Tonight at six. The Prime Minister arrives for talks in brussels but says he cannot accept the terms the eu is asking for. Are you going to get brexit done, Prime Minister . Borisjohnson will have dinner with the president of the European Commission he says a good deal is there to be done, but not if the eu sticks to its current demands. We will be taking back control, and we have already taken back control of our money, our borders and our laws, and we will seize all the opportunities that brexit brings. Would he end this charade, end that uncertainty, get the deal that he promised and allow the country to move on . Well have the latest from brussels. Also tonight. As thousands more people get the Pfizer Vaccine, a new warning to those
with significant allergies, after two people suffer adverse reactions. A sharp rise in the number of covid cases in wales since the end of the firebreak lockdown but the Welsh Government says its not lost control of the virus. Stocking the shelves in time for christmas how the pandemic is causing delays and disruption for supplies coming through the uks ports. Its the moment weve all waited for. And, after overnight fame around the globe, 90 year old Margaret Keenan the first to get the pfizer jab goes home with herfamily. And coming up in sport on bbc news. Back on the pitch paris st germain and istanbul basaksehir restart their Champions League tie after last nights anti racism protest. Good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. The Prime Minister has arrived in brussels ahead of more talks tonight to try to break the deadlock over a post brexit trade deal. Borisjohnson says theres still a good deal to be done with the European Union before the transition period ends in three weeks time, but he said eu negotiators were currently insisting on terms no Prime Minister could accept. Mrjohnson will have dinner this evening with the European Commission president , ursula von der leyen. The main sticking points are still over fishing rights, shared rules and who enforces them. Our political editor, laura kuenssberg, is at westminster. Borisjohnson was brexits biggest cheerleader and tonight, as the Prime Minister, he must decide, he mustjudge. Can Prime Minister, he must decide, he must judge. Can he Prime Minister, he must decide, he mustjudge. Can he persuade the eu to bend and, if not, will he walk away, a decision that would do so
much to our economy, our security, and leave things uncertain at a critical time . In the next couple of hours, so much is at stake. He has just arrived in brussels in the last half an hour from top just arrived in brussels in the last half an hourfrom top our just arrived in brussels in the last half an hour from top our report tonight has some flashing images. Engine is running, but whats the point the journey . After many months of preparation, there is no shiny new brexit deal yet. The Prime Minister will meet the eu chief tonight. What can he really achieve . Can you get this over the line, Prime Minister . There is so much at sta ke, Prime Minister . There is so much at stake, and the controversy is over how the eu and uk share rules in future. Just listen to Boris Johnson. On the face of it, is this a politician about to back down . Johnson. On the face of it, is this a politician about to back down7m oui a politician about to back down7m our friends a politician about to back down7m ourfriends in the eu are a politician about to back down7m our friends in the eu are currently insisting that, if they pass a new law in the future, with which we in this country do not comply or dont follow suit, they want the automatic
right to punish us and to retaliate, andi right to punish us and to retaliate, and i dont believe that those are terms that any Prime Minister of this country should accept. The labour leader, stepped in covid isolation, simply wants the Prime Minister to push on. There is no doubting that his incompetence has held britain back. So would he enter this charente would he enter this uncertainty, get the deal that he promised and allow the country to move on . They will receive Boris Johnson up there knowing that the noise doesnt mean there isnt room for compromise. An agreement was dangling in reach before some countries pushed for a more robust approach. Tonight, will the eu chief be more flexible after all . She is face to face with the Prime Minister within the hour but she has 27
countries to keep on board. Can they concede anything and can Boris Johnson, a politician who shook hands over compromises last time. |j think he probably is. He wants britain to be part of the world, to be seen as a country that is a first act, with high standards. However, he will be very strong on the sovereignty point. Comp located political geometry to stop the uk has left the eu doesnt want politicians like Angela Merkel to have the upper hand but she is worried about the uk breaking the rules that protect the contents huge economy. Saying there is still the chance of a deal, but there is a scenario where we cannot accept british conditions. One thing is clear, the integrity of the eu market must be preserved. Is a deal on the menu tonight . As Boris Johnson sweeps off to brussels, there is a chance he and the eu chief tonight can make something of a political pact with each other to both budge a little to allow a deal
