Health Secretary said: "The only way we can keep on top of this deadly virus is through decisive action led by the people who know their areas best, wherever possible through consensus with a local area.

“Working with local leaders we agreed further action Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn. It is vital that everyone in these areas follow the advice of their councils, and abide by their local rules carefully.

“Our approach is to make the action we take as targeted as possible, with the maximum possible local consensus. To do that we are introducing a new process to increase engagement between local leaders, both councils and MPs, with the aim of taking as targeted action as possible. This will allow local councils to focus resources onto the wards which need more targeted intervention in order to drive infection rates down, and gives local people a stronger voice at the table."

12:26 PM

Businesses to stay open in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn

The Government has agreed that businesses including hospitality, offices and childcare can remain open as other measures are deployed to tackle the rise in cases in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn.

People will not be able to socialise with anyone from outside their household from midnight on Saturday to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Residents are also being told to avoid using public transport except for essential travel.

Birmingham has been added to this week’s watch list as an ‘Area of Enhanced Support’, while Northampton has become an ‘Area of Intervention’.

Ministers are endeavouring to find a way of working with greater "consensus" with local councils to dampen local outbreaks. More data will be released by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, and local leaders will then be expected to seek consensus between councils and local MPs to determine which restrictions fit "travel patterns, work and social behaviours". 

12:12 PM

Conservative MP posts pictures of himself in Croatia ahead of quarantine

Conservative MP Rehman Chishti has posted pictures on social media of himself on holiday in Croatia, which is due to be removed from the safe list of countries from first thing tomorrow morning. 

However it was not clear whether the MP, a special envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, was still in the country. 

Mr Chishti's office did not immediately respond to requests for further details.

If he is caught up in the quarantine, he won't be the first. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, and Paul Scully, the business minister, were both in Spain when the restrictions were first imposed. 

12:00 PM

Government agrees to avoid 'economic lockdown' in Oldham, says council leader

Oldham's council leader says he has "reached agreement with the Government" that the area will not go in to full "local economic lockdown".

Sean Fielding, who has been warning that a full lockdown would be "catastrophic" for local businesses, has tweeted the video below. 

11:52 AM

Grieving families might lose welfare if they receive coronavirus pay out, Labour claims

Families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 while they were working on the front line could be stripped of their social security payments, it has been claimed.

Under the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme, a £60,000 lump sum given to relatives of workers who die after contracting coronavirus is being treated as capital in means-tested benefits.

This means that, under current rules, a family entitled to Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit would lose their entitlement.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "The Government was right to say we must honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. So it is shocking that families are being forced to choose between accessing social security they are entitled to or the compensation they need.

"This must change so that families can grieve in peace with the full support they have every right to expect."

11:41 AM

If socialising feels normal 'you are probably taking risks', Nicola Sturgeon warns

If things "feel normal... you are probably taking risks", Nicola Sturgeon has warned, as she flags indoor social gatherings as "one of the main drivers of transmission".

The First Minister said people should be "incredibly cautious about these kinds of gatherings", reminding those in Scotland that "whether in your own home or a friend's house" a maximum of eight people can gather and "at all times make sure you physically distanced".

She said: "Life should not feel normal - I wish it could but it can't and it shouldn't.

"If it does you are probably taking risks."

11:34 AM

Coupar Angus lockdown 'more targeted' but 'more stringent' than others, says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland is able to take a "more targeted" but "more stringent" approach, because there appears to be "minimal evidence" of community transmission in Tayside.

There is a "clear focal point" in the outbreak in Coupar Angus, which was not the case in other outbreaks such as Aberdeen, she said. The situation will be kept under very close review, she added, including a meeting this morning. 

Meanwhile the situation is improving in Aberdeen, she said.

Ms Sturgeon said she would set out a "firm timetable" for the lifting of any restrictions after a review on Sunday. 

11:27 AM

Entire households of 900 staff told to self-isolate following outbreak in Scottish chicken factory

Entire households have been told they must self-isolate following an outbreak in a chicken factory in Coupar Angus, Scotland. 

Everyone who lives with a member of the 900 staff working at the Two Sisters chicken factory must enter quarantine after an outbreak of the virus, Nicola Sturgeon said today. That includes children. 

