Boris Johnson news – live: EU calls for Brexit talks to ‘intensify’ and Sturgeon urges Covid breach MP to quit

Sturgeon: I’ve made it ‘crystal clear’ my MP should quit

Is coronavirus rule breaker Margaret Ferrier getting the message? Nicola Sturgeon has had more to say on why she has asked the SNP MP to stand down.  

“Trust me, it’s one of the easiest things in the world in politics to call for tough consequences when one of your opponents breaks the rules, that’s not hard for any of us,” said Scotland’s first minister.

“The litmus test, though, is whether you’re prepared to do the same when it’s one of your own breaking the rules.

“That’s why the SNP whip has been withdrawn from Margaret … I’ve also spoken to her directly and made crystal clear to her that I think she should now resign as an MP.”

No 10 declines chance to call on Ferrier to quit

Will ministers begin asking for the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier to quit as an MP? Or would that open them up to questions about Dominic Cummings’ adventures at Barnard Castle again?

Downing Street has said Boris Johnson believes everyone must follow the rules - but refused to be drawn on whether Ferrier should stand down.

A No 10 spokesman said: “That is a matter for her and her party … The prime minister has been clear that everybody needs to follow the rules.”

PM offers Trump 'best wishes’

Boris Johnson has said he is sure Donald and Melania Trump will stage “a very strong recovery” after testing positive for coronavirus.

Brexit mood is ‘constructive’, says Merkel

Angela Merkel has had some stuff to say about Brexit. The German chancellor said the UK decision to try and break parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement with the Internal Market Bill had been a “bitter” moment.

But she also said negotiations on trade were “heading for a crucial phase" and the EU was in a “constructive” mood after a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Friday.

“A lot will be determined by what the UK wants or does not want. As long as talks are ongoing I remain optimistic,” she said.

Good afternoon, this is Vincent Wood signing on to take you through the rest of the afternoon and evening in politics.

Today’s big stories so far:

Brexit talks could take another step forward tomorrow when Boris Johnson meets with the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen - who has warned time is running out to broker a deal. She told reporters in Brussels earlier: “We have in German a saying: ‘Wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg’, translated it is more or less 'where there's a will, there's a way’”. More on the way it could all go down in a Saturday showdown from Jon Stone here.

Nicola Sturgeon has told Margaret Ferrier in no uncertain terms to resign as an MP after travelling to and from London with coronavirus symptoms. Ms Ferrier, who had the whip withdrawn by the SNP, tested positive shortly after delivering a speech in the commons. Here are the Scottish first minister’s comments. 

Meanwhile the PM has offered support to Donald Trump after the US president also tested positive for the virus. The PM, who counted on support from the Republican during his own battle with the virus, said he hoped he and first lady Melania Trump would stage “a very strong recovery”.

Michel Barnier rounds up round of talks - with disagreements and ‘persistent serious divergence’

The EU’s Michel Barnier has said plenty of points of disagreement still remain between the EU and the UK at the close of the ninth round of negotiations. He also noted “persistent serious divergences on matters of major importance for the European Union”.

Closing off his comments, in which he notes some “positive new developments”, he said: “We will continue to maintain a calm and respectful attitude, and we will remain united and determined until the end of these negotiations”.

You’d be forgiven for reading a touch of tension into the statement. The comment comes after parliament voted to give the government the power to breach the terms of the pre-existing agreement with the Internal Market Bill - a matter that the EU has taken the first step towards challenging on legal grounds.

Nicola Sturgeon: I made it crystal clear to MP Margaret Ferrier she should quit

Lord Frost says ‘familiar differences remain’ on Brexit talks

Michel has had his say - now the UK’s Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has made his post-talk statement - saying the "outlines" of a free trade agreement with the EU are now "visible" but that "familiar differences" remain.

He said there had been "some limited progress" on the issue of state aid but that the EU needed to "move further" if there was to be an agreement.

"On fisheries the gap between us is unfortunately very large and, without further realism and flexibility from the EU, risks being impossible to bridge. These issues are fundamental to our future status as an independent country," he said in a statement.

"I am concerned that there is very little time now to resolve these issues ahead of the European Council on October 15."

DUP’s Jim Shannon isolating after coming into contact with infect SNP MP

The DUP’s Jim Shannon is self isolating after coming into close contact with the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier.

The 65-year-old MP, best known for his omnipresence in the adjournment debates in parliament, was sat at the same dining table as Ms Ferrier on Monday, when she was awaiting the results of her virus test.

It is believed he was sufficiently distanced at the time.

 A DUP statement said: "Upon receiving this news, Mr Shannon immediately self-isolated and on Thursday afternoon he received a negative Covid-19 test result.

"Mr Shannon sought and at all times has followed the advice of Public Health England and the House of Commons' Covid-19 team in dealing with every element of this incident.

"As a precaution, Mr Shannon is self-isolating at home."

Boris Johnson blames rising coronavirus infection rate on UK’s "fraying in discipline"

Not a great moment for personal responsibility -  Boris Johnson has blamed the recent rise in coronavirus infections on public complacency rather than his own government’s record on testing.

More on this from Andy Woodckock below: