Politics

London will move into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions imminently, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs from the capital. The move will see thousands of bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants close in the capital, except for takeaway, delivery and click and collect services. Under Tier 3 measures, people must not meet socially indoors,

There has been some progress in one area of the Brexit talks but disagreements remain on other issues, EU negotiator Michel Barnier has reportedly said. A senior EU diplomat, cited by the Reuters news agency, said the bloc’s chief negotiator had told ambassadors there has been “limited” progress on agreeing an enforcement mechanism to ensure

Post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and Brussels will continue into next week after negotiators were told to “go the extra mile”. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen released a brief joint statement following what they called a “useful” phone call on Sunday morning. They said they “discussed the

Post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU could slip beyond tonight’s deadline, the foreign secretary has suggested. Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Dominic Raab said “I can’t close the door” on that possibility but admitted “there is still a long way to go” before an agreement is possible. Prime Minister Boris

As negotiations on a UK-EU trade deal are set to continue overnight, a British government source has said that “as things stand the offer on the table from the EU remains unacceptable”. Both sides now concede that a no-deal outcome is more likely than not when the talks end on Sunday, and Royal Navy gunboats

Armed Royal Navy boats are being prepared to patrol the UK’s fishing waters in an apparent final warning shot to Brussels as negotiations enter the final 48 hours.  Four of the 80-metre vessels are on standby to guard British waters from EU fishermen in case no deal is agreed on fishing rights after the Brexit

UK and EU leaders might not yet be able to agree on a trade deal, but one Brexit issue they can agree on is their fondness for cake metaphors. French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest leader to serve a slice of analogy on Friday when asked about the EU’s contingency planning. In the event

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the UK and EU “remain apart on fundamental issues” ahead of Sunday’s deadline for a Brexit trade deal. Speaking at a Brussels summit of EU leaders, Ms von der Leyen set out continuing differences between EU and UK negotiators on so-called level playing field provisions and

There is a “strong possibility” no post-Brexit trade deal will be struck with the EU, Boris Johnson has warned. The prime minister told British citizens and businesses to “make proper preparations” for the scenario, which would come into effect on 1 January 2021. He added that Brussels’ current offer “isn’t right for the UK” and

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told Sky News that Sunday will be a “point of finality” for Brexit trade talks if the EU does not “move substantially” in negotiations. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday night shared a three-hour dinner with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the hope of breaking months of

Boris Johnson is dashing to Brussels for dinner with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hoping for an early Christmas present: a Brexit deal. With deadlock after months of talks between UK and EU negotiators, the prime minister is aiming for an 11th-hour breakthrough in what could be a make-or-break meeting. Mr Johnson will

There is now a “smoother glidepath” towards a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU after the government ditched plans that could have seen the UK breach international law, Michael Gove has told Sky News. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is heading to Brussels this afternoon in a last-ditch bid to make a breakthrough in trade negotiations

The government will drop parts of legislation that could have seen the UK break international law after reaching an “agreement in principle” on Brexit divorce issues. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said he was “delighted” to have reached an agreement, including on post-Brexit arrangements for the Irish border. As a result, the government said it

Boris Johnson has said the conclusion of a Brexit trade deal is “looking very, very difficult at the moment” as he prepares for a make-or-break visit to Brussels. The prime minister said: “You’ve got to be optimistic, you’ve got to believe there’s the power of sweet reason to get this thing over the line. “But

MPs have voted to reinstate controversial sections of a bill that could potentially override the Brexit divorce deal. It comes after the controversial sections were stripped out by peers. MPs voted to reinsert key pieces of the Internal Market Bill that have sparked consternation in Westminster and abroad for potentially breaking international law by taking

The government will push ahead with Brexit legislation that could break international law – despite fears that it could upset the EU at a critical time for trade talks. Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told Sky News the government’s Internal Market Bill would return to the House of Commons today. Time is running out to