Neither side is prepared to walk away from the negotiating table yet but has anything changed and is a deal now in reach . A warning to the Prime Minister relaxing coronavirus restrictions this christmas will lead to a third wave of infections. Germanys Angela Merkel announces tighter coronavirus restrictions to run through christmas until january the 10th. And anthonyjoshua knocks out kubrat pulev to defend his heavyweight world titles, setting up a potential super fight with tyson fury. Good afternoon. Borisjohnson and the European Commission president , ursula von der leyen have agreed to continue talks to try to break the deadlock over a post brexit trade deal. After speaking on the phone this morning, they issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to go the extra mile to try to find a solution. The Prime Minister said the two sides remained far apart on key areas but they wouldnt be walking away while there was still hope of a deal. Today had been given as a deadline to deci
TORY ministers treat the export crisis threatening to sink Scotland’s fishing sector “like they’re discussing the rules of croquet”, Fergus Ewing says. In the past fortnight, the country’s iconic fishing industry has entered an unprecedented storm as Brexit red tape prevents fresh produce valued in European markets from crossing the Channel. Around one third of the fleet is tied up at harbour as custom is cut off, and loads of langoustines that were bound for traders in France and Spain have had to be dumped. Logistics firms are caught too in a roadblock thrown up by the terms of the UK’s EU withdrawal deal, enacted suddenly after a last-minute agreement was reached while the UK Fisheries Minister was organising a village nativity trail.
Royal Navy vessels have been deployed to âthreats of illegal fishingâ in UK waters as part of no-deal preparations
Four 80-metre gunboats are on standby if there is no deal
The Royal Navy River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey at anchor in the Solent off the Isle of Wight, one of four river patrol vessels put on standby by the Government to guard against European trawlers entering UK territory if the trade talks with Brussels fail (Image: PA)
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The Government has revealed its No Deal contingency plans, including more than 3,000 lorries a week to bring in essential drugs and 1,100 extra customs and immigration officers.
Preparations for Britain crashing out without a free trade agreement have so far seen Royal Navy vessels deployed to threats of illegal fishing in UK waters, Number 10 confirmed last night.
Now officials have announced a raft of other moves, including the recruitment of extra border staff to help ensure the country can keep moving once the transitional arrangement with Brussels ends.
The extra employees will be supported by seven inland inspection sites, a round-the-clock Border Operations Centre, support phone lines and a hauliers app.