Brexit latest

Rising to his feet, Boris somehow managed to smear a positive expression across his face. Yes, finally, the House had come together to back an EU exit deal. This was a breakthrough moment – an extraordinary achievement considering the Tories' former allies in the DUP weren't even supporting the deal. However, it was the subsequent vote which brought everything to a screeching halt. The PM had lost by 14 votes. Not a Theresa May-size spanking but a victory for the anti-Brexit brigade all the same. Huge groans as the tellers announced the result echoed around the chamber. Rising to his feet, Boris (pictured) somehow managed to smear a positive expression across his face. Yes, finally, the House had come together to back an EU exit deal Johnson brushed away Jeremy Corbyn's offer to work on a timetable, pledging to put his Bill on pause until he had heard from Brussels about an extension. Utterly maddening. But that's always been the problem of getting Brexit done. No wonder Boris … [Read more...] about The seatbelt signs were on. We were cleared for lift-off… then it all came to a screeching halt: HENRY DEEDES on Brexit’s latest stumbling block

The Brexit blame game has moved centre stage. The strange thing, however, is that the game is already up. The British government, as the champions of the Brexit project, understandably attach increasing importance to this blame game. Fearful of being caught red-handed as the foolish project increasingly runs into reality, their aim is to shift the focus on to others. As the immense damage to the UK’s interests, influence and wellbeing becomes clearer, their search for Brexit culprits is vital. The risk of a no-deal departure from the EU, which would maximise the national and international damage, intensifies this frantic hunt further. The blame game has become so important that few people are able to assess the real intention of Johnson’s latest Brexit proposals, which in their present form could never form the basis for agreement. It is impossible to be sure whether they represent a genuine attempt to negotiate an agreement or are rather designed to provide further … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson can play the Brexit blame game all he likes – the world won’t fall for it

Jean-Claude Juncker has talked up the prospects of a Brexit extension beyond 31 October as EU officials downplayed the chances of a breakthrough in time for this week’s crunch summit. As talks on Johnson’s latest Brexit proposals continued in Brussels, the European commission president said he would back a prolongation of the UK’s membership if it was sought. “It’s up to the Brits to decide if they will ask for an extension,” Juncker told the Austrian newspaper the Kurier on Sunday. “But if Boris Johnson were to ask for extra time – which probably he won’t – I would consider it unhistoric to refuse such a request.” Johnson updated his cabinet on Sunday lunchtime about the state of play in negotiations with Brussels before a make-or-break week for his premiership. The prime minister is still hoping to make enough progress at a European council meeting on Thursday to be able to hold a Commons vote on his Brexit plans in a … [Read more...] about EU ready to grant Brexit extension in build-up to key summit

A breakthrough in the Brexit talks has failed to materialise after a weekend of intensive negotiations, with European Union capitals concluding that it may now be impossible for the UK to leave the EU by 31 October with a deal. In a briefing to EU ambassadors on Sunday evening, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, raised the prospect of the talks having to continue after the forthcoming leaders’ summit on Thursday, such was the lack of progress. Barnier told diplomats for the member states that the latest British customs proposals for the Irish border remained an “untested” risk that the bloc could not countenance. He said that it would require a fresh “political impulse” from Boris Johnson for a deal to be realisable this week. On the UK’s proposed Stormont veto on Northern Ireland staying in the EU’s single market for goods, the Irish representative told the room that such an arrangement was “not a notion that is included in … [Read more...] about Brexit talks fail to yield breakthrough with timely deal feared ‘impossible’

Boris Johnson is making a final push for a Brexit deal amid claims that the two sides are closing in on an agreement. In signs that negotiations are gathering pace, the PM has cancelled a Cabinet meeting this morning - and the DUP was sighted in Downing Street last night. Tomorrow looks to be the absolute deadline for getting a settlement in time for a crunch summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, although the Finnish PM has warned he believes time has already run out. Briefing coming out of the discussions suggests the outlines of a 'hybrid' customs proposal have been thrashed out.  Sources in Brussels and London told The Telegraph there was now 'cautious optimism' that a joint position will be found.  Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will head to the Belgian capital this morning to meet EU negotiator Michel Barnier and other ministers. Sources told MailOnline no-one was getting 'overexcited' about an imminent breakthrough.   However, the tone has … [Read more...] about Brexit deal hopes rise as the DUP visit No 10 after ‘last-minute compromises are made’ as Boris Johnson dramatically CANCELS today’s Cabinet meeting with delicate talks on a knife edge