The First Minister said more than 600 workers have been tested and the remainder would be tested as soon as possible. So far 68 cases have been identified as part of the outbreak, 59 of whom work in the plant and nine of their contacts. 

Ms Sturgeon said it was a "very significant" change. Welfare support will be available, she added. 

People must continue to isolate for the required time even if they have a negative test, Ms Sturgeon said. 

11:22 AM

Cases appear to have fallen again, ONS figures show

Cases in England and Wales appear to have have fallen again, latest ONS data shows, down to 1 in 2,200 compared to 1 in 1,900 last week.

The infection rate now at 0.44 per 10,000 people compared with 0.68 per 10,000 in previous week.

However Katherine Kent, co-head of analysis for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “Our analysis of the results from recent weeks suggests there is not currently enough evidence to say whether the number of new cases per week has done anything other than levelled off when compared with last week’s estimate."

11:11 AM

Attorney General refers sentences of PC Harper's killers to Court of Appeal

The Attorney General has referred the sentences of three men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Harper to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

Henry Long, was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment while Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both 18, were sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment. PC Harper suffered fatal injuries when his ankles got caught in a strap trailing behind a vehicle driven by Mr Long on 15 August 2019.

His widow Lissie has said it was "heartbreaking" to be denied "real justice" over his death.

Suella Braverman said: “This was a horrific crime which resulted in the death of a much-respected police officer while he was on-duty, protecting his community.

“Having personally considered the details of this shocking case, I have decided to refer the sentences of PC Andrew Harper’s killers to the Court of Appeal.

“Attacks made against emergency workers will not be tolerated and offenders should be punished with the greatest severity for such heinous crimes.”

A date for the hearing at the Court of Appeal is yet to be set.

11:03 AM

Fraser Nelson: Be careful Boris, your backbenchers are running out of patience

Politicians are always brutal about each other’s failings, but some of the verdicts about Boris Johnson’s government in recent weeks set new levels of obloquy. “A circus run by clowns,” one MP tells Fraser Nelson. “The most inept government in living memory,” says another.

Abuse has long been the language of parliament. But what makes it different this time is that these are all Conservative MPs talking about a Conservative government – and one that’s supposed to be in its honeymoon period.  

10:53 AM

EU dodges question on repercussions for Hogan over golf event

An EU Commission spokesperson has refused to answer what the repercussions will be for Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan after he attended a golf event for 80 people which breached Covid regulations.

The EU spokesperson said: "Commissioner Hogan attended on Tuesday an event organised by the Irish Parliamentary Golf Society.

"He attended so in good faith, but he attended this event on the clear understanding that the organisers and the hotel concerned had been assured by the Irish Hotels Federations that the arrangements proposed to be put in place for the event were, or would be, in compliance with the Government's guidelines."

They added that Mr Hogan "takes very seriously the Covid rules and regulations".

Mr Hogan apologised earlier today (11:19am) however other senior figures have resigned their roles. 

10:35 AM

Kremlin critic Navalny condition caused by low blood sugar, claims Russian doctor

 The head doctor at the Siberian hospital treating Alexei Navalny has been diagnosed the Kremlin critic with a metabolic disease caused by low blood sugar.

Alexander Murakhovsky, the head doctor at the hospital treating Navalny in the city of Omsk, added that traces of industrial chemical substances had been found on the 44-year-old's clothes and fingers, Reuters reports.

Russian doctors said earlier that he was still too unwell to be moved, despite efforts being made to transfer the opposition politician to a hospital in Berlin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the German doctors who arrived on Friday had been invited to join Russian doctors treating Navalny.

10:32 AM

Government poised to announce measures to prevent wave of evictions, Grant Shapps suggests

The Government is poised to bring forward measures aimed at preventing a wave of evictions, a Cabinet minister has hinted.

Charities fear there will be mass evictions around Christmas if the Government does not give judges powers to stop automatic evictions of tenants affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Renters have been protected during the crisis by a ban announced in March and extended in June, but it is due to end in England and Wales on Monday.

Asked about this today Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, told LBC radio: "I know that getting that balance right between the renters and the landlords is something that my colleagues in the housing ministry are working closely on and I think they will make further announcements about it shortly, which I'm not privy to right now."

