Sunday papers – 6 December 2020

Brexit

Nailbiting!  The talks go on, says the Telegraph.

Boris Johnson gave a Brexit trade deal “one final throw of the dice” after an hour-long phone call with Ursula von der Leyen failed to break the deadlocked talks.
The Prime Minister ordered his Brexit negotiator, Lord Frost, to head to Brussels on Sunday for 48 hours of “intensive” discussions with EU counterpart Michel Barnier in a last-ditch bid to stop the UK leaving the jurisdiction of the European Union without a trade deal on December 31.
That came after Mr Johnson and Mrs Von der Leyen, the European Commission President, failed to make progress on any of the key areas of fishing, state aid and how to police a deal.
A UK source said the EU was not treating Britain “as an independent country” and had offered terms which “effectively tied the UK’s regulations to the EU’s in perpetuity”.

The Express says it’s a final chance.

BORIS JOHNSON and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to a final chance of reaching a Brexit deal as they held a crucial phone call on Saturday after trade talks failed to reach an impasse yet again.
Brexit trade negotiations ended on another dismal note this week as they were put on pause on Friday. Both sides failed to reach an agreement on three outstanding issues around future fishing arrangements, state aid and fair competition guarantees, otherwise known as the level playing field. The Prime Minister spoke to the European Commission President this afternoon in an attempt to break the impasse in talks as the transition period deadline looms closer.

Breakthrough or no-deal?  The Mirror has a warning.

Boris Johnson was given a stark warning tonight (Saturday) that Britain is heading for a disastrous no-deal Brexit unless he concedes more ground to the EU.
The PM had what one insider called a “frank and realistic” telephone chat with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Between them the pair salvaged the stalled negotiations from total collapse.
But Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen said in a joint statement there will be no trade deal unless deep-seated differences are resolved.

Boris has laid down the terms he would accept, says the Times.

Boris Johnson told the EU Britain must have “freedom” to make its own rules last night as cabinet ministers said he should pursue a no-deal Brexit unless Brussels backs down.
The prime minister and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, last night agreed to a “final throw of the dice” this week to salvage a deal.
But a senior No 10 figure warned the chances of getting an agreement were now “no better than 50-50” after more than four years and five months of talks.

iNews describes the talks as an ‘emergency’.

Brexit negotiations will continue in Brussels on Sunday after emergency talks between the Prime Minister and the European Commission President failed to find common ground.
Boris Johnson held an emergency phone call with Ursula von der Leyen from Chequers, the UK Prime Minister’s country residence, on Saturday afternoon.
It comes after the two sides’ chief negotiators announced they were pausing discussions to allow political leaders to take stock, with time to find an agreement rapidly running out.

BBC News says the talks are ‘crucial’.

Crucial negotiations to secure a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU are to resume later.
UK chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost will meet EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels to try to bridge the two sides’ “significant differences”.
A UK source told the BBC it could be the “final throw of the dice” to agree a deal before the end of the year.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the mood was downbeat, but both sides still wanted a deal.

The Mail says the talks are still deadlocked.

Boris Johnson will make ‘one last throw of the dice’ in trade talks with the EU on Monday to avert a No Deal Brexit at the end of the month as negotiations remained deadlocked this weekend.
An hour-long phone call between the Prime Minister and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen failed to resolve the ‘significant differences’ between London and Brussels over French demands for Britain to remain tied to EU rules. Talks will resume in Brussels today.
If the impasse is not broken by tomorrow evening, when Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen speak again, Mr Johnson could make a dramatic address to the nation announcing that the UK will leave without a deal.

But the Express doesn’t worry about the correct spelling of the EU leader’s name.

BRITAIN and the EU have just 48 hours left to agree a trade agreement or accept that there will be no deal.
The time frame was set by Boris Johnson in a dramatic hour-long phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyan on Saturday evening. The two failed to break the deadlock on EU demands over access to British fishing waters and the UK accepting punitive level playing field measures but decided to ask their chief negotiators to have “one last throw of the dice.” It means that Lord Frost will meet Michel Barnier on Sunday morning and talks will conclude on Monday with another phone call between the Prime Minister and Ms von der Leyan.

EU

Mini-Manny could be our last resort, says the Express.

EMMANUEL MACRON could be a potential “secret weapon” for Brexiteers during the negotiations surrounding a post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU.
During the latest episode of Brexit Unlocked, former MEPs Ben Habib and Belinda de Lucy discussed the possibility of the French President vetoing a deal between Britain and the European Union. Ms de Lucy stated that Macron has stated to French fishermen that will veto a deal if it does not represent their best interests.
Ms de Lucy asked: “Do you think Macron is actually going to end up being our secret weapon?
“I mean, he has threatened to veto a deal if he’s not happy with it.

But the bloc itself is not united, says the Mail.

