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Talks on a deal with France on small boat crossings were in their “final stages”, following a meeting between Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street said today. The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “I don’t know if they have finalized a specific agreement on small boats at that meeting.” Talks on the details of a deal were being held separately involving Home Office officials, rather than being addressed by the two leaders, the spokesman said. “A deal is being discussed and I think it’s in the final stages,” the spokesman said. Earlier today Mr Sunak acknowledged that dealing with Channel crossings was a “complex issue” as he insisted he was “determined to handle” the situation. In other news, Mr Sunak still has full confidence in Sir Gavin Williamson, after the abusive texts emerged, Downing Street said. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer has suggested he feels Sir Gavin is “obviously unfit” for the job, following news that he allegedly bullied former leader Wendy Morton.

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Rishi Sunak ‘optimistic’ about deal with France to tackle small boat crossings

Rishi Sunak ‘optimistic’ about deal with France to tackle small boat crossings Joe Middleton November 7, 2022 4:59 p.m 1667838380

UK deal with France to tackle small boat crossings in ‘final stages’, No 10 says

Britain and France are in the “final stages” of talks on a deal to tackle illegal crossings of the English Channel by migrants, Downing Street said. Speaking shortly after a meeting between Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron in Egypt, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “An agreement is being discussed and I think it is in its final stages.” The No 10 spokesman said the potential agreement related to “joint enforcement operations” but the two leaders had yet to agree a timetable for implementation. Joe Middleton November 7, 2022 4:26 p.m 1667837707

Rishi Sunak urges patience over Gavin Williamson complaint

Rishi Sunak has defended Home Secretary Suella Braverman over overcrowding at Manston processing centre, claiming she was “actually making sure we got the numbers down at Manston”. Asked about Gavin Williamson’s explosive messages to a Tory colleague, Mr Sunack told broadcasters: “There is an independent complaints process and it is right to let that process take place before we judge. Pressed on whether he could sack the minister, the prime minister added: “I’ve made it clear that the language is not right, it’s not acceptable and that’s why I welcome the fact that Gavin Williamson has expressed regret about it… it would be right to if we allow it, the process is completed before decisions are made about the future.” Asked whether suspended MP Matt Hancock would reinstate the Tory whip following his appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Mr Sunak said: “Whip issues are a matter for the chief whip.” Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 16:15 1667837210

Sunak: Crossing channels ‘complex issue’

Rishi Sunak has acknowledged that the channel’s handling of takeovers is a “complex issue” as he insisted he is “determined to handle” the situation. Asked how soon the number of people making the dangerous journey would decrease, the Prime Minister told broadcasters at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt: “We all want this situation to be resolved as quickly as possible. “I also want to be honest with people that it’s a complicated issue. It’s not a simple overnight fix. “I wouldn’t be honest if I said there was. There are a number of things we need to do. “Although I want people to be reassured that I am absolutely determined to handle this. I have spent a huge amount of my time on it. I spoke to many European leaders about this today. “And there are a number of things that we will act on as quickly as we can to control the situation and reduce the amount of illegal immigration that we are seeing.” Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 16:06 1667836300

Government cancels Brexit merchant yacht plan ‘with immediate effect’

The Government has scrapped plans to build Brexit merchant yachts with “immediate effect”, the Defense Secretary has announced. Speaking in the Commons on Monday Ben Wallace said the tender to build a national flagship was “closed”. Wallace told MPs the decision was made so shipbuilders could focus on building a new vessel to protect undersea cables from attack. Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 15:51 1667834790

Macron and Sunak meet for the first time at Cop27

(PA wire)
(AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)

Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 15:26 1667834669

Brexiteers must ‘face the reality’ of leaving the EU, Macron ally says

A senior ally of Emmanuel Macron has told Brexiteers they must “face reality” about the consequences of leaving the EU. Nathalie Loiseau, who on Monday led the European Parliament’s first post-Brexit delegation to London, said those “complaining” about the deal Britain signed had failed to propose alternatives. Ms Loiseau, a former French European minister who represented Macron’s government during the talks, said border issues with Northern Ireland were an inevitable consequence of leaving the EU and could only be “mitigated”. Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 15:24 1667833207

Sunak discusses ‘illegal immigration’ with Italy’s new far-right prime minister

Rishi Sunak and Italy’s new far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni discussed “tackling illegal immigration” as they met on the sidelines of the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt. The Prime Minister and Ms Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister, took office within days of each other last month. Ms Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party leads the country’s first far-right government since World War Two, a coalition that has made reducing immigration a key part of its agenda. Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 15:00 1667831418

China attacks UK’s post-Brexit trade talks with Taiwan

China has criticized the UK for sending a minister to Taiwan for trade talks, insisting that any “official contacts” with the self-governing region must stop. Trade Secretary Greg Hunts begins a two-day visit on Monday with talks aimed at “boosting” post-Brexit trade and promoting British expertise in hydrogen and offshore wind. Ahead of his visit, Mr Hands said: “Boosting trade with this vital partner is part of the UK’s post-Brexit tilt towards the Indo-Pacific and working closer together will help us keep our economy in future in the coming decades”. Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 14:30 1667830207

Scottish Tory leader would sack any frontbencher who sends abusive messages

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he would sack any frontbencher found to be sending messages like those of cabinet minister Gavin Williamson. Asked if he would sack a frontbench MSP at Holyrood if such messages were sent, Mr Ross told Times Radio: “Yes, they wouldn’t be on my frontbench with the language used.” Without calling on Rishi Sunak to sack Mr Williamson, Mr Ross added: “But I understand what the Prime Minister is saying, there is an investigation going on. And I don’t know all the details, but I’ve seen the messages… I wouldn’t expect that from any of my colleagues at Holyrood.” Eleanor Sly7 November 2022 14:10