Former communities secretary Lord Eric Pickles told Times Radio "it would be really inappropriate to end the ban on evictions".

10:19 AM

Phil Hogan defends attendance at 80-people event after Irish minister resigns

EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has defended himself for attending an inside gathering in Ireland, at which there were more than 80 people. 

Coronavirus restrictions in Ireland stipulate a maximum of 50 people can gather indoors at any one time. 

Irish agriculture minister Dara Calleary and senator Jerry Buttimer have both resigned after also attending the golf society event indoors with 81 other people.

Mr Hogan posted on Twitter: "I attended the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on Wednesday on the clear understanding that the organisers and the hotel concerned had been assured [by the Irish Hotels' Federation] that the arrangements put in place would be in compliance with the government's guidelines.

"Prior to the event, I had complied fully with the government's quarantine requirements, having been in Ireland since late July."

10:03 AM

Have your say: Is a Brexit deal possible at this stage?

The two chief negotiators believe the chances of a Brexit deal are looking increasingly unlikely, following a set of talks that appeared to go "backwards more than forwards", Michel Barnier said today. 

Both sides have said a deal is possible - but are clearly expecting their interlocutor to be the one to blink first. 

Mr Barnier and David Frost have agreed to remain in close contact over the next two weeks before the next Round in London in the week of 7 September. The deadline has been set for October, in order for ratification and legal verification to take place before transition ends at the new year. 

But is this the drama before a deal? Or is it genuinely unlikely at this stage? 

Have your say in the poll below.

09:53 AM

No Brexit deal will cause 'economic turbulence, social and political disruption', warns Michel Barnier

A failure to secure a Brexit trade deal will result in "economic turbulence, if not social and political disruption", Michel Barnier has warned. 

The EU's chief negotiator said: "Last week the British Prime Minister met the Taoiseach and he clearly recalled he wished to have an agreement with the EU

"I understand that because if you have an agreement you will have a degree of economic stability, but if you don't have an agreement you will have economic turbulence, if not social and political disruption."

He added: "It is in our common interest, that is what the Prime Minister was saying - it is important to him.

"But it has to be a comprehensive agreement. We won't pay the price of making the Single Market fragile... we won't have the situation where our own jobs are threatened.

"We are not frightened of competition...it is part of life, but we want it to be fair competition."

09:44 AM

EU has received legal text from UK - but 'unilateral basis' doesn't work, says Michel Barnier

Michel Barnier has confirmed the EU has received the UK's draft legal text during this round of talks, which he says is "useful" as are "all documents received".

The chief negotiator said that a trade agreement must comprise three "essential" parts - zero tariffs and zero quotas, level-playing field guaranteeing fair play and the question of fishing "where we want to have a balanced agreement".

"It is always a useful thing for the UK to remind us of their position... however we can only work on a consolidated text if everyone does it together," he adds. "We can't have everyone working on a unilateral basis."

09:39 AM

EU embarks on 'virtual tour' of member states to prepare for Brexit changes

EU has begun a "virtual tour" of member states administrations to prepare them for the implications of Brexit, Michel Barnier has said. 

The bloc will be facing a "very different situation" from January 1, whether a deal is struck or not, the negotiator said. 

But he stressed the need to strike a deal in the remaining time available, saying: "The clock is ticking". 

09:34 AM

Brexit deal 'unlikely' says Michel Barnier, as he warns talks were 'going backwards'

A Brexit deal at this stage "seems unlikely", Michel Barnier has said. 

"Too often this week it felt as if we were going backwards more than forwards," he says.

"Today, at this stage, an agreement between the EU and UK seems unlikely. I simply do not understand why we are wasting valuable time."

There is no point delaying the more difficult issues until later in the talks, Mr Barnier says. 

Boris Johnson stressed his desire to reach a deal during his meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin last week, he says. 

The EU agrees and think it is possible, but progress must be made. 

09:31 AM

EU's demands are same as those of US and Japan, says Michel Barnier

Returning to Michel Barnier, he says the EU "respects" the UK's sovereignty, but says no trade deal  has been struck without compromise. 

This will be the case with other trade deals such as US and Japan, he says. 

