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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/oct/20/brexit-theresa-may-angela-merkel-hopeful-deal-europe-politics-live
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Brexit: EU leaders agree internal talks on trade with UK - politics live | Brexit: EU leaders agree internal talks on trade with UK - politics live |
(35 minutes later) | |
12.29pm BST | |
12:29 | |
The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk is speaking in Brussels now. He says reports of a deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated and insists there has been progress. | |
12.16pm BST | |
12:16 | |
Haroon Siddique | |
Video of the prime minister’s press conference can now be viewed online: | |
📽️ UK Prime Minister @Number10gov Theresa May held a press conference following European Council #EUCO. | VIDEO ⬇️https://t.co/xYXmX0aQka | |
12.08pm BST | |
12:08 | |
Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, Debbie Abrahams, has responded to Iain Duncan Smith’s defence of Universal Credit on this morning’s edition of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | |
In particular, she has attacked his claim that 60% of people going on to Universal Credit were carrying debts accrued as a result of problems with the tax credit regime. | |
Those struggling to keep their heads above water on the government’s disastrous Universal Credit full service won’t appreciate a history lesson from the man responsible for much of this mess. | |
The former work and pensions secretary’s claims have been disproved by the DWP’s own statistics, which show that half of those in rent arrears under Universal Credit went into arrears after staring their claim. | |
I would also like to gently remind him that Labour’s tax credits improved the lives of millions of families, making work pay and helping to lift over a million children out of poverty, rather than exacerbating the problem as the emaciated Universal Credit system is predicted to do. | |
Regardless, the admission by Mr Duncan Smith that there are high levels of debt under Universal Credit is surely enough for him to back our calls for a pause and fix. A call supported by the House of Commons in a unanimous vote. | |
11.36am BST | 11.36am BST |
11:36 | 11:36 |
Yet more on the presentational issues associated with Theresa May’s appearance in Brussels: | Yet more on the presentational issues associated with Theresa May’s appearance in Brussels: |
May: I'll take a question from some of our European colleagues?British voice. "We're all European"Laughter | May: I'll take a question from some of our European colleagues?British voice. "We're all European"Laughter |
11.15am BST | 11.15am BST |
11:15 | 11:15 |
It has been speculated that Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron’s decision to walk to the summit chamber with Theresa May yesterday was intended as a public show of support for her and an attempt to avoid the emergence of more damaging images that appear to cast the prime minister as a lonely figure in Brussels. | It has been speculated that Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron’s decision to walk to the summit chamber with Theresa May yesterday was intended as a public show of support for her and an attempt to avoid the emergence of more damaging images that appear to cast the prime minister as a lonely figure in Brussels. |
Some are still left wondering if her team has quite mastered the optics, however. | Some are still left wondering if her team has quite mastered the optics, however. |
One of these days, No10 will manage to come away from one of these summits without a picture of May on her own looking sad. pic.twitter.com/00eCFyd6IB | One of these days, No10 will manage to come away from one of these summits without a picture of May on her own looking sad. pic.twitter.com/00eCFyd6IB |
Perhaps this is more the shot they were hoping for: | Perhaps this is more the shot they were hoping for: |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.34am BST | at 11.34am BST |
10.59am BST | 10.59am BST |
10:59 | 10:59 |
The final question from journalists is on Catalonia. What advice does May have for the region’s leadership? | The final question from journalists is on Catalonia. What advice does May have for the region’s leadership? |
May sidesteps that, saying she has spoken to the Spanish prime minister and the country’s law and constitution must be respected. The Spanish courts had ruled Catalonia’s independence referendum unconstitutional prior to it being held. | May sidesteps that, saying she has spoken to the Spanish prime minister and the country’s law and constitution must be respected. The Spanish courts had ruled Catalonia’s independence referendum unconstitutional prior to it being held. |
10.57am BST | 10.57am BST |
10:57 | 10:57 |
May is asked when she will be able to put a number on it. | May is asked when she will be able to put a number on it. |
She says it will “come as part of the final agreement”, without putting a date on it. | She says it will “come as part of the final agreement”, without putting a date on it. |
10.57am BST | 10.57am BST |
10:57 | 10:57 |
The prime minister is asked if the bill could go as high as €60bn. | The prime minister is asked if the bill could go as high as €60bn. |
She responds that she has been very clear in saying the government will go through the financial contribution proposals “line by line”. | She responds that she has been very clear in saying the government will go through the financial contribution proposals “line by line”. |
10.54am BST | 10.54am BST |
10:54 | 10:54 |
The next question refers to the December talks: is May willing to give further detail in order to get talks moving? | The next question refers to the December talks: is May willing to give further detail in order to get talks moving? |
The prime minister rather sidesteps the question, saying she is “positive and optimistic about where we can get to”. | The prime minister rather sidesteps the question, saying she is “positive and optimistic about where we can get to”. |
10.52am BST | 10.52am BST |
10:52 | 10:52 |
May is asked about the money to be paid by the UK - has the quantity increased? She says nothing has changed from her Florence speech. | May is asked about the money to be paid by the UK - has the quantity increased? She says nothing has changed from her Florence speech. |
May says negotiators are going through how much Britain owes the EU in financial contributions line by line | May says negotiators are going through how much Britain owes the EU in financial contributions line by line |
May doesn't deny that she has told other leaders privately that she'd be willing to pay many billions more than the initial 20 billion | May doesn't deny that she has told other leaders privately that she'd be willing to pay many billions more than the initial 20 billion |
But she certainly doesnt confirm it either! Rests on the 'we'll go through line by line' answer .... | But she certainly doesnt confirm it either! Rests on the 'we'll go through line by line' answer .... |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.55am BST | at 10.55am BST |
10.51am BST | 10.51am BST |
10:51 | 10:51 |
On Brexit, May says the EU and UK “share the same objective” of protecting the rights of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. | On Brexit, May says the EU and UK “share the same objective” of protecting the rights of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU. |
May says the Belfast agreement must be at the heart of the approach, that the peace process must not be affected and that there must be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. | May says the Belfast agreement must be at the heart of the approach, that the peace process must not be affected and that there must be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. |
10.49am BST | 10.49am BST |
10:49 | 10:49 |
Theresa May is opening her delayed press conference. She says she looks forward to working with the EU in the future. | Theresa May is opening her delayed press conference. She says she looks forward to working with the EU in the future. |
The EU leaders also discussed foreign policy, May says, adding that they reiterate their “firm commitment” to the Iran nuclear deal. She also condemns North Korea and specifically names China as a nation that must help deal with the issue. | The EU leaders also discussed foreign policy, May says, adding that they reiterate their “firm commitment” to the Iran nuclear deal. She also condemns North Korea and specifically names China as a nation that must help deal with the issue. |