NEWS
Brexit fury as Boris Johnson’s manoeuvre won’t stop UK paying billions to EU
Brexit trade talks have been upended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempts to override the withdrawal agreement, outlined in yesterday’s news digest, but even in the event of no deal the UK will have to pay Brussels billions. It is believed that a refusal to pay could provoke the EU to take the case to the International Court of Justice – Express
Christmas to bring little cheer with social restrictions set to last all winter – Telegraph
‘The worst sort of busybodies!’ Plan for ‘Covid-secure marshals’ who will enforce rules on social gatherings sparks fears of an army of power-hungry snoopers – Mail
Lloyds Bank to axe hundreds of jobs in the wake of the government’s lockdown – Telegraph
EasyJet pilot orders passenger with chronic asthma to wear a mask or be thrown off flight from Jersey to Gatwick – Mail
BBC licence fee on the way out, says senior MP – Times
COMMENT
Irrational and inconsistent, these coronavirus policies only succeed in breeding fear – Sir Mick Davis, Telegraph
Diplomacy will be replaced by gunships if EU doesn’t back down on fishing laws – Paul Baldwin, Express
How will this ultra-cautious, hellish version of snakes and ladders ever get Britain back on its feet? – Dominic Sandbrook, Mail