Brexit: Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen agree to continue UK-EU trade talks - live news Kevin Rawlinson
Here’s a summary of the day’s developments so far:
The UK and the EU have agreed to keep talks on a post-Brexit trade deal going. The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, and the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed there was sufficient hope off a deal being reached to make a continuation worthwhile, making Sunday the latest deadline to be missed.
Business leaders welcomed the continuation of talks. The heads of the British Chambers of Commerce, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the CBI all backed the decision.
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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has refused to close the door on the possibility of the trade talks with the European Union continuing past the Sunday deadline.
The Cabinet minister said “never say never” and highlighted that negotiations with Brussels have a tendency to “drag and drift”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to have a telephone call with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at 11am after negotiations re-started in the Belgian capital at 8am UK time.
The two leaders had agreed during a dinner meeting last week that Sunday marked the deadline for a “firm decision” to be “taken about the future of the talks”, opening up the possibility that the negotiations could be collapsed without an agreement.
The European Commission President s spokesman, Eric Mamer, confirmed the news via Twitter.
Mr Johnson and Mrs von der Leyen previously met on Wednesday in Brussels over dinner, but their talks ended in stalemate.
Mr Mamer posted: Update to the agenda of President @vonderleyen: phone call with UK Prime Minister @BorisJohnson around noon on the EU/GB negotiations. (Brussels time)
Nigel Farage in Brussels (Image: GETTY)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France s President, Emmanuel Macron, have been tipped to step in at the last minute to broker a deal if negotiators cannot find a way through today.
With less than three weeks to go before the end of the transition period on December 31, talks are continuing in Brussels today, with UK negotiator Lord David Frost and colleague Tim Barrow pictured arriving at the European Commission this morning.
Brits urged not to stockpile food as panic-buyers hit supermarkets over No Deal Brexit fears
Updated: 13 Dec 2020, 21:36
PANIC buyers have hit the supermarkets to stockpile food amid fears of a No Deal Brexit.
The UK and the EU today vowed to continue negotiations - but some nervous shoppers were seen leaving Costco with huge hauls of loo roll, beer and baguettes.
Follow our UK politics live blog for the very latest news and updates.
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A shopper pushes a huge haul of supplies outside Costco in Thurrock, EssexCredit: Gary Stone - The Sun
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Long queues were seen forming outside the store as Brits panicked over a possible no deal BrexitCredit: Gary Stone - The Sun
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