Inside Politics: Michel Barnier tries to reassure ‘jittery’ EU leaders

Brussels’ chief negotiator is thought to have revealed a new offer from the UK on fishing rights, writes Adam Forrest

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier (Hollie Adams/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson has plenty to look forward to this month. For one thing, his favourite film saga is getting a surprise new ending. Francis Ford Coppola has changed The Godfather III so the conclusion is less … grim (no spoilers here). The prime minister hopes the vaccine changes our Covid saga considerably, and brings this winter to a less grim conclusion than otherwise expected. The Brexit saga, meanwhile, has a few new twists and turns – including the possibility of a third act climax very close to Christmas.

 

Inside the bubble

 

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:

If you’re looking for an antidote to all the good news about vaccines around at the moment, MPs will deliver the goods today. The all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus is releasing its first major report this morning and will be warning that vaccines “should not be relied upon as a solution”. The MPs, who’ll be holding a virtual press event, will say the government needs a proper exit strategy as well.

 

Daily briefing

 

JABBA DABBA DO: Boris Johnson hailed the approved Covid vaccine as a form of “biological jiu jitsu” – saying the “searchlights of science” had picked out the “invisible enemy”. But the PM made clear there were huge logistical challenges in a successful roll-out this winter. “It’s going to take months, not weeks,” said deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam. Around 800,000 doses due in the coming days – with the over-80s and NHS staff being the first to begin receiving it next week. Van-Tam adopted his favourite metaphor when asked about getting everyone on board the vaccination express. “We need people to get on this train,” he said. But care homes are demanding clarity over when exactly they will see the vaccine. They are supposed to be in the highest priority group, but are set to miss out on the initial wave because they aren’t able to store the Pfizer vials at -70C, and don’t yet have a way of dealing with the packs of 975 doses – which aren’t allowed to be split up.

REVOLUTION MIGHT BE TELEVISED: How big a problem could the anti-vaxxers be? The PM promised a plan soon to deal with “disinformation” after Keir Starmer called for emergency legislation to fine social media firms who fail to crack down on hogwash. Sadly, there’s a lot of hogwash out there. The latest YouGov poll shows 20 per cent of the public have little or no confidence in the vaccine. Piers Morgan suggested health Matt Hancock reassure the British public and tackle misinformation by taking the jab live on air with him, with the health secretary saying “yeah, I’ll take it with you Piers” – before pointing out he probably couldn’t do it before people in priority groups. Hancock managed to spread some misinformation himself by claiming Brexit had helped speed up vaccine approval. The chief executive of the medicine regulator then pointed out the process was done under the terms of European law, which remains in force until the end of 2020.

 

FISHCIOUS RUMOURS: Exactly four weeks to go until that Brexit cliff-edge, and fishing rights remains the big problem. Brussels negotiator Michel Barnier reportedly told EU ambassadors the UK is willing to lower its demand from 80 per cent of stock in British waters down to 60 per cent. But France and other member states feel Barnier is too keen to give too much away, according to The Telegraph. One EU diplomat said: “Some member states are becoming a bit jittery.” Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill has reared its ugly head again. Barnier also told EU ambassadors that Downing Street could trigger a new “crisis” next week by re-inserting those controversial causes into its bill – the ones that ministers have admitted break international law. UK officials are now suggesting the negotiations could go on for at least another two weeks. According to respected analyst Mujtaba Rahman, 18 December is now being touted as a working cut-off point.

 

DON’T MENTION THE ALGORITHM: Very little is clear about the next six months. But at least school pupils now know what they’re preparing for next summer. Extra measures to “boost fairness” will be used at next summer’s GCSE and A-level exams in England, education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced. There will be more generous grading and advance notice of exam topics to help students adjust to all the disruption during the Covid crisis. Williamson said he hoped the measures would give young people “the clarity and confidence they need”. Pubs seem to have a little more clarity and confidence after No 10 backed the savvy landlords who are using takeaways to provide punters with a “substantial meal” and stay within the rules. Downing Street said it was okay for “wet pubs” which don’t normally serve meals to work with local fast food joints in tier 2 areas.

 

OUT IN THE COLD: Boris Johnson has ducked a call from the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford to meet with the organisation ExcludedUK – fighting for more help for the three million freelancers and self-employed who have missed out on financial support schemes for the winter. The PM’s vague response to concerns was dismissed as “comical” by ExcludedUK founder Aron Padley, who told The Independent that ministers had failed to even speak with the group. It comes as Rishi Sunak signalled tax hikes may have to come sooner rather than later. The chancellor told Times Radio that the nation’s £400bn deficit could become unaffordable if interest rates rise. Labour’s shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds, keen to keep in with City of London folk, said raising taxes to cover debt repayments should be “some way off”. Dodds called for a “genuine partnership” between Labour and the finance industry at a speech at Bloomberg’s London office.

 

SEE YOU IN 2024: Megalomania is one hell of a drug. Donald Trump’s delusions and schemes have not yet ceased – the outgoing president released a disturbing 46-minute video calling for the US election to be “overturned”. It follows a clip of Trump at the White House Christmas party telling his enablers he may run again in 2024: “We’re trying to do another four years, otherwise I’ll see you in four years.” The New York Times reported that Trump has been talking the possibility of issuing pre-emptive pardons for family members and close allies – including his attorney Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is investigating a potential scheme related to funnelling money to the White House (or related political committee) in exchange for presidential pardons, court records unsealed in federal court have revealed. It looks like Joe Biden is going to struggle for headlines amid all of Trump’s mess.

 

On the record

 

“I’m not going to enter any new trade agreement with anybody until we have made major investments here at home and in our workers.”

Joe Biden makes clear trade deals are not his priority.

 

From the Twitterati

 

“We could only approve this vaccine so quickly because we have left the EU. Last month we changed the regulations so a vaccine did not need EU approval which is slower.”

Jacob Rees-Mogg doubles down on Matt Hancock’s claim – disputed by the government’s own medicines regulator…

 

“The liars and charlatans are so desperate to rescue anything from the Brexit wreckage that they have fabricated a gigantic Trumpian lie about the vaccine being a post Brexit regulatory success story.”

…leaving Alastair Campbell to double down on his anger.

 

Essential reading

 

Tom Peck, The Independent: Government has undermined vaccine news with lies about Brexit

 

Ashlie Weeks, The Independent: If Trump really was selling pardons, the consequences will be huge

 

Marina Hyde, The Guardian: Who cares about jobs? Suddenly, Brexit’s snake-oil salesman do

 

Edward-Isacc Dovere, The Atlantic: The mastermind behind Joe Biden’s victory

 

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