What the papers say – December 5
The nation’s papers are led by the PM stepping in to take a direct role in Brexit negotiations.
The Guardian reports Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will now liaise directly with each other after the negotiating teams for each party were unable to reach an agreement.
Guardian front page, Saturday 5 December 2020: Brexit talks go to the wire as PM steps in pic.twitter.com/D6x4ubVXyi
— The Guardian (@guardian) December 4, 2020
The i weekend also leads on the trade talks coming “down to the wire”, with the FT Weekend reporting “significant divergences” remain.
Saturday's front page: Brexit talks go to the wire #iweekend#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/rFyzLmvxt0
— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 4, 2020
Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition, Saturday December 5 https://t.co/3COl5Y7mlbpic.twitter.com/ABGh2ak9qP
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 4, 2020
The deadlock came after French president Emmanuel Macron “pressured” the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier into taking a tougher stance, according to the Daily Mail and The Times.
Saturday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/GSamXS6Nya
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 4, 2020
France derails Brexit talks#TomorrowsPapersToday@bbchelenpic.twitter.com/kNCHxrls1a
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) December 4, 2020
The Daily Telegraph says discussions were also hampered by a late request from Brussels for “unfettered access to British waters”.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'EU's 10-year fishing demand'#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/vgGK2UTDLm
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 4, 2020
Elsewhere, the Daily Express and The Sun lead with the return of Britons to pubs and shops following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Daily Express: £10bn bounce back at shops #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/dEezrx0NnS
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) December 4, 2020
Tomorrow's front page: Pubs and shops prepare for £1.5 billion spending spree as Brits raise glass to Covid vaccine https://t.co/uUPhkrd3ajpic.twitter.com/e6e2LJFUoi
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 4, 2020
The Daily Mirror reports celebrity landlords Tom Kerridge and Jodie Kidd have lent their voices to the paper’s campaign to give Covid tax breaks refunded by some supermarkets to struggling pubs.
Tomorrow's front page: Your round Rishi https://t.co/AnGgPTG9Q8#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/pNTYjXwi2a
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 4, 2020
And the Daily Star says police “called time” on drinkers using a scotch egg as a substantial meal in a series of raids on pubs.
Tomorrow's @DailyStar#frontpage:
– Scotch egg raids: Nicked by frying squadhttps://t.co/h25EkFIsCf#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/jD19TK09lU
— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 4, 2020