Brexit news: Britain raises terror threat to severe, and UK misses EU deadline

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UK raises terror threat level to ‘severe’ following attacks across Europe

The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised to severe, meaning that an attack is judged to be highly likely.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (Jtac) made the assessment following a spate of attacks in France and the shooting rampage by an Isis supporter in Vienna.

Priti Patel, the UK home secretary, said it was a “precautionary measure” that was “not based on a specific threat”.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is facing further legal action from the EU after he missed a deadline to explain why he is planning to break international law over Northern Ireland.

Speaking on Tuesday, a European Commission spokesperson said: “We sent a letter of formal notice on 1 October to the UK for breaching its obligations under the withdrawal agreement. As you know it had until the end of the month to submit its observations to that letter.”

They added: "To date I can confirm that the EU has received no reply from the UK, therefore we are considering next steps, including issuing a reasoned opinion [of the European Court of Justice]."

Key Points

• UK terror threat level raised to ‘severe’
• Threat level raised as ‘precautionary measure’ - counter-terrorism official
• PM misses EU deadline to explain breach of international law
• Brexit talks ‘stuck’ on fishing quotas – and other blockages
• ‘Incompetent’: Reactions to Johnson missing EU deadline flood in
• Biden win wouldn’t stop UK-US trade deal, claims ambassador

[3 November 2020 19:40 · Zoe Tidman]

Circuit-breaker

In more news about impending Covid-19 restrictions, Stephen Barclay has rejected claims a circuit-breaker would have meant a shorter lockdown.

Watch his comments here:

[3 November 2020 20:00 · Zoe Tidman]

Here’s Priti Patel on the terror threat level being raised to “severe” following attacks in Austria and France:

[3 November 2020 20:26 · Zoe Tidman]

Covid-19 warnings

Boris Johnson’s top medical and scientific advisers warned the government “virtually every day” since mid-September of the need for action to bring the number of coronavirus infections down, MPs heard today.

Full story below:

[3 November 2020 20:50 · Zoe Tidman]

US election

Attention is focused over the other side of the pond tonight, as the US presidential election plays out.

But what will the result of the election fought by Joe Biden and Donald Trump mean for the UK? 

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone takes a closer look:

[3 November 2020 21:09 · Zoe Tidman]

Threat level

Following the news the UK’s terror threat level has been raised to “severe”, Lizzie Dearden,  our home affairs and security correspondent, reminds us it was lowered around a year ago:

[3 November 2020 21:17 · Zoe Tidman]

If you missed it earlier, Lizzie Dearden reported on the UK terror threat change earlier today: 

[3 November 2020 21:18 · Zoe Tidman]

That’s all from us tonight. Thanks for following.