There are many other areas beyond the level-playing field were no progress has been made he adds, including law enforcement and personal data. 

09:29 AM

David Frost: Brexit trade deal 'not easy to achieve'

As Michel Barnier gives his press conference, we have just had this statement issued from David Frost, the UK's chief negotiator: 

"Agreement is still possible, and it is still our goal, but it is clear that it will not be easy to achieve. Substantive work continues to be necessary across a range of different areas of potential UK-EU future cooperation if we are to deliver it.   

“We have had useful discussions this week but there has been little progress.  The EU is still insisting not only that we must accept continuity with EU state aid and fisheries policy, but also that this must be agreed before any further substantive work can be done in any other area of the negotiation, including on legal texts.  This makes it unnecessarily difficult to make progress.... We have been clear from the outset about the principles underlying the UK approach.

"We are seeking a relationship which ensures we regain sovereign control of our own laws, borders, and waters, and centred upon a trading relationship based on an FTA like those the EU has concluded with a range of other international partners, together with practical arrangements for cooperation in areas such as aviation, scientific programmes, and law enforcement.

"When the EU accepts this reality in all areas of the negotiation, it will be much easier to make progress."

09:25 AM

Level-playing field is about 'workers rights and consumer rights', says Michel Barnier

What is happening in terms of transport is "just one example of the consequences of the Brexit vote", Michel Barnier says. 

British negotiators "do not want certain standards to apply to certain carriers when they are on the continent", such as working hours and rest times, he says. 

They have refused to agree to these guarantees on the one hand, but on the other they are asking for a level of access to the Single Market that is akin to remaining a member, he says. 

"Why should we give access to our roads and our transport firms taht would not be subject to same... minimum standards and safety?"

The same applies to aviation, he adds. 

We are talking about "protecting thousands of jobs in our members states, it's about workers' rights, it's about consumer rights, it's about health and protecting our environment".

09:21 AM

'Nothing surprising about EU's position', says Michel Barnier

Michel Barnier says he "still hasn't seen from our British partners any willingness to take on board the EU's priorities". 

He says there is "nothing surprising whatsoever about the EU's priorities" which haven't changed since 2017. 

The EU "continue with great patience and good will to repeat these", he adds.

A trade agreement must go hand-in-hand with fair, mutually agreed standards; a long-term agreement on fishing and no cherry picking when it comes to the Single Market, he says. 

"Brexit means Brexit," Mr Barnier says. "There is nothing tactical about this."

09:19 AM

Those hoping for progress in Brexit talks this week 'will be disappointed', says Michel Barnier

Michel Barnier begins his regular press conference by thanking the UK team for coming to Brussels despite the "practical" issues relating to the pandemic. 

The EU's chief negotiator says there is still two months left to find an agreement and finalise the technical annexes, and to have the legal experts verify the texts "whichi s a long and complex task". 

Any delay beyond October carries a "serious risk", he says.

Anyone hoping for things to move forward this week - including himself - "would be disappointed", Mr Barnier says.

09:07 AM

European Council raises Alexei Navalny poisoning during phone call with Vladimir Putin

European Council President Charles Michel raised concerns about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is fighting for his life after a suspected poisoning, during a call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Reuters is reporting. 

Mr Navalny, a fierce critic of the Russian President and his lieutenants, is in a serious condition after drinking tea on Thursday morning that his allies believe was laced with poison. 

Doctors are refusing to let the activist be transferred to a hospital in Berlin, and say tests had so far found no traces of poison. 

Michel, who chairs summits of European Union leaders, also sought assurances on Belarus, with an official telling the newswire: "Nobody wants a repeat of what happened in Ukraine."

08:54 AM

Have your say: Is a Brexit breakthrough possible in the remaining time?

The UK and EU have had another round of talks this week, but initial signs suggest that no progress has been made yet again. 

Both sides have dug their heels in over two key issues - fisheries and the level-playing field - and while they profess to optimism that a deal is possible, neither the UK nor the EU wants to budge. 

So is there enough time to get a deal before transition ends this year? Or is it time to face facts and prepare for no deal? 

Have your say in the poll below.

