Brussels shoots down plans for Brexit deal without backstop as PM blasted over 'spin'

Brexit secretary Steve Barclay said: "There's a common purpose both in Dublin, in London and here in Brussels to see a deal over the line.

"I think the fact that the meeting overran today, we were getting into the detail - the technical teams will meet again next week, the prime minister and president (Donald) Tusk are expected to meet in the UN as well next week - underscores the purpose there is on both sides to get a deal and that is what we are working very hard to secure."

Ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has waded into the row over Emily Thornberry's comments, where she compared the Lib Dems to the Taliban.

Cabinet ministers have refused to endorse children demanding action to rescue the Earth from looming catastrophe at today’s global climate strike, telling teenagers the cause did not warrant missing one day of school.

As children and young people across the country walk out of lessons and lectures, schools minister Nick Gibb said pupils should not miss any classes.

The Tory MP said the government “shares young people’s passion” for tackling climate change, but claimed even missing out on one day of school could affect activists’ GCSE results.

Speaking after his meeting with Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, Michel Barnier has told the BBC in Brussels: "Brexit is a school of patience but we are still ready to reach an agreement.

"You ask me if I am optimistic or pessimistic .... the famous grandfather of the EU, Jean Monnet, said 'I am not optimistic, I am not pessimistic, I am still determined'."

Most of the restaurants are closed, the normally bustling tables sit empty and people are in jeans or shorts in the bosses’ absence. It does not feel like a constitutional crisis, writes our deputy political editor Rob Merrick.

Influential grassroots group Momentum has thrown its weight behind a conference motion calling on Labour to effectively abolish all private schools.

The campaign by Labour Against Private Schools already has high-profile support from shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and former leader Ed Miliband.

A spokesman for the Labour Against Private Schools campaign - which uses the Twitter handle AbolishEton - said: "It is fantastic to have Momentum backing for our motion at conference.

"We need to go beyond ending the charitable status and commit to fully integrating private schools.

"That's what our motion does and that's what we need the next Labour government to do.

"We've had 150 years of privilege and power in private schools - it's time for that to end."

But a union leader has warned that dismantling private education would cause massive disruption and push up costs for state schools by billions of pounds.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), told the PA news agency: "Labour is right to look at how we create a more equitable society but the key to doing that is to make sure every child has a great education and to find ways of improving career opportunities.

"Abolishing private schools would not address these issues but it would create lots of problems."

Momentum, which enjoys considerable influence within Labour, is also backing a plan for a "green new deal" which would include a 2030 zero carbon target.

Other motions supported by the group at Labour's conference in Brighton include a call for a four-day working week, the abolition of detention centres and plans to build more than three million social homes and link rents to local incomes.

Boris Johnson is expected to meet European Council leader Donald Tusk at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday. In his first trip to the UN as PM, Johnson will hold a number of crunch meetings with European leaders such as Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and taioseach Leo Varadkar. 

Was it the Today programme or Just a Minute? Ireland's foreign minister speaks for almost a quarter of an hour without interruption, writes Indy sketchwriter Tom Peck.

Read his take here:

The EU is "determined" to reach an agreement with its "partner and ally" the UK, chief negotiator Michel Barnier has tweeted following his meeting with Brexit secretary Steve Barclay today:

Eight ferry, aviation and rail firms have been shortlisted for government contracts to transport critical supplies including vital medicines into the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Seatruck and Stena, as well as aviation firm Air Charter Services and train operator Eurotunnel, will be able to bid for freight service contracts as required over the next four years.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps, who announced the shortlist this afternoon, said the "high quality and experienced" companies had been chosen for their "proven ability to manage high quality projects and experience in freight operation".

His predecessor Chris Grayling faced calls to resign earlier this year after handing a £14m contract to Seaborne Freight to run freight services, despite having no ships or trading history.

The Department for Transport then paid £33m to Eurotunnel in an out-of-court settlement in March after the firm launched a High Court challenge claiming it was unfairly overlooked for the work.