to emerge through the middle but, if the feeling isnt mutual, by the time hes back here tonight, that could be the beginning of the end. The two sides would both like to welcome a deal, but what they are willing to do alongside each other tonight to get one is the problem. What is symbolic principle and what is practical are simply not the same thing. Laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. Our europe editor, katya adler, is in brussels. Is this dinner tonight seen as the final chance to break the deadlock . Negotiations logic would suggest that tonight would be the moment that tonight would be the moment that Boris Johnson and that tonight would be the moment that borisjohnson and ursula von der leyen, the European Commission president , who tonight represents all 27 eu member states, would say, look, we have stepped into the whites of each others eyes for long enough, the clock is ticking down to the end of the transition period, now its time for both of us to make those difficult political
compromises to reach a deal, but it really isnt that straightforward. That is because we have had a clash of ideologies right from the start of ideologies right from the start of these talks. For the government, it wants to defend National Sovereignty that it has got since brexit. It says it doesnt want to sign up to a new brussels rule book and, for the sign up to a new brussels rule book and, forthe eu, sign up to a new brussels rule book and, for the eu, as we heard earlier today from Angela Merkel, it wants today from Angela Merkel, it wants to protect its Single Market overall from what it sees as potential unfair competition from the uk, so its not as easy as the Prime Minister saying, look, its not as easy as the Prime Ministersaying, look, ursula, ill sign up to your competition rules if you give me a big compromise over fish. Before they met this evening, both separately said they thought a deal was still possible, but the nodal option still features prominently on the menu, and a few moments ago we heard from the eu its going to begin publishing its no deal contingency measures this week. Thank katya adler from brussels, thank you. Supermarkets are being given three months to prepare for additional checks that will be carried out
on goods being transported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain after the brexit transition period ends on new years eve. The agreement reached by the uk and eu is designed to stop Food Supplies being disrupted next year. When the transition period ends on new years eve, england, scotland and wales will leave the eus Single Market for goods. Northern ireland effectively wont. At the moment, there are hardly any checks on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But, from january ist, deal or no deal, there will be new rules governing trade across the irish sea, that Companies Big and small are trying to get to grips with. Our ireland correspondent, emma vardy, reports. Becoming cut off from Great Britain through new brexit red tape was one of the biggest fears for businesses in Northern Ireland, because food exported over the irish sea will be subject to new checks once Northern Ireland becomes a gateway to the eu. Now, supermarkets will have an extra few months to get their paperwork
in order, but Smaller Companies are still awaiting answers. We do probably a third of our business in december, for christmas, and we just have not had a chance to look at whats happened in brexit. You know, weve just been trying to get over the year with covid. The new rules on bringing products into Northern Ireland will apply whether theres a trade deal or not, but todays announcement could make the picture a little clearer for companies and what theyre having to gear up for. But make no mistake this all still amounts to a huge shift in the trading status of Northern Ireland for years to come. Today, michael gove tried to reassure traders that there would be no disruption to Food Supplies. British sausages will continue to make their way to belfast and ballymena in the new year. And weve also got time for reciprocal agreements between the uk and the eu on agri food, which can be discussed in the months ahead. It was welcomed by supermarkets after previous warnings the changes
could have limited the range of goods they sent to Northern Ireland shelves. Wed been preparing for the worst, so, frankly, if there had been no deal, we were confident we would have been able to continue to supply our stores in Northern Ireland, but obviously this should make it easier. For manufacturers that bring Raw Materials over the irish sea, some relief today that new tariffs will be minimised. But, like this firm which makes plastic goods, from hairbrushes to aeroplane parts, the real challenge is dealing with new documentation over where their products are sold on. What difference does the added paperwork make to your business . The bureaucracy, we think, is going to be an immediate burden. With brexit, unfortunately, we understood that from the start, and that is indeed, of course, a burden for business. And the tracking and trace required to understand where materials are actually consumed, and ultimately which markets to which theyre sold into, thats a very complex process. There are just 22 days
left until the brexit transition period ends, but even then, its not the final destination. All these new trading arrangements for Northern Ireland will continue to evolve well into the future. Emma vardy, bbc news. Medical regulators have recommended that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not have the Pfizer Biontech coronavirus vaccine. It comes after two nhs workers had an adverse response to the jab yesterday. Theyve both recovered already. Thousands of other people have received the vaccine without any issues. Our health correspondent, dominic hughes, reports. Theyve been together ever since they met while working at Basildon Hospital more than five decades ago. Now, vic and penny griffiths have returned to the place where they each served for a0 years, from where the Covid Vaccine offers some hope of better days ahead. Our zest for life doesnt diminish when you get older, but the anxieties are there about catching something or doing
