Ed Davey says it is ‘alarming’ the government will negotiate with China but won’t agree to better EU trading arrangement

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has said the government’s decision to reject the EU’s suggestion that Britain could join a Europe-wide customs scheme (see 9.28am and 10.10am) is “an act of economic negligence”.

In a statement he said:

It is alarming that the government is happy to negotiate with China but won’t even look at a better trading arrangement with our closest neighbours in Europe. This is an act of economic negligence.

If the government thinks it will get growth back in the economy by borrowing Boris Johnson’s playbook on European negotiations it is going to end up being sorely disappointed.

New data from NHS England shows an average of 13,710 hospital beds per day were filled last week by patients who were medically fit to leave – up from 13,585 the previous week and the highest number so far this winter.

On average, 41% of patients ready to leave hospital last week were discharged each day, down slightly week-on-week from 42%.