Boris Johnson news – live: Tusk accuses PM of 'stupid blame game', after disastrous Merkel call leaves Brexit talks on brink of collapse

In the Commons, MPs have been raising concerns about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit resulting in shortages of some goods - including toilet paper. 

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards asked Cabinet Office minister Simon Hart "how long supplies of toilet paper will last in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal?":

Mr Hart replied: 

"The government would prefer to leave the EU on 31 October with a deal. If this is not possible we will have to leave with no deal.

"In the event of no-deal the government will prioritise the flow of goods at the border while continuing to take a risk-based approach to controls and checks on goods to minimise additional friction.

"Extensive engagement activity continues with businesses, traders, ports and other stakeholders.

"The government is also stepping up engagement with key member states such as France.

"We will continue to work to make sure we have the best possible preparation to support the flow of goods."

In this morning's lobby briefing, Boris Johnson's official spokesman refused to comment on "No10 source" comments about the PM's call with Angela Merkel this morning.

However, he admitted the two leaders had had a "frank exchange" on the status of Brexit talks.

The spokesperson said:

"The purpose of the call was to discuss the progress that has been made in the talks so far.

"I would describe it as a frank exchange. The prime minister set out that the UK had made what we believe to be a significant offer but if we are to make future progress then the EU will need to compromise itself."

Talks were now at a "critical point", he added.

Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy premier, says there is “frustration” across the EU with the UK.

The government’s report on readiness for no-deal Brexit confirms what police and security leaders have been saying for some time – that there is no true alternative to EU law enforcement tools, writes Lizzie Dearden.

Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement extended the use of the European Arrest Warrant and vital criminal databases for a 21-month transition period, while a separate security treaty was to be negotiated. But without a deal, the UK’s access will be shut off on 31 October.

The tools that would be lost include the Schengen Information System II – an EU-wide database that is used by British police 539 million times every year and can be searched automatically by existing computer systems.

Without it, law enforcement will fall back on an Interpol database that is little-used by EU countries and does not give officers immediate powers to arrest suspects.

And without the European Arrest Warrant, police will have to fall back on bilateral treaties to attempt to bring suspects to Britain for trial or extradite dangerous offenders to home countries, dramatically increasing the time taken for the complicated legal process.

Today’s report admitted that “alternative non-EU arrangements are not like-for-like replacements and cannot fully compensate for the loss of EU cooperation tools,” but said the mechanisms needed have been tried and tested with countries outside the EU.

It said the British government was fighting to remain a member of Europol and the Passenger Name Record data system, although the European Commission has yet to make a decision.

The report expressed optimism that “despite the loss of capability if we leave without a deal, there are nevertheless aspects of security we can improve over time” such as strengthened border controls.

But that will be of little comfort to police officers preparing to change the way they work overnight, amid fears that criminals will take full advantage of a breakdown in communication between the UK and Europe.

Steve Baker – head of the ERG group of Brexiteers – has said both sides should “try to get beyond the blame game” over the Brexit proposals. It’s possibly a little late for that.

An update from the Court of Session in Edinburgh, where campaigners are asking for a nobile officium to make sure the Benn Act is upheld.

Lord Carloway has concluded today’s proceedings and said a decision will be made at 11am on Wednesday.

Dr Stephen Thomson – an associate professor at City University of Hong Kong and the author of the only book written on the nobile officium – has got in touch to explain what’s at stake.

“The nobile officium is a rarely used power of the Court of Session that allows it to award any remedy it sees fit, as a last resort. It derives from the long-standing, inherent equitable jurisdiction of the court to see that no wrong goes without a remedy.”

He says there is “some precedent” for the petition brought by Dale Vince, Jolyon Maugham QC and Joanna Cherry QC MP against the prime minister.

“Should the prime minister refuse or otherwise decline to sign the extension letter in the required circumstances as provided by the Benn Act, the nobile officium could be used to authorise the Clerk of Court to sign it on his behalf. The clerk’s signature would legally be as good as the prime minister’s signature in that event.”

“Nevertheless, the petitioners will need to satisfy the court that there is no other remedy available to them, and that the situation is extraordinary, unforeseen or otherwise urgent.”

Boris Johnson’s push for a general election at the earliest available opportunity is in danger of backfiring, a major new study has indicated.

The British Election Study shows voter volatility is currently at the highest point seen in recent British political history.

The researchers claim that almost half – 49 per cent – of the public did not vote for the same party in the three most recent national elections.

All the details here.

More than one in 20 people has fallen out with or stopped speaking to a family member, and more than one in 10 has fallen out with a friend because of rows over Brexit. 

It’s just one of the grime findings by BMG Research in a new survey for The Independent.

Read more here.

The Telegraph’s Europe correspondent Peter Foster just one of many condemning this awful, awful poster by Leave.EU.

Labour MP David Lammy said: “Dear Germany and the EU, please accept our apologies and do not be fooled into thinking Leave EU's xenophobic bile is representative of the UK.”

MEP Seb Dance said: “Leave.EU is a sewer so I’m not sure why anyone is surprised they’ve gone full on anti-German foreigner-bashing mode.”

Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said a no-deal Brexit would create an “avalanche of paperwork” which will harm British businesses.

Speaking in the Commons, McDonnell said: “The government’s own assessment shows that their no-deal Brexit policy would introduce, and I quote from the assessment, ‘significant ongoing administrative costs impacting on the UK and the EU business of all sectors’.

“It’s an avalanche of paperwork descending on British businesses in the form of import, export, safety and security declarations. The burden will cost our business sector an annual £15bn in administrative costs.”

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, meanwhile, has been talking about an early general election. “We have said that we won't have an election until that extension is secured.

“As soon as it is secured, obviously, we will come back to this question and address it.”

He added: “I think it’s inevitable.”

Earlier Starmer said No 10 were “collapsing the talks and engaging in a reckless blame game”.