08:44 AM

Quarantine is 'clunky', admits Grant Shapps as he warns holidaymakers to 'go with their eyes open'

British holidaymakers and the travel industry expecting a change to the 14-day quarantine system should not get their hopes up, despite the current system being "clunky", Grant Shapps has said.  

Speaking ahead of further changes to the travel corridors, which will see Croatia and Austria removed from the safe list and Portugal added, the Transport Secretary said he was working closely with Heathrow and others, and the approach was only being reviewed monthly with a view to adopting the two-test approach.

The fact this would cut the quarantine period from 14 to 10 days was "marginal" but that in itself wasn't "a show stopper", and there was no guarantee people would take the test. 

"We've added Portugal back on to the list, but you need to go with your eyes open there or anywhere that you travel this year because coronavirus is just a fact of life, we're having to live with it," he told Sky News. 

08:37 AM

Grant Shapps defends Gavin Williamson over 'difficult weeks'

Grant Shapps has defended Education Secretary Gavin Williamson over the exam results chaos.

Asked whether he had given Mr Williamson any advice, Mr Shapps said: "I haven't given him any advice other than to say, if you're in politics long enough then you'll always have to go through difficult weeks.

"When I resigned, as you mentioned, it was not from the job that I was even doing at the time, but just because I thought it was the decent, right thing to do."

Pushed on whether Mr Williamson is therefore not doing the "decent, right thing", he added: "No. Gavin Williamson has been, if you look not only at what he's done but what has happened in all four parts of the United Kingdom, he's trying to wrestle with something for which there's not a straightforward answer.

"Because the virus stopped people, including my twins by the way who got their GCSE results, it stopped them from doing their exams. And in that situation, there just isn't a solution. There isn't a perfect solution, a perfect way out of it."

Mr Shapps continued: "Let's not pretend that the choices facing the Education Secretary were unique to England or straightforward, because they were not."

08:27 AM

Coronavirus put public finances 'under significant strain' warns Chancellor, as debt passes £2 trillion

The UK’s national debt surged past £2 trillion for the first time in July as Rishi Sunak warned Covid-19 was putting the public finances “under significant strain”.

The Government borrowed another £26.7bn in July as it spent heavily to tackle the coronavirus and its economic effects, while tax revenues plunged because of the recession and deferred payments.

So far this financial year, the Treasury has borrowed an estimated £150.5bn, taking the national debt above £2 trillion for the first time, the Office for National Statistics said. Debt is at 100.5pc of GDP, levels last seen in the 1960s.

The Chancellor said: "Today’s figures are a stark reminder that we must return our public finances to a sustainable footing over time, which will require taking difficult decisions."

Despite the "significant strain" coronavirus had put on the economy, "things would have been far worse" without the measures the Government had deployed, he added. 

08:15 AM

Smart motorways report 'not true', says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps has rejected claims that the Government is planning to build more smart motorways, saying reports are "actually not true".

The Times this morning reported that seven new smart motorways were to be built on 4,000 miles of English roads, despite fears that they are linked to a higher rate of serious accidents. Some 38 people have died on the smart motorway network in the past five years.

Speaking on Times Radio, the Transport Secretary  said: "I have literally no idea where that story has come from apart from reading it in the newspaper. It's actually not true.

"The smart motorway programme is subject to quite a comprehensive stock-take review that I did at the end of last year because I had concerns over their safety records, and I made 18 recommendations after an intensive study into them - all of which need to be fulfilled before we can carry on building."

08:11 AM

Border Force checked my wife was quarantining, says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps has insisted quarantine checks are being made, telling interviewers that his wife received a phone call "randomly" from Border Force after returning from their family holiday.

"I know other people who've had the same calls," the Transport Secretary told BBC Breakfast.

Asked if anyone has been fined yet, he said "yes" but was not able to provide figures.

Pressed on why he was unable to give detail on the data, he said: "Because in this country we allow the authorities to get on with their job and they release the information, not ministers, that's why."

Mr Shapps said it is important for people to realise that they can end up with a criminal record by not doing the right thing.

07:56 AM

Irish minister resigns after attending mass gathering

Irish agriculture minister Dara Calleary has resigned after attending an indoor golf society event with 80 other people.