something that may stop the span of your life. As far as im concerned, both of us want to have it done and get on with life. Sharp scratch now, angela. But as vaccinations continue, a warning from the medicines regulator two nhs staff, both with a history of serious allergic reactions, suffered side effects after receiving the vaccine. We need to strengthen our advice now weve had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups that have been selected as a priority. We get that advice to the field immediately. The two Staff Members are now well again, having received treatment, but those who experience significant allergic reactions have been told to avoid getting the jab for now. Experts say of the thousands who is received the vaccine yesterday and in Clinical Trials, serious reactions were very rare indeed. At Bradley Manor care home in belfast, staff and residents were receiving their jabs. By the end of the year,
more than 4 million doses of the Pfizer Biontech vaccine should have arrived in the uk, and gps will start delivering vaccines next week. But, from the governments most Senior Scientific adviser, a warning this is no time for complacency. We have a very important light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines, weve got a lot to do to roll out the vaccines, weve got a lot to do to make sure the vulnerable are protected. Its not the time to suddenly say we relax everything, and if that happens we will have a big surge. The vaccine is now reaching the most vulnerable, even in some of our more remote communities. Today some doses arrived in orkney in the far north of scotland. But as we embark on the biggest Mass Vaccination Programme weve ever seen, expect some bumps along the road. Dominic hughes, bbc news. The latest government figures show there were 16,578 new Coronavirus Infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period. The average number of new cases
reported per day in the last week is now 15,367. 1,359 people had been admitted to hospital on average each day over the week to last friday. 533 deaths were reported thats people who died within 28 days of a positive covid i9 test. That means, on average, in the past week, 412 deaths were announced every day. It takes the total number of deaths so far across the uk to 62,566. The Welsh Government has denied losing control over coronavirus since the end of its firebreak lockdown a month ago. The first minister, mark drakeford, said the situation had become very difficult, with case rates rising significantly, partly because some people were no longer willing to follow the rules. More from our wales correspondent, hywel griffith. There is a catastrophe on the horizon for places like port talbot, according to the local head of public health. This week he appealed to residents
here to stop mixing after the area recorded the highest covid case rate in the uk. So why is the virus spreading so quickly . It is very confusing, and i think its not only me, theres a lot of people confused. Geraldine says people here no longer understand the rules or have simply given up. I just dont think people are taking this serious enough. I think a lot of people still think its just the flu or a hoax. Even now, after all this time . Even now, absolutely even now. And me personally . I would like a lockdown until after christmas into the new year. Waless firebreak lockdown in the autumn initially seemed to have worked. Case numbers were driven down. But when everything reopened, people were told not to depend so much on a set of rules but to show personal restraint. Research by Swansea University shows that left people unclear and feeling that the worst was over. There could be an argument made that it should have been a longer firebreak. Some people may have been lulled into this false sense of security of it being now safe to mix after that. So has the Welsh Government now lost control . I dont think its a matter of losing control, but it is a matter. But the numbers show you have. It a matter of being very clear with people in wales that the fate of coronavirus lies in all of our hands. Government can advise, government can persuade, government can set the rules, but the way we behave is what makes the difference. Christmas wont be cancelled the five days of relaxed rules remain in the diary. But, until then, everyone in wales has been asked to keep social contact to a minimum. Hywell griffith, bbc news, port talbot. Our top story this evening. The Prime Minister is in brussels tonight for more talks to try to break the deadlock over a post brexit trade deal. Borisjohnson says theres still a good deal to be done with the European Union. Going home 90 year old Margaret Keenan the first to get the pfizerjab goes home with herfamily. She says she feels great and cannot wait to spend quality time with them. Coming up on sportsday on bbc news. Can rugby union be safer . The conversation continues, after claims that former players have been left with permanent brain damage. The pandemic has caused so much congestion as well as delays at some of the uks biggest ports that the japanese car maker honda has had to temporarily suspend production at its swindon plant because of a shortage of parts. But its notjust honda Toy Companies preparing for christmas are finding it difficult to get popular toys onto the shelves in time for christmas. And there are warnings that there could be further disruption when the brexit transition period ends on december 