Labour figures urge MPs not to vote for ‘rotten’ deal as RAF to fly signed agreement to UK

Ministers poised to delay return of secondary schools

Brexit briefing: How long until the end of the transition period?

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing revolt over his decision to back Boris Johnson’s trade deal with the EU in a Commons vote this week, with Labour figures including John McDonnell urging MPs not to back what they say is a “rotten” deal.

The Labour leader says he will call on his MPs to support the "thin" post-Brexit free trade agreement, despite misgivings that it would fail to protect many key economic sectors. He argued that ending the Brexit transition period without a deal would be even worse for the economy.

It comes as Downing Street revealed the deal will be signed in Brussels by EU chiefs tomorrow before being flown by an RAF plane to London for Boris Johnson to sign.

Meanwhile, ministers are poised to bow to pressure to delay the return of English secondary school pupils to allow more time for mass testing.

See below for how our live coverage unfolded.

• Caroline Lucas: Why I’m voting against the Brexit deal with the EU
• Brexit deal: Labour’s civil war over Europe is just getting started
• What is Brexit and why is it still happening?
• Here’s what Brexit will mean for your wages, benefits and taxes
• Can I still move to France, Germany or other EU countries after Brexit?

[29 December 2020 14:06 · Samuel Osborne]

Boris Johnson’s 2020: A tumultuous year that upturned all PM’s hopes

Political editor Andrew Woodcock looks at how Covid and Brexit dashed prime minister’s expectations for first full year in office:

[29 December 2020 14:22 · Samuel Osborne]

Brexit deal will be flown by RAF to London for Boris Johnson to sign

The UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal will be signed in Brussels by EU chiefs tomorrow before being flown by an RAF plane to London for Boris Johnson to sign, Downing Street has said.

The prime minister's official spokesman said the international treaty would be signed by European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council president, Charles Michel, before being flown across the Channel.

An RAF plane will transport the treaty, accompanied by UK and EU officials, and the document is expected to be signed by the prime minister in Downing Street tomorrow afternoon.

[29 December 2020 14:39 · Samuel Osborne]

Tougher Covid-19 restrictions set to be unveiled tomorrow amid ‘tier 5’ fears

Tougher Covid-19 restrictions are set to be unveiled on Wednesday, possibly including a new so-called ‘tier 5’ in the worst-hit areas of London and the south, political editor Andrew Woodcock reports.

[29 December 2020 15:01 · Samuel Osborne]

Labour calls for investigation into Tory mayoral candidate’s ‘fake’ council tax rise warnings

The Labour Party has doubled down on demands for the Conservatives to launch an investigation into London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey’s campaign over “fake” warnings sent out to voters appearing to threaten a council tax rise from City Hall, Chantal da Silva reports.

[29 December 2020 15:10 · Samuel Osborne]

Brexit deal backed by European Research Group

The European Research Group of hardline Conservative MPs has given Boris Johnson a boost by backing his Brexit trade deal.

[29 December 2020 15:29 · Samuel Osborne]

Government signs post-Brexit deal with Turkey

The government has signed a deal with Turkey which will allow British and Turkish businesses to continue trading on the same terms after Brexit.

The tariff-free arrangements underpin a trading relationship which the government said was worth £18.6bn last year.

The government said both sides are "committed to working towards a more ambitious free trade agreement".

[29 December 2020 15:43 · Samuel Osborne]

Boris Johnson under increasing pressure to delay reopening of schools amid surge in cases

Boris Johnson is facing escalating pressure to delay the reopening of schools next week as a government scientific adviser warned it may be the “only alternative” amid rapidly increasing cases of coronavirus and hospitalisations in England, political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports.

As the county enters a “new dangerous phase” of the pandemic with concerns over the transmissibility of the new Covid strain, the prime minister is also being urged to publish advice on schools from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

[29 December 2020 16:01 · Zoe Tidman]

Lib Dems to vote against ‘threadbare’ deal

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will vote against Boris Johnson’s “threadbare” deal because it is “bad for jobs, business, security, and our environment”

The party has also lodged a reasoned amendment to the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill in which it warns the Bill does “not meet the undertakings given to the people of the UK by the prime minister.”

The amendment, which is to now be considered by the Speaker, criticises the Bill for erecting non-tariff barriers on businesses, ending the UK’s participation in Erasmus and mutual recognition of professional qualifications, depriving the UK’s financial services sector of passporting rights, and cutting off the UK police from direct access to EU-wide law enforcement databases.

[29 December 2020 16:20 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Disgrace’

One Lib Dem MP has said it is a “disgrace” that parliament will only get five hours to debate newly-published Brexit legislation tomorrow:

[29 December 2020 17:13 · Jane Dalton]

EU Council adopts trade deal signing decision

The EU Council says it has adopted the decision on the signing of the EU-UK trade agreement.

In a statement, officials wrote: "The council has today adopted, by written procedure, the decision on the signing of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its provisional application as of January 1 2021, pending the consent of the European Parliament and conclusion by the council decision next year.

“The agreement will now be signed by the two parties on December 30 2020. European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will sign in Brussels on behalf of the European Union while Prime Minister Boris Johnson will sign in London on behalf of the United Kingdom.”