Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer again stressed that a post-Brexit trade deal would be in the national interest.

He told reporters: “The prime minister said he had an oven-ready deal, that’s what he told the country a year ago.

“He needs to get on and deliver that and then we’ll look at it.

“I’m very clear that no-deal is not in the public interest and therefore the public interest lies in us getting a deal.

“We are not sitting on the fence because the prime minister hasn’t even delivered a deal yet.”

There’s already some push back on the AFP claim that Michel Barnier has told officials a Brexit trade deal is “possible” by Friday.

One EU official, who declined to be named, has told Reuters that disagreements over fisheries were not yet resolved, and many more minor issues still required “polishing”. They said that while sealing a deal was possible by the end of the week, they “wouldn’t bank on it.”

Michel Barnier has reportedly told officials that a UK-EU trade deal is “possible” by Friday. AFP is citing European Parliament sources for the claim. Leaders of political groupings in the Brussels parliament, remember, have made clear they will not meet to ratify a trade deal this year unless one is agreed before Sunday.

Tory MP Mark Francois will be delighted. Big Ben is to be reconnected so that it can bong at New Year’s Eve, the House of Commons authorities have said.

The bell will be tested in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve to ensure it can produce its bongs when the clock strikes midnight. One of the tests will be at 11pm – which coincides with the moment the UK leaves the EU’s single market and customs union.

Repair work prevented it bonging for Britain’s formal political exit from the EU on 31 January – despite Francois’ fervent wishes and crowdfunding campaign.

The leading Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has now apologised, sort of, for attended a 27-person private dinner listed as a Christmas Party earlier this week – an event he insists was a “business meeting”.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Mr Ellwood did use the term “apols” but added in his statement: “I appreciate, given the current challenges, some will question the wisdom of my attendance. I’m sorry that coverage of my well-intended attendance may have muddied the government’s clear message as we head towards Christmas.”

Influential Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has insisted he did not break Covid rules aimed at limiting large gatherings when he attended a dinner for 27 guests at a private club in London – but home secretary Priti Patel has disagreed.  

The chairman of the Commons’ defence committee gave a speech at the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) event at the Cavalry and Guards Club on Tuesday. Although the dinner was listed as a “Christmas Party” on the IBBC’s own website, the MP for Bournemouth East has insisted it was a business meeting.

However, Patel has accused him of breaching restrictions by attending the event, said the matter would be “followed up” and suggested her Conservative colleague could even face a fine.

Asked by ITV News whether Ellwood’s actions were an egregious breach of the rules, she said: “Of course, it is exactly that… Having dinner outside of the rules with a large number of people is a breach of the regulations.”

The European Parliament will not meet to ratify a Brexit trade deal unless one is signed before Sunday, the leaders of its main political groups have said.

The new red line means Britain is expected to face a no-deal exit from the single market is nothing has been agreed by the close of the weekend.

Policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:

Large swathes of the southeast of England, including Portsmouth, Peterborough, Bedfordshire and Berkshire, are to be placed in the toughest tier 3 coronavirus restrictions, health secretary Matt Hancock has told the House of Commons.

Political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:

Labour has published its plan for dealing with antisemitism within the party in response to a highly damning report by the equality watchdog.

The plan seeks to create an independent process to investigate complaints, prevent the leader and his office from influencing outcomes, and deal with a backlog of cases.

The issues were cited as problems during the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in finding the party broke the law in its handling of antisemitism.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission welcomed Labour’s action plan and said it “meets the recommendations” made in its report.

The watchdog’s executive director, Alastair Pringle, said: “The Labour Party has produced a comprehensive action plan that meets the recommendations made in our investigation report.

“It includes clear steps to ensure that each one is implemented in full and the party has set itself a deadline for this to be achieved.

“It will take time to rebuild the trust of the membership and the public. This is an important step in the right direction.

“We are satisfied these changes are realistic and achievable, and we will continue to monitor and work with the Labour Party so this plan is adhered to.”

A spokesman for the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) said: “Many of the steps set out in this action plan are those that JLM has been asking the party to implement for years. We are disappointed that it took the intervention of the EHRC to secure them, but pleased that we now have a new leadership committed to act.

“As the centenary year of our affiliation to the Labour Party draws to an end, we will continue to play our part in being a loyal but critical friend to the Labour Party in resolving these challenges.

“Our expectations will be however, as they always have been, for strong actions to follow positive words.

“Whilst we welcome the reform of processes, by itself it is not enough. Recent events have shown a toxic culture persists in many parts of the party. Solving this is as essential as introducing an independent disciplinary process.”

Priti Patel has denied she “screamed and swore” at Home Office civil servants, just weeks after an official inquiry found evidence of her “shouting and swearing” at staff, political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports.

The home secretary was confronted with the allegation after a summary of a report by the prime minister’s standards adviser in November said her behaviour had amounted to bullying.