Summary

  • Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer clashed at PMQs on the status of ongoing Brexit talks

  • Mr Johnson said "a good deal is still there to be done", but said the EU's position was to have an "automatic right to punish us"

  • Cabinet minister Michael Gove outlined details of a Brexit deal for EU goods that reach the UK via the new Irish Sea border

  • Supermarkets will be given a "grace period" to ensure food supplies from GB to NI do not face disruption from 1 January

  • Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet in Brussels this evening for talks on a post-Brexit deal

  • Time is running out to reach a deal before 31 December, when the UK stops following EU trading rules.

  • UK medicines regulator has advices people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not have the new Covid jab

  1. Boris Johnson leaves No 10 for PMQspublished at 11:56 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The PM left Downing Street a few moments ago

  2. Will Brussels dinner prove to be the last supper?published at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2020

    Laura Kuenssberg
    Political editor

    The purpose of Wednesday's dinner is not to call a halt to talks.

    But nor is the purpose to proclaim that a deal's been done.

    The reason for the meeting is to see if both sides are willing in principle to tolerate the notion of budging, after the negotiations, and frankly negotiators, have been exhausted.

    If the prime minister and Mrs von der Leyen can look each other in the eye and agree that there are still compromises to be had, then a deal is still possible.

    If they are willing to make that kind of pact - to say privately to each other, I'm willing to budge if you are too - then that would in theory allow technical talks to get going again.

    Read more from Laura

  3. So what might come up?published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2020

    Johnson von der LeyenImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

    After week's of questions about the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, we expect today's session will shift heavily towards the ongoing Brexit talks.

    Boris Johnson will fly to Brussels later for talks on a post-Brexit deal with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

    Time is running out to reach a deal before 31 December, when the UK stops following EU trading rules, and there are big disagreements on three issues: fishing rights, business competition rules and how a deal will be policed.

  4. Starmer calling in to the Commonspublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2020

    Boris Johnson taking PMQs by video linkImage source, UK Parliament/ Jessica Taylor
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson has previously taken PMQs by video link

    Due to social distancing rules we've become used to seeing MPs ask their questions by video link from their offices.

    Today it's the Labour leader's turn to dial in to the Commons chamber for today's session.

    Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating after one of his aides tested positive for coronavirus.

    It is the second time Sir Keir has had to isolate.

    After Boris Johnson's own period of isolation recently, last week's session was the first face to face session the PM and Sir Keir had for a while.

  5. Good Morningpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2020

    BBC Politics

    The view of the Commons chamber from the press galleryImage source, UK Parliament/ Jessica Taylor
    Image caption,

    The view of the Commons chamber from the press gallery

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

    Today's session is the penultimate question time for Boris Johnson ahead of Parliament's Christmas break.

    We'll bring you all the details as it happens, with analysis from our political correspondent Iain Watson, external, and our resident team of fact-checkers at BBC Reality Check.

    Do stay with us.