Brexit news: EU talks resume as Andy Burnham and councils support Marcus Rashford free school meals campaign
Follow the day’s updates as they happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and European Union continued in London as the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned both sides have a “common responsibility” to strike a deal.
No10 said “intensive talks” would continue over the weekend, as the deadline for an agreement loomed.
Friday’s talks came as footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign to provide free school meals to poor children over the holidays gathered pace.
Councils, restaurants and other bodies around England have pledged their support, offering free meals, vouchers and financial help to those in need.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, said the city would hand out 1,000 food vouchers.
Johnson could block release of Priti Patel bullying probe findings, civil service chief says
Boris Johnson is responsible for delays in the release of a report into alleged bullying by home secretary Priti Patel, the head of the civil service has suggested.
Simon Case, who became the cabinet secretary last month, said the question of whether the long-awaited report was published “absolutely rests with the prime minister”.
Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has the full story below:
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Boris Johnson could block release of investigation into Priti Patel bullying, head of civil service says
Simon Case says release of report will be up to prime minister
Undeterred by defeat in the Commons earlier this week, Marcus Rashford has spent his morning sharing examples of local businesses and councils who are offering free meals to children in need over October half term.
You can find the locations on his Twitter page below:
You can find the written ministerial statements which are set to be made in the House of Commons today below:
- Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - Extension of decision deadline on Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station
- Secretary of State for Education - Qualification reform
- Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Contingencies Fund Advance
- Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Citizens' Rights: Update on Implementing the Withdrawal Agreement
- Secretary of State for International Trade - Signing of the UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement
- Secretary of State for Transport - Commonwealth Games: Games Transport Plan
Our reporter, Adam Forrest, has more details below on the support across the country for footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to get meals to children during the winter holidays:
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Cafes and restaurants offer free meals for children in support of Marcus Rashford campaign
Manchester United and England star shares dozens of offers from small businesses
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has announced that the city’s council will fund free school meals over the October half-term after the government blocked plans to extend the scheme to Easter 2021.
Migrants being sent to facility which resembles ‘rubble-strewn building site’, inspections find
Migrants arriving in Kent soaking wet and freezing after crossing the English Channel are being processed at what resembles a "rubble-strewn building site", inspectors have found.
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found many people coming to the UK were then detained for days at a time in rooms with no sleeping facilities, showers or access to the open air.
The findings came from a surprise visit to Home Office facilities by HMIP.
“Detainees almost always arrived wet and cold, but then often had to spend hours in the open air or in cramped containers,” Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said.
“Basic supplies, including dry clothing, ran out during the inspection and some detainees were placed on escort vehicles in wet clothes.”
In one case, a 15-year-old boy was held for more than 66 hours and records were not clear as to why this had happened, while in another case, there was “nowhere suitable” to isolate people displaying Covid-19 symptoms at a site.
However, inspectors also found that detainees were almost all very positive about their treatment by staff.
Responding to the inspection findings, the Home Office said it was “fully adhering” to its statutory duties to ensure facilities are decent and humane.
“We take the welfare of people in our care extremely seriously,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
PA
Government aiming for families to spend Christmas together despite coronavirus
A government minister has indicated that officials are planning to let families spend time together at Christmas despite social restrictions due to coronavirus.
Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the government hoped to be in a position where household contact was possible but warned the situation might not be “exactly as it would normally”.
Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has the full story below:
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Government aiming for families to spend Christmas together despite coronavirus
Minister suggests families may be able to meet, though it will not be normal
Labour MP discharged from hospital after being treated for pneumonia
A Labour MP has been discharged from hospital after she was treated for pneumonia following a positive test for Covid-19.
Yasmin Qureshi, who was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital on Saturday after 10 days of feeling unwell, praised NHS staff for their “excellent care” as she announced she had been discharged.
“A quick message to say that, thanks to the excellent care I received at [Bolton NHS] over the last week, I have now been discharged from hospital,” Ms Qureshi wrote on Twitter.
“I am so grateful to the wonderful staff who looked after me and proud of the NHS.”
She added: “I am grateful to my staff for keeping the office running in my absence and to the House of Commons Speaker [Sir Lindsay Hoyle] for allowing me to still be able to vote this week.
“I am completely overwhelmed by the kind messages I have received from everyone, they meant so much.”
Minister questioned on why fishing is stumbling block to unlocking Brexit impasse
Trade policy minister Greg Hands has been questioned on why the government is insisting on protecting the UK’s fishing industry at the risk of no-deal in Brexit negotiations.
It is understood that fishing rights remain a key stumbling block in negotiations with the EU.
Mr Hands was asked on Sky News why the government had made fishing a key part of the negotiations when the industry “has a lower turnover than Harrod's Department Store”.
The minister replied: “What we’re trying to do is get the deal which would allow us to continue our key trade in areas like financial services and cars but don’t underestimate the importance of fishing and control over our waters.
“It’s a key part of national sovereignty…”
Greater Manchester has joined other local authorities in supporting Marcus Rashford’s campaign to provide food vouchers to children who need access to meals during October half-term:
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