31st. Emma simpson reports. The production line at honda. But they werent doing any of this today. They called a temporary halt a major car manufacturer running short of key parts because of delays and congestion at the ports. From cars to christmas toys, and a retailer worried some best sellers wont make it onto the shelves in time. The situation has got considerably worse in the last two weeks. Its notjust the toy industry thats suffering from the delays. But clearly, for the toy industry, december 2a is a really critical day. This firm supplies building materials. Ten of its shipping containers have ended up in rotterdam. Felixstowe is our hub for importing. And as a consequence, theres a massive jam there. Ships are coming into the English Channel and realising theres massive delays and not wanting to stop in felixstowe. It prides itself as the port of britain, but like the containers, the problems at felixstowe have
been stacking up. The pandemic has disrupted Global Supply chains and its come at the worst possible time for our biggest ports. What is going on . We have people trying to beat the brexit deadline of the 1st of january, so moving their goods earlier than they normally would have done. Clearly, its christmas, which is a very busy time anyway. There are some specific covid factors around how we can operate our ports, but also the large volumes of ppe that people have been bringing into the uk as well. And heres another thing. There are millions of these empty containers, all in the wrong place, across the world, and theres now a shortage of them back in asia. This problem isnt going to be fixed overnight. And with brexit looming and Additional Border controls, the fear is there could be even more disruption ahead. In portsmouth, theyre helping to free up space, shipping out hundreds of empty containers. Tonight, there are fresh calls for the government to step in and do what it can to help clear the logjam. Emma simpson, bbc news, portsmouth. The International Criminal court in the hague says it has reason to believe British Forces committed war crimes in iraq between 2003 and 2011. The icc says it has decided not to take action against the uk because it says it did not find sufficient evidence that the British Government had acted to shield soldiers from prosecution. Our defence correspondent, jonathan beale, is with me. Very serious allegations . The headline the court will not be pursuing a case against the British Government, that has been welcomed by the ministry of defence which says there is new is no new evidence brought to light by the 180 page report, but the report says
there is reason to believe such crimes were committed against iraqi detainees while in uk custody including illegal killings, murder, torture and rape. The reason you explained they will not pursue the case is that they say there is not enough evidence to prove the government shielded troops from prosecution. That said, there is still the potential for political fallout. At the moment the government has introduced legislation aimed at protecting the british troops from what they call vexatious claims. This report says it found the proposition that all claims against British Forces were vexatious was untenable, so i think we will see a lot more scrutiny of that legislation which has already been criticised by human rights groups, lawyers and even military commanders, which is now in the house of lords. Thank you, jonathan beale. More than half a million children across the uk are living in destitution, according to a report by thejoseph rowntree foundation. It defines destitution as being when a household cannot afford two or more essentials such as shelter, food, heating and clothing. The north of england has some of the worst affected regions. Middlesbrough was named as the worst affected place, as our north of england correspondent, fiona trott, reports. Weve seen some deprivation, but not on this scale. This Small Charity feeds around 300 people a week. Gravy and taties. Next one, please werejust seeing more and more coming every week. We would normally think of destitution as homeless people, people on the streets who havent got heating or. At least at home they have got shelter, but some of them are wrapping up in blankets. When their heating goes off, that means that the children are cold. Hiya, matty, hows your course been going . I was a bit proud. I didnt tell people how much i was struggling. Tried to go to sleep, go under the covers, just tried to think about something else. Like, this place has saved my life. Some toffee apples for the kids . Oh, thank you. Gone without having my tea, dinner and breakfast so my two kids can eat. On this estate, mums like hazel have hard choices. When im down to my last bit of credit, i go without heating and thatjust so i know i can put the cooker on for my children. Looking at this report, i feel appalled and i feel ashamed that we have allowed ourselves to get to a situation where millions of people are trapped in this degrading situation and feel they have no way out. At the beginning of covid, the government took a bold, compassionate step. They boosted universal credit by £20. That has been an absolute lifeline for millions of people. It is vital that we dont whip that lifeline away in april. In a statement, the government says it has raised the living wage but it is continuing
