EU leaders discuss the UK's renegotiations at a dinner in Brussels
David Cameron says progress has been made and he can see a "path" towards a deal next year
But he says there is a "lot of hard work" still to be done, including on the issue on curbs on benefits for EU migrants
Angela Merkel says she believes solutions can be found but she won't agree to anything discriminatory
UKIP's MP Douglas Carswell calls for a new party leader - but Nigel Farage tells him to "put up or shut up"
Text updates, video clips and BBC political programmes streamed live
Richard Graham, the Conservative MP for Gloucester, has the first question to David Cameron, and raises the case of a constituent who has been stalked. He asks the PM to consider greater flexibility to allow longer sentencing for stalking, "which is a real menace".
Mr Cameron says it's a dreadful crime and says he'll ensure he can meet the justice secretary to discuss. He also welcomes the latest unemployment figures
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Time now for Prime Minister's Questions - the last one before the end of the year. David Cameron wishes Major Tim Peak well as he begins his six month stay at the International Space Station. He says it's a landmark in the UK's involvement in space exploration.
Graham Smith, from republican campaign group Republic, is talking about his long campaign to get official documents released which he says show that the Prince of Wales is routinely sent all cabinet papers.
He says the problem with this is Prince Charles has "unique access" to ministers and wants to lobby them on a whole range of issues. He also says there is evidence that he has sought to change laws that effect his own financial interests as head of the Duchy of Cornwall.
But Tory Sam Gyimah says it is long-established practice that the Queen, as head of state, has access to this information and it is right that the heir to the throne should also see them. The row over the issue is "much ado about nothing", he suggests.
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Earlier today, former PM Sir John Major warned that if Britain exited the EU it could lead to another Scottish independence referendum, and the break-up of the union.
Asked about this, Alex Salmond said Scotland shouldn’t be "dragged" out of the EU against its will, and added that it would provide the “change in the material circumstances” that the SNP says could trigger another vote.
Pressed to say whether thio would happen, he responds by saying it’s a matter for SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
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SNP foreign affairs spokesperson Alex Salmond has reacted the Supreme Court's rejection of US presidential hopeful and businessman Donald Trump's challenge to an offshore wind farm project near his Aberdeenshire golf resort.
A spokesman for the Trump Organisation said the fight would continue on "every possible front" and accused the Scottish government of being "foolish, small minded and parochial" in its approach to this.
Mr Salmond says Mr Trump is "losing friends in Scotland almost as fast as he's losing them in America and worldwide", and adds:
Quote MessageFor Donald Trump, it's once, twice, three times a loser."
The MP also said Mr Trump had not delivered on previous promise of jobs and investment and added "there is only so many groups and nationalities that Donald Trump can offend, before it starts to turn on him his organisation and his campaign".
Image source, Daily PoliticsOn Europe, education minister Sam Gyimah says the proposed four-year ban on benefits for EU migrants sought by David Cameron as part of the UK's renegotiations is "ambitious and realistic". He says "contrary to rumours" it is still on the table and will be discussed at Thursday's EU dinner. He says he is confident the PM will be able to "deliver the outcome" he wants. Asked for evidence the curbs will reduce levels of EU migration, he says the renegotiation is not about "arguing the toss among economists, but reflecting what the British people want".
Image source, Getty ImagesRepublican presidential hopefuls sparred over how to stop the so-called Islamic State (IS), in the first debate since attacks in California and Paris.
The national security focus yielded heated exchanges between Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio who clashed on surveillance and immigration policy.
Jeb Bush also sought to revive his struggling campaign by forcefully attacking front-runner Donald Trump.
"You're not going to be able to insult your way to the presidency," he said.
Ahead of a vote later in the Commons, Conservative minister Sam Gyimah says there will no fracking under national parks and to suggest otherwise is "scaremongering". He tells Daily Politics that the UK will have the strictest environmental regulations, with regard to fracking, in the world and the technology will play its part in guaranteeing energy secretary. Labour's John Healey says he is happy to see fracking if the right safeguards are in place and those areas that are chosen get proper financial benefits in return, neither of which he says has happened. He attacks the government's energy policy as "clueless and confused".
Image source, Getty ImagesThe UK unemployment rate fell to the lowest for nearly 10 years at 5.2% in the three months to October.
It was the lowest jobless rate since the three-month period to January 2006, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The number of people out of work fell by 110,000 to 1.71 million between August and October.
There were 31.3 million people in work, 505,000 more than for a year earlier.
The referendum on the UK's future in the European Union could be a "tipping point" for opposition to the "European project", Nigel Farage has said.
The UKIP leader told MEPs that the vote would be an opportunity for the UK to regain its "national self-confidence".
He described David Cameron's renegotiation strategy as a "charade" which would yield only "minor" changes.
EU leaders will discuss the UK's reform agenda, including proposed curbs on benefits, at a dinner on Thursday.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage speaking in the European Parliament
EU vote could be 'tipping point' says Farage
German Christian Democrat MEP David McAllister, who has acted as an adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel on the negotiations with the UK, says reaching a balance in the talks will not be a "simple job".
The son of a British civil servant who was based in Berlin, Mr McAllister has also served as leader of the Lower Saxony region.
He says reconciling the demands of the UK government to stay within a reformed EU must be balanced with the need not to "call into question" the "successful aspects of European integration".
He predicts that this week's summit will be "simply a staging post" in the renegotiation process.
He adds that he hopes a more detailed package is agreed in February, so he can say:
Quote MessageYes to remaining, no to Brexit."
Irish MEP Sean Kelly told the European Parliament Britain leaving the EU would have "it would greatly negatively effect the Irish economy".
He said he hoped Britain would remain within the EU and urged the commission to make "every effort" to come to an agreement with David Cameron.
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Labour MEP Glenis Willmott told the European Parliament she found it "hard to believe" the UK's "position as a global leader" was "under threat".
She said Mr Cameron was realising his "strategy of taking our country to the brink of an exit may not be a wise one". She said she desperately hoped "sanity prevails" in reaching a sensible deal.
Quote MessageBut regardless of what happens in the negotiations Britain is better off in the EU, and the EU is better off with Britain as a member. So I am proud that the Labour Party will be campaigning hard to make sure Britain remains in the EU."
She went on to say her party would fight to save jobs, security, to protect worker's rights and keep the UK's "rightful place at the heart of the EU".
Ex-UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson, who now sits as an independent, laid out a list of demands which she said would better reflect what the UK wants from Europe.
She says the UK must have its own "free trade deals", noting that trying to represent 28 countries under one EU trade commissioner "does not fit all".
She also adds that there is a desire to limit immigration, and stop judges in European courts being able to overrule "the UK judiciary and directly-elected members of Parliament".
However, she told MEPs:
Quote MessageWe must have control over who comes to Britain and that's non-negotiable and you cannot deliver on this, so therefore we will Brexit."
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