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.
Free school meals over half-term
For more on what councils and individual businesses are doing to help feed children over half-term, read this report:
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Marcus Rashford ‘blown away’ as cafes and restaurants offer free meals for children
Manchester United and England star shares dozens of offers from small businesses after visit to food charity
More than 30 councils offer help
I’ve done a count, and more than 30 councils in England have now said they will help children on free school meals in some way over half-term.
The figure has been fast-changing today and could change even more, as more councils share their plans.
Many are saying they will offer food vouchers. However, some have announced different initiatives, including:
Plymouth City Council: Payment into bank account
Greenwich Council: Free meals will be served across borough
North Tyneside Council: Food hampers
Back to Brexit
No10 have said “intensive talks” will continue over the weekend.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, arrived in London on Thursday to continue negotiations as the deadline for an agreement looms.
A N10 spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "Intensive talks are continuing and they will continue over the weekend until the 25th.
"We've published a set of principles for handling these intensified talks and they will continue over the weekend."
Mr Barnier and Lord Frost are expected to join the negotiations with officials.
Additional reporting by PA
Calls for blended learning
Secondary schools in parts of England with high coronavirus infection rates should move to a ‘blended’ system, learning both in the classroom and at home, leading experts have warned.
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
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Secondary schools in coronavirus hotspots should move to a ‘blend’ of home and school learning, experts warn
As cases rise, ideas for ‘blended’ system include pupils spending a day and a half a week learning online at home
Brexit: What’s going on?
As negotiators from the two sides hunker down for their final weeks of talks on a trade agreement, the UK and the EU still don’t know whether they will begin 2021 with an organised partnership or a messy rivalry.
Here’s a useful explainer on what stage we are at:
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Why are UK and EU still arguing over Brexit?
More than four years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, the two sides are still arguing over their post-Brexit relations
‘Speechless’
Headteachers have been left angry by a letter from ministers reminding them to provide pupils with nutritious food in school just days after MPs rejected a campaign to extend free meals to children during the holidays.
A letter - from children's minister Vicky Ford and junior health minister Jo Churchill - was sent to school leaders on Friday morning to encourage them to offer a healthy and nutritious hot meal to their pupils during term-time.
Heads received the letter two days after a Labour motion to offer free school meals to poorer children during holidays - which was prompted by a campaign by Marcus Rashford - was defeated by 322 votes to 261.
School leaders on social media said the letter was "unbelievable", adding that they were "fuming" and were "speechless".
PA
‘The superstars of this nation lie in local communities’
Here’s Marcus Rashford on today’s events, which have seen councils and businesses rushing to support children with free school meals during half-term:
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