Summary

  • David Cameron seeks Polish support for his EU renegotiation proposals during trip to Warsaw

  • Polish PM says she support aspects of the UK's draft blueprint, such as enhanced national sovereignty and competitiveness

  • But Beata Szydlo says other areas, including curbs on EU migrants benefits, need to be 'ironed out'

  • The UK PM moves onto Denmark for talks with counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who gives full backing to his reforms

  • Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says a UN panel's ruling that Julian Assange be allowed to go free is 'ridiculous'

  • The head of the cross-party Remain in EU campaign, Lord Rose, says he expects a substantial win in the referendum

  1. PM pledges more British cash for Syriapublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The Press Association tweets...

  2. Australians and New Zealanders lose £200 health surcharge exemptionpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    SignImage source, Getty Images

    Visitors from Australia and New Zealand who plan to stay in the UK more than six months will have to pay for dental care and prescription charges, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire has announced.

    The £200 surcharge comes into effect from 6 April and will also hit Australians or New Zealanders already in the UK who want to extend their stay.

    An Immigration Health Surcharge introduced in April 2015 for all non-EEA nationals collected more than £100m for the NHS within six months.

    Quote Message

    We believe it is only fair that Australian and New Zealand nationals, who have previously benefited from a one year exemption from the immigration health surcharge, will now contribute to our health service in the same way as other non-EEA nationals. By keeping the surcharge at a competitive level, we are also recognising the contribution temporary migrants make to the wider economy."

    NHS care is generally free to health surcharge payers, but a charge applies to services that permanent residents in England also pay for, such as dental treatment and prescriptions.

    The surcharge does not apply to any non-EEA national coming to the UK for six months or less, or to those who apply for a visitor visa, who continue to be fully liable for the cost of any NHS treatment at the point they receive it.

    However, due to reciprocal healthcare agreements with both countries, residents of Australia, and citizens of New Zealand who visit the UK will not be charged for treatment that cannot wait until they return home.

    Overseas visitors, aged between 18 and 30, applying to come to the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme will benefit from a discounted rate of £150 per person per year, which will align the cost with the amount paid by students.

  3. Syria conference target to raise £6.2bnpublished at 14:55

    Ban Ki-moonImage source, Reuters

    The suspension of the peace talks has overshadowed the start of a major international donor conference in London aimed at easing the plight of millions of victims of the war in Syria.

    Representatives from 70 countries heard UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon talk of the "enormous humanitarian needs" there. 

    It's hoped the conference will raise up to $9bn (£6.2bn). The European Council President, Donald Tusk, said the EU would pledge over $3bn (£2.1bn) to help Syria and its neighbours.

  4. 'Out' campaign 'doesn't need figurehead'published at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The campaign to leave the EU does not need a big political figurehead - because "the argument matters more than the personality", Conservative former minister David Davis has said. 

    Making a speech in London on the case for Brexit, Mr Davis claimed the public would not decide whether to leave or stay in the EU based on who was leading the campaign.

    Instead "they will look hard about what is happening to their own future, their own job," he said, adding: "They won't be taking guidance from Boris, or Theresa May, or David Cameron."

  5. EU emergency brake 'won't work'published at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    David Davis

    Conservative former minister David Davis says the proposed "emergency brake" on in-work benefits for EU migrants would "have no impact whatsoever".

    During a speech in central London, he said:

    Quote Message

    If my car's brakes worked in a similar manner, then there would be an almighty crash."

    David Davis, Conservative MP

  6. 'Hoping for a Corbyn miracle'published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

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  7. David Davis: 'EU red card is lipstick on a pig'published at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    David DavisImage source, Getty Images

    A proposed "red card" to allow EU parliaments to block laws from Brussels is a "desperate attempt to put lipstick on a pig", Conservative former minister David Davis said in a speech in central London.

    Quote Message

    The 'red card' system only operates on draft laws - only works if there is a 'subsidiarity' argument - and needs the agreement 55% of EU Parliaments. This is the same as the old 'yellow card' system, that was also unworkable and which the government has previously claimed is too difficult to satisfy. Since its introduction in 2009, it has only been used twice, one of those times being the proposal to create an EU public prosecutor's office, which went ahead anyway. The government's feeble re-branding from yellow to red is a desperate attempt to put lipstick on a pig."

  8. Syria fund boosted by 'generous' donationspublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    Philip HammondImage source, PA

    Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says he is "optimistic" about the final tally of donations for refugees from war-torn Syria.

    He told BBC Radio 4's the World at One:

    Quote Message

    We've already had some very generous donations and big announcements. We're optimistic that the tally will be impressive today, but there's always more to be done."

    But Mr Hammond added that the humanitarian crisis will only be brought to an end by a political solution to the civil war in Syria.

  9. Hammond: Draft EU package is 'significant'published at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    Britain's draft EU reform package contains "significant measures that will change the way the EU works", Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said. 

    Asked if it was fair to campaign for a deal, while other members of the Cabinet who disagreed had to stay silent, he told BBC Radio 4's the World at One programme: "We haven't got a deal yet, there's nothing to praise. 