Other guests included EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and former Attorney General Seamus Woulfe.

The Oireachtas Golf Society event was held at the Station House hotel.

Current guidelines in Ireland state that no more than 50 people should gather indoors.

Mr Calleary cancelled a number of media appearances he was due to make on Friday morning before his resignation was confirmed.

He resigns from the Cabinet five weeks after his was appointed to the role following the sacking of Barry Cowen.

07:54 AM

Russia accused of blocking comatose opposition figure Navalny from transferring to Berlin

Aides to Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny accused doctors of risking his life on Friday by refusing to allow him to be moved from a Siberian hospital after his suspected poisoning.

Navalny, a 44-year-old lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner who is among President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, was in a coma in intensive care in Omsk after he lost consciousness while on a flight and his plane made an emergency landing on Thursday.

Aides say they believe he was poisoned and that something was put in his tea at an airport cafe.

An air ambulance was on its way to fly to him to Germany for treatment but Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said doctors were refusing to allow him to be moved.

"The chief doctor stated that Navalny is not transportable" because his condition was "unstable", Yarmysh said on Twitter, calling the decision "a direct threat to his life".

"The ban on the transportation of Navalny is an attempt on his life, which is being made right now by doctors and the deceitful authorities who sanctioned it."

Doctors have said his condition was serious but stable and have yet to make any official diagnosis.

07:53 AM

Next year's rail fare rise 'probably lowest for many years', says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps said he expects next year's rail fare increase to be "probably the lowest that we've seen for many years".

The Transport Secretary told LBC: "So the taxpayer has put their hand in their pocket now, when we get to next year and fare rises I think the fare rise we'll see will be one of the lowest, probably the lowest that we've seen for many years.

"I can't guarantee I'm afraid that it won't have a fare rise, because as I've explained, the taxpayer has already stumped up a lot of money and so we'll need to balance those two things off.

"But we'll wait until January until we get to that."

07:45 AM

Coronavirus will speed railway reforms, says Grant Shapps

Coronavirus is speeding up plans to reform the running of Britain's railways, Grant Shapps has said. 

The Transport Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme "the franchise system is too fragmented, the railways are too disparate."

Mr Shapps said the railways system should be "more answerable", with a "single guiding mind behind it and bring it together", pointing to work already carried out by Keith Williams.

"Coronavirus has accelerated that work because we have had to take over the operation of those franchises," he said. But he stressed the plan was not to exclude "private enterprise and investment and skills in that sector - it's just that we want to run a railway that is all pulling in the same direction". 

The current "makes no sense and we can run a railway much better," he added. "What has happened with coronavirus will get us there much quicker".

07:34 AM

Commuting will return to normal over the 'very long term', says Grant Shapps

Commuting will return to normal "over the very long term", Grant Shapps has said, stressing that the Government must continue to "build infrastructure that lasts". 

The Transport Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that despite claims at the start of the century that video conferencing would end travel, the numbers had increased every year since 2003 and this would continue to be the case after coronavirus. 

"In the long run people will still need to travel," he said.

Mr Shapps said he was launching the Government's Acceleration Unit "to learn good lessons" not just about rail but all infrastructure projects that come in on time and under budget.  

07:27 AM

Grant Shapps: I don't want to offer false hope on changes to quarantine system

Grant Shapps has said he doesn't "want to offer people false hope" that the quarantine period will be reduced, with no imminent plans to introduce an alternative to the two-week isolation period. 

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the airport test would "only likely pick up a very small proportion of people", and although he was working closely with Heathrow boss John Holland Kaye and others "on potential measures" the two-test system still had unanswered questions, including how to guarantee it was taken by the person quarantining. 

"It's not quite as simple," the Transport Secretary said. "We do review things constantly and every month we review the approach we are taking to quarantine, so it is under active review.

"But I don't want to offer false hope."

07:19 AM

Regional variations of coronavirus 'a fact' but blanket quarantine stands, says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps has acknowledged that "there is regionalisation going on" in the spread of coronavirus, but insisted the blanket approach to quarantine will stand. 

Asked why it was that someone in Croatia would have to quarantine on their return to Oldham - which has a higher rate - the Transport Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "Clearly it is a fact there is regionalisation going... in this country and elsewhere.

