Newslinks

Brexit 1) Deal on the line over French fishing as talks head for weekend showdown

“Brexit talks are heading for a showdown between Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron this weekend with the prospect of an EU deal now dependent on French access to fish in British waters. The two leaders are at odds over the right to fish in British waters with senior Downing Street sources unsure as to whether the French president might “torpedo” the proposed Brexit deal at the last possible moment. They fear he may be tempted to scupper a compromise fishing deal ahead of the French presidential election in 2022. There had been growing hopes that a deal was about to be agreed but the British delegation was taken aback after the EU made a series of “destabilising” last-minute new demands on fishing and other issues. “Our hopes of any movement on Friday are pretty much gone now,” said one UK source, with Monday now set as the unofficial deadline for a deal by Downing Street.” – Daily Telegraph

  • Agreement ‘blown off course’ by Barnier’s last-minute demands – The Times

More:

  • Johnson set to secure critical agreement with Switzerland – Daily Express
  • Three-year deployment to UN mission seen as post-Brexit solidarity with French forces – FT

>Yesterday: John Healey MP in Comment: Ministers have a democratic duty to explain the role of British combat troops in Mali

Brexit 2) Starmer risks frontbench rebellion over vote

“Sir Keir Starmer faces the prospect of significant unrest over his plans for Labour to vote in favour of a Brexit deal. At least one shadow cabinet member and several shadow ministers will consider resigning if Labour backs a government free trade agreement with the EU. Sir Keir is leaning heavily towards whipping in favour of a deal if ministers strike one but his top team is divided on the merits of such a move. Up to a dozen shadow cabinet ministers believe the party should abstain and wash its hands of the consequences of a hard Brexit. Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, is thought to be among those in favour of abstaining. She is a former MEP who represents the pro-Remain seat of Oxford East. Emily Thornberry, shadow international trade secretary, David Lammy, shadow justice secretary, Bridget Phillipson, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Marsha de Cordova, shadow equalities secretary, and Ian Murray, shadow Scotland secretary, have reservations about backing the deal.” – The Times

  • Public want EU deal, London mayor’s office tells local Labour MPs – The Guardian

More:

  • Unite fails to donate to Labour since his election as leader – Daily Telegraph

James Forsyth: A Brexit deal is looking likely by Monday

“What makes the situation even more problematic is that these countries want to maintain their fishing fleets, so the idea of paying people to transition out of the industry is not a runner. Ironically, in the event of no-deal, there would be no EU access to British territorial waters at all. The problem is these countries tend to think that if squeezed hard enough the British will move, or that no access and blaming the British is more appealing that dipping their hands in the fish guts of a compromise. One of the things that makes fishing so difficult an issue is that it is one of, if not, Britain’s strongest cards. The EU knows that and so has tried to neutralise it. The initial suggestion was for a 50-year transition for fishing, which would have been longer than our EU membership. Only a week ago the EU was suggesting that a deal would see it relinquish less than 20 per cent of what it catches in our waters.” – The Times

  • Johnson must give up on fishing – Simon Jenkins, The Guardian

Supply fears hit coronavirus vaccine amid warning over initial 800,000 doses

“NHS front-line staff will no longer be prioritised for the coronavirus vaccine, amid confusion over the number of doses that will arrive by the end of the year. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said that an initial 800,000 doses “could be the only batch we receive for some time”. This is despite the UK originally expecting 10 million shots by the end of the year, and the chief commercial officer of the vaccine creator BioNTech Sean Marett saying on Wednesday that the UK was likely to get at least five million doses by the New Year. NHS staff were to be first in line for the jabs after it was deemed too difficult to get the vaccine to care homes, which were originally at the top of a priority list set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).” – Daily Telegraph

  • Too early to know if UK Covid revaccination scheme needed, warns Van-Tam – The Guardian
  • Jabs won’t free you from self-isolation, says Government – Daily Telegraph
  • Care home residents could get jab in days – Daily Mail

International:

  • Regulator stands by Covid jab approval after top doctor says UK ‘not as careful’ as US – The Times
  • Fauci apologises for implied criticism of speedy UK vaccine approval – The Guardian
  • How Britain won the vaccine race – Daily Mail

More:

  • Sturgeon ‘relaunches’ coronavirus campaign amid weak public understanding – Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: Henry Hill’s Red, White, and Blue column: Another week that shows unionists need new weapons against Sturgeon’s revenant SNP

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