Bitter infighting has broken out among EU states over the allocation of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine – with France  and Germany accused of trying to out-muscle smaller countries in the battle for supplies.
The EU’s determination to agree a block-wide vaccination programme across all 27 member states allowed the UK to win the race to first approve the vaccine.
It led EU nations to accuse Britain of cutting corners, with the EU Commission warning member states they should tread ‘very carefully’ if they were considering bypassing the EU’s medical regulator, the European Medicines Agency, which it claims is more rigorous and requires more evidence to be submitted than the MHRA.

HoL

And our own Upper House is still fighting the Prime Minister, says the Express.

BORIS JOHNSON must be punished for his Brexit deal, Labour peers have claimed in leaked Whatsapp messages.
With both sides failing to agree a Brexit deal, Labour peers have warned the party must not back any agreement Mr Johnson brings to Parliament. Former leader of the Labour party, Lord Neil Kinnock, warned colleagues the Prime Minister must be made to “own” any deal. Lord Kinnock claimed any support for a deal could be “lethal” to the party after initialling endorsing negotiations.
It is unclear whether Sir Keir Starmer will whip MPs to endorse a deal, with some members of his Shadow Cabinet thought to be ready to revolt over any support for the Government.

Deaths

The number of people dying each day from the virus is dropping, reports the Mail.

The Government said a further 397 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, falling by 17 per cent, bringing the UK total to 61,014.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 74,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
The Government said that, as of 9am on Saturday, there had been a further 15,539 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.
It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,705,971.
Britain’s coronavirus deaths in hospital are two lower than last weekend with 368 victims in more proof the second wave has been levelling off as a result of coronavirus lockdown.
In England 315 people died from coronavirus in hospital, while Wales recorded 24 deaths, Scotland 22 and Northern Ireland reported seven.

The Sun also reports the death toll.

THE UK’s new Covid cases and deaths have fallen again, with 397 more people dying and 15,539 testing positive.
The increases take the UK’s total case number to 1,705,971, while the death toll is 61,014.
Today’s new figures are lower than yesterday’s, as the effects of the month-long coronavirus lockdown begin to show.
Yesterday, cases rose by 16,298, while deaths increased by 504.
And last Saturday, there were 15,871 new infections and 479 deaths – meaning there has been a slight dip for both figures compared to the same time last week.

Immunity passports

So if we get the vaccine, are we immune?  Breitbart reports:

A scientific group advising the British government has said that Chinese coronavirus immunity passports could be issued to those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from the virus.
While Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said earlier this month that there were no plans to introduce immunity passports, a newly-released paper has revealed that government scientists have said that such “immunity certification” is “likely to be possible”.
The report, entitled Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and the concept of an Immunity Certificate, was produced by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and presented to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on November 19th.

Huffington Post says these passports could come.

Coronavirus “immunity certificates” could be issued to people after taking a vaccine or getting the illness, the government’s scientific advisers have said.
A paper published by a committee of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said certification was “likely to be possible” in a move that would exempt people from government-imposed restrictions to halt the spread of Covid-19.
Certificates or “immunity passports” have been latched on by governments across the world as a way to reopen society, but UK ministers have aired mixed messages on whether they will be introduced.
The paper – titled ‘Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and the concept of an Immunity Certificate’ and published on Friday – was produced by the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group and considered by Sage on November 19.

Vaccine

Another four months of restrictions are reported by the Telegraph.

The fast-track approval of the coronavirus vaccine means restrictions could be loosened before the end of March, the Health Secretary has said.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Matt Hancock said he “can’t wait to scrap this tiered system altogether” and for the country to “get back to living by mutual respect and personal responsibility, not laws set in Parliament”.
It marks a change in rhetoric and tone from Mr Hancock, who until now has been seen in Whitehall as one of the strongest proponents of the strictest possible measures.
Asked whether the start of administering the vaccine to Britons this week could bring about a quicker end to the restrictions in the first three months of next year, Mr Hancock said: “Yes it will.”

But the vaccine won’t help hospitals very much says ITV News.

The UK’s chief medical officers have warned the coronavirus  vaccine will only have a “marginal impact” on hospital numbers over the winter as each of the four nations prepares to start administering the first doses next week.
Festive gatherings are likely to put additional pressure on healthcare services, with a tough few months still ahead, experts said.
It comes as preparations are continuing to roll out the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from as early as Tuesday in what has been described as “one of the greatest challenges the NHS has ever faced”.
GP surgeries in England have also been told to be ready to start staffing Covid-19 vaccination centres by December 14.

The medical profession is getting ready to vaccinate, says Sky News.

Hospitals are preparing to begin the first phase of the “largest scale vaccination campaign” in the UK’s history.
The first COVID-19 vaccines will arrive at hospitals by Monday ahead of the first jabs being given on Tuesday.
GP surgeries in England have been told to start staffing COVID-19 vaccination centres by 14 December.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Despite the huge complexities, hospitals will kickstart the first phase of the largest scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history from Tuesday.