    "The document that's been tabled by Mr Tusk is a good basis on which to take this discussion forward to the European Council in a couple of weeks' time. But if there's a deal to be done it will be done at the European Council or after the European Council, it hasn't been done yet. "

  10. 'Russian strikes against Syria moderates increase'published at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

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  11. Labour launches "listening tour" on immigrationpublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

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  12. Johnson to give EU opinion after negotiations concludepublished at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    BBC London News

    Mayor of London Boris JohnsonImage source, Getty Images

    Boris Johnson will give his opinion on Britain's EU reform proposals, once David Cameron has completed his negotiations, he told BBC London.

    Quote Message

    I'm going to wait till the conclusion of the deal and then you'll hear from me but until that time I think we should really let the prime minister get on with his work."

    He added that David Cameron is still "in the throes of negotiations and I think we should let him get on with it..You don't have much longer to wait."

  13. UK 'under legal obligation to arrest Assange'published at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    WikiLeaks founder Julian AssangeImage source, Getty Images

    A Downing Street spokesman has said that a ruling by a UN panel on whether Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained in the UK would not be legally binding.

    The spokesman said: "A European arrest warrant is in place and if he were to leave the embassy we'd put that into effect. We have a legal obligation to put that into effect."

    The spokesman added that Mr Assange has never been detained in this country and said he is avoiding legal arrest.

  14. 'Fought and died' for sovereigntypublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    Parliamentary Sovereignty debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chair of the EU Scrutiny Committee, and the man who famously read every word of the Maastricht Treaty, Sir Bill Cash tells MPs that today he "doesn't want to talk about the technicalities".

    The reason the UK "must remain sovereign" is very simple, Sir Bill says. It's because "we are elected by our voters to govern and we must not be over ruled".

    Getting in to his stride Sir Bill says: "This is what people fought and died...This parliament is steeped in blood it has been nourished by civil war."

    Sir Bill Cash
  15. Social Europe 'sham'published at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    Parliamentary Sovereignty debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins calls the "Social Europe" argument for fee movement of people "a complete sham".

    He tells MPs that immigration is "not about being benign - it is about bidding down wages".

    The so-called Social Europe model is "used as a lever to persuade social democratic parties to say yes [to the EU]".

    But "big business always wins", Mr Hopkins argues.

    Labour Kelvin Hopkins
  16. 'Not honest' to focus on immigrationpublished at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    Parliamentary Sovereignty

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    John Baron turns on the government for focusing the debate on the benefit brake for EU migrants, accusing it of "playing to the gallery".

    This creates a "negative narrative of immigrants, and ignores the fact that almost all of the immigrants from the EU come here to work hard. Not to claim benefits."

    He says that EU migration also "cannot be stopped in all truthfulness while we adhere to the key principle of free movement of people".

    Focusing on immigration is "not honest" and detracts from the real issue of the large "democratic deficit" in the EU, he argues.

  17. Watch: Margaret Beckett: Praying for another Corbyn miraclepublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    Media caption,

    Margaret Beckett: Praying for another Corbyn miracle

    When asked if she still regarded herself as "a moron" for nominating Jeremy Corbyn to be leader (a term used by John McTernan to describe those who backed him "to widen debate in the leadership contest), Mrs Beckett responded: 

    Quote Message

    I didn't intend Jeremy to have a serious chance of being the leader, he has been elected... My hope, if you like, prayer, is that he can do the same miracle with the public as he managed to do with members of the Labour Party, because neither you or I would have predicted it."

  18. Beckett dismisses Labour election report criticismpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Margaret BeckettImage source, Getty Images

    Margaret Beckett has dismissed criticism of her official inquiry for the Labour Party into why it lost the the general election.

    Gordon Brown's former pollster, Deborah Mattinson, described Beckett's report as a "white wash and missed opportunity".

    But talking to the Daily Politics Mrs Beckett labelled Mattinson's remarks "a rather a silly thing to say".

    Andrew Neil put it to Mrs Beckett: 

    Quote Message

    But you didn't criticise the Labour leader, you called the manifesto an impressive document, you blamed the Tories, SNP, the media.. It didn't seem to be Labour's fault..."

    Mrs Beckett responded:

    Quote Message

    'I don't think that's what the report did say... I said we failed, our job was to try and create trust on our economic policy, in our approach on immigration, welfare and we failed... one of the things people in the Labour Party wanted to know is why did we do so well in some of the country and not in others, what happened with the opinion polls and why did they mislead us. People wanted the answer to those questions as well'."

  19. Labour 'not open enough about EU shortcomings'published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Gisela Stuart

    We've heard plenty about Conservative Euroscepticism, but what about Labour Eurosceptics? Gisela Stuart MP says Labour should reassess its "In" stance.

    "There are... these real scars. It was in the 80s the subject of Europe that led to the Labour Party splintering, we just remain in a comfort zone and kept saying 'This is how we like the institution [the EU] to be', and not being open enough about its shortcomings."

  20. Sovereignty declaration 'does not mean much'published at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Craig Mackinlay

    Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay says Parliament can vote down EU acts, but the body of EU law "means we're really not in control of our own house any more". He says of any explicit declaration of UK sovereignty: "I don't think it means very much at all."