"But a week ago Croatia was seeing levels like the UK... in that time it has gone up from the UK level to something way beyond where we had to remove France and Spain and others. We have to act."

Mr Shapps said "my heart goes out" to people stuck in countries that have been removed from the travel corridor list, not least because he had to quarantine for two weeks himself. 

07:14 AM

Spain and France 'going the wrong way' to be removed from quarantine list, says Grant Shapps

Grant Shapps has said it is unlikely that Spain and France will be re-added to the Government's travel corridor list anytime soon.

The Transport Secretary told LBC: "At the moment I'm afraid France and Spain have both been going the wrong way.

"So just to put numbers on this, we respond when there are about 20 cases per 100,000 of the population measured over a seven-day rolling average. So 20 is the figure to bear in mind."

He added: "I think that the last that I saw of Spain it was up in the 40s and 50s so a long way off that, and France, who... quarantined from last weekend, I'm afraid to say we were right to do that because we've seen the cases continue to carry on up in France as well.

"And in order to put a country back in to the travel corridor, what we say is it needs to stay below that number for a couple of cycles. So a cycle is two weeks long for coronavirus."

07:10 AM

Switzerland under 'close watch', says Grant Shapps

Switzerland is under "close watch" and could yet be added to the red list, Grant Shapps has warned. 

Scotland has already removed the European country from its travel corridor, however the UK Government has not because it has not reached the "limit" of 20 cases per 100,000 people yet, the Transport Secretary said. There are about 11 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 of the population in the UK, he added.

He told BBC Breakfast cases were "not accelerating particularly quickly" but the country was under "close watch... and we will come back to it, but in the case of Scotland they decided to act a bit sooner," he added. 

"We won't know until next week if that was right thing to do."

Mr Shapps defended the discrepancy between the two nations, saying "broadly speaking we are doing same things".

07:08 AM

Quarantine test could be faked by being 'dipped in cup of tea', claims Grant Shapps

One of the reasons for not implementing the two-test system, which would cut quarantine by at least four days, is because there is no guarantee people aren't just dipping the swab "in a cup of tea", Grant Shapps has claimed. 

The Transport Secretary told BBC Breakfast holidaymakers should be "travelling with eyes open this summer because this virus is incredibly unpredictable", and people should "always be prepared" to quarantine for the full two weeks. It comes after Croatia, Austria and Trinidad were removed from the safe list. 

Asked why the UK wasn't deploying the two-test system to cut the amount of time people must isolate, Mr Shapps said the first test would only catch seven per cent of asymptomatic people.  

"It’s not very helpful on day one, you then need to test on day eight to get to very high percentage, and then get the results, so you will have been in quarantine [for several days]," he said. 

"How do you know the test has been taken by someone in quarantine rather than just dipped in a cup of tea," he added. 

07:01 AM

Regional quarantine 'too difficult', says Grant Shapps

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said it would be too "difficult" to implement regional quarantine rules as opposed to removing an entire country from the Government's quarantine exemption list.

Speaking to Sky News about changes to the exemption list, Mr Shapps said: "I do sympathise, I've been there myself, I had to actually quarantine myself from Spain after I changed the rules.

"This is a very unpredictable virus which unfortunately just doesn't play ball as far as the way that it can just sometimes take off in a country and I think anyone travelling this year will know that there are risks involved.

He added: "So to answer your question, it is still rather too difficult to do the kind of regionalisation that you're talking about because we just don't have the same control elsewhere."

06:50 AM

Grade inflation 'obsession' led ministers to ignore expert warnings

Ministers and the exam regulator Ofqual ignored multiple warnings that its algorithm for grading A-levels and GCSEs was heading for catastrophe, according to examiners, advisers, academics, former civil servants and MPs.

UCL was among universities which warned Ofqual as long as four months ago that its assessment model would penalise high-achieving children in disadvantaged schools. Heads from some of Britain's top schools also submitted evidence to the regulator that there were serious risks of children's results being downgraded, leading to "inaccurate and unfair" grades.

Even Ofqual's own expert advisers insisted it was doomed to fail as long as ministers insisted on a system that would prevent grade inflation and ensure results were consistent with previous years.