to assess the situation. Got you some groceries there. Sarah brings home two wages and is looking for a third job. Weve had to change her name to protect her childrens identity. I get up in a morning and cried my eyes out, and then i shake it off, because i have to get up and get on with it for the kids. A couple of times when ive had to go to the pawnshop, sometimes ive lost stuff a phone, a ring, a tv because i havent got the money to go back and get it. Its food shopping, gas or electric. Im trying to reach as many as i can, but ive no doubt that there will be some children who do not have a christmas dinner and do not open a present. Itsjust going to be just me and my two boys, just on our own for christmas. But i have got a lot of friends support in middlesbrough. Fiona trott, in middlesbrough. Fly less, switch to electric vehicles, plant more trees, eat less meat thats what were being urged to do to help the uk dramatically cut Carbon Emissions over the next decade. A new report by the governments advisors the Climate Change committee, says this could be cheaper to achieve than previously thought. Our science editor, david shukman, explains. This is where it all began. The uk pioneered the industrial revolution, powered by fossilfuels that made the country rich but also started the process of changing the climate. One way to look at this is how much each of us in the uk is responsible for the Carbon Dioxide and other gases that are heating up the atmosphere. Back in 1990, the average per person was just under 16 tonnes. By last year, that had fallen by about half, mainly because of cleaner sources of power and more efficient household appliances. But in the next 30 years, well, each of us are meant to get down to effectively zero, and thats going to be a lot harder. A lot will depend on building many more Wind Turbines out at sea. Since we last filmed these giant structures, making the long climb up inside them, their costs have fallen dramatically. The governments advisers say that going zero carbon will cost much less than expected. Its happening at pace because its also happening at scale, so its those scaled changes, those big wind farms that well have in british waters in the future, that deliver those kind of cost reductions. And we all benefit from that in the future. Key to all this will be a switch to electric cars and other zero carbon vehicles, according to the advisers. Fewer flights is another recommendation. Thats a personal decision for all of us. So is eating less red meat cutting it by a quarter over the next decade is the aim and heating our homes not with gas boilers but cleaner alternatives, like heat pumps. But how quickly can this be done . Weve got supply chains that are ready to deliver this and weve got consumers who are beginning to understand that this might be good. What we just need is that little bit of intervention from government to bring it all together, to build confidence, and for people to start really seeing what a better home looks like for them. Millions more trees will also be needed. This is the quickest way to plant them. The climate plan says that Carbon Dioxide has to be removed from the atmosphere for us to stay safe and trees will help to do that. And a reminder of what all this is about, trying to head off the most dangerous risks of a more violent climate, stronger storms and rising sea levels here and around the world. David shukman, bbc news. At the age of 90, Margaret Keenan was made famous around the world yesterday
as she became the first person to have the pfizer covid jab as part a Mass Vaccination Programme. Kicking off britains so called v day, day she said she felt privileged to have it. This afternoon she left hospital to a warm welcome from her family. Catherine burns report contains some flashing images. Yesterday, Margaret Keenan became the most talked about 90 year old in the world. Its the moment weve all waited for. Untranslated. Margaret keenan. She was the very first person outside of Clinical Trials to have the Pfizer Vaccine against coronavirus. Applause. Today she got to leave hospital after making plenty of goodbyes. Bye thank you. Shes like royalty, isnt she . Her daughter sue and grandson connor were waiting. Come on, mum hello, granny she says this whole things been a whirlwind and shes pleased
to get home to her family. There were a few tears when she saw them. Are you 0k . So good to see you. And like any worldwide superstar, the inevitable fans asking for photos. Margaret turns 91 next week and says this vaccine was the best early birthday present. But a bunch of flowers is always a welcome extra gift. Catherine burns, bbc news. Time for a look at the weather heres louise lear. We could have organised some Better Weather to come out of hospital to this was north wales a few hours ago, the rain has a right, it has been moving from the west over the last few hours, very extensive in the west, some heavier bursts across the west, some heavier bursts across the far south west. Overnight tonight the weather fronts will
split into two, one post pushes into the near continent, it fragments and wea ke ns the near continent, it fragments and weakens as it moves north into scotland. We might keep clearer skies in the notice and there is the potential to go and see the aurora, stick your head out of the window before you go to bed and you might see something spectacular. Elsewhere, tomorrow starts rather cloudy and grey, outbreaks of showery rain drifting north into scotland, isolated coastal showers but staying rather grey and gloomy, not much sunshine at all. Six to 9 degrees for most, we might see double figures into the far north west and it is almost a repeat performance out of thursday into friday. Another front will bring wetter weather perhaps further south and to write a. Starting off grey and to write a. Starting off grey and wet across eastern areas, the front clears away but the cloud does not rake up, there will be said of
brightness, we might see most sunshine