And the Mail reports that Her Majesty will be offered the jab.

The Queen is expected to receive the Covid-19 vaccine within weeks – and then reveal she has been given it to encourage more people to take up the vital jab.
Senior sources say both the 94-year-old Monarch and Prince Philip, 99, will not get preferential treatment, but will instead ‘wait in line’ during the first wave of injections reserved for the over-80s and care home residents.
Both are expected to accept the offer of the injection on the advice of their doctors.

Crowds

With the relaxation of restrictions last week, crowds have gathered, says the Mail.

Hundreds of teenagers and young people caused mayhem while gathering outside Harrods in London, prompting four arrests after police swooped in.
Chaotic scenes ensued at the luxury department store in exclusive Knightsbridge as the large group attempted to enter and crowded together in the streets outside on Saturday.
The group was made up of hundreds of young people who were not wearing masks and were not paying attention to social distancing.
Police were called to the store just after 1pm and four arrests were made for affray and Covid rule breaches and the crowd later dispersed.
However, photographs taken around 5.30pm showed people still standing packed closely together, chatting and laughing with each other as they far outnumbered the police presence.

Christmas shoppers have been out on the streets, says ITV News.

Thousands of shoppers flocked to high streets across England on the first Saturday since the national lockdown was lifted.
Dozens of people filled up town centres as families searched for Christmas deals.
Queues formed along London’s Oxford Street as shoppers made the most of the relaxed coronavirus  restrictions under the new tiering system, which came into force on Wednesday.
Joining them was London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who took the time to take selfies with people at the popular shopping destination.

The Mail also reports the shoppers.

Britons headed out in their droves to high streets on Saturday to do Christmas shopping after outlets re-opened following the lifting of the nationwide lockdown – as protesters hit city centres to demonstrate against lockdowns.
At the start of what is expected to be a £1.5billion spending spree today, shoppers in London and Manchester were pictured carrying bags of goods and waiting in queues outside stores, including Primark and the soon-to-be-closing Debenhams.
In what is the first non-working day since lockdown ended on December 2, shoppers were out in force in the hope of snapping up Christmas deals with prices slashed by up to 80 per cent.

The Sun says a famous shop was targeted.

POSH Harrods was swarmed by hundreds of young shoppers flouting face mask and social distancing rules.
Cops called to the iconic London store arrested four people in what passers-by described as chaotic scenes.
Photos taken of the large crowds on Saturday show hundreds of Christmas shoppers in Knightsbridge.
As they crowded around Harrods, the cops were called to restore order as London remains in Tier 2 Covid measures, to stem the spread of coronavirus.

And Christmas parties have started, says the Mail.

Police were forced to intervene after a huge party erupted at a Nottingham Christmas market on Saturday night.
Vast swathes of rule-breaking revellers gathered as the city’s legally-permitted festive street market descended into chaos.
Partygoers were seen outside Nottingham’s city hall, jumping up and down and raising their arms in the air as music blared.
A man wheeling a bike with two massive speakers mounted to the sides was seen speaking to officers in the clip.
Footage also showed a van and several uniformed police dotted about in the heart of city – which fell into Tier Three after the nation-wide lockdown was lifted this week.

Migrants

Jet-skis could be used to help catch illegal immigrants, says the Mail.

Britain’s Border Force is planning to launch a fleet of high-speed jet-skis to patrol the Channel in its fight to deter migrant boat gangs.
The Home Office wants to buy four Sea Doo GTX 170 vessels, each costing up to £20,000 and capable of reaching 55mph.
Record numbers of migrants have risked their lives to make the crossing this year, with more than 8,500 estimated to have reached Britain – up from 1,850 last year.
In October, five members of a Kurdish-Iranian family drowned after their overcrowded semi-rigid boat sank in poor weather.

Royals

There are growing calls for Prince Charles to hand the throne straight to his son, says the Express.

PRINCE CHARLES and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have broken royal protocol during their latest outing, against a furious backdrop as royal fans call for the Prince of Wales to relinquish his claim to the throne.
Charles and Camilla visited London’s 100 Club earlier this week, a basement club where bands like the Sex Pistols, The Jam and Oasis have played. During the visit, the royal couple added their signatures to a wall full of the names of musicians who have performed at the club over the years – in a breach of royal protocol.
Royals are not allowed to give out their signature because of the risk of it being forged.

Bird flu

Have you got your Christmas turkey yet?  There’s bird flu about, says the Mail.

Captive birds must be kept indoors to limit the spread of bird flu under new Government rules.
Eight cases of the ‘highly-infectious’ illness have been recorded in wild birds and poultry populations across the UK so far.
On Friday, avian flu was confirmed in rearing turkeys at a premises near Attleborough in Norfolk.
And last month, it was revealed that more than 10,000 turkeys had to be culled at a North Yorkshire farm following a bird flu outbreak there.