Boris Johnson has said that if he is Britain’s next prime minister he will not pay the 40 billion euros Theresa May has agreed as the bill for leaving the European Union unless Brussels offer improved terms on Brexit. In an interview in the Sunday Times newspaper Johnson said the funds would be retained until Britain got more clarity, describing money as “a great lubricant” when negotiating a deal. Meanwhile Johnson’s leadership rival Michael Gove said he would be prepared to ask for an extension on the October 31st deadline / set for Britain to leave the European Union. ''My view is we should leave before October 31st, but if we need a few extra days or weeks in order to dot the i's and cross the t's to get us out of the European Union, that is the right thing.'' Interior minister Sajid Javid, another of the eleven candidates to succeed May, said he might be prepared to oversee a no-deal Brexit, rather than miss the deadline but only as a last resort. "I will … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson threatens to withhold EU Brexit payment
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Johnson threatens to withhold 39 billion-pound EU Brexit payment
FILE PHOTO: Former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson gives a speech at the JCB Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, Britain, January 18, 2019. REUTERS/Andrew Yates/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Boris Johnson, the leading candidate to succeed Theresa May as leader of Britain’s Conservative Party and its next prime minister, said he would withhold a 39 billion-pound exit payment to extract better terms from the European Union. “I always thought it was extraordinary that we should agree to write that entire cheque before having a final deal. In getting a good deal, money is a great solvent and a great lubricant,” Johnson told the Sunday Times. The 39 billion pounds represents outstanding British liabilities to the EU, which would be paid out over a number of years according to a withdrawal agreement negotiated by May. Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Leslie Adler … [Read more...] about Johnson threatens to withhold 39 billion-pound EU Brexit payment
[Exclusive] Details of EU Brexit talks with Blair and Soros kept secret
The European Commission is keeping secret details of talks between EU commissioner Pierre Moscovici, former UK prime minister Tony Blair and Hungarian-US billionaire George Soros, about a second Brexit referendum. The commission told EUobserver in reply to an access to documents request that the need to protect the EU's decision-making process weighed heavier than any public interest in what was discussed last January in Davos. Moscovici, responsible for economic and financial affairs in the EU, met several politicians and business leaders in the margins of the World Economic Forum, the annual get-together in the Swiss Alps. The commission released an emailed summary of what was discussed with the French EU commissioner, in what the author of the email described as a "Quick readout of a day and a half of sub-zero speed-dating in Davos". It revealed, for example, that the financial sector saw "Italy and Brexit" as "main risks in Europe". But the email was heavily redacted in some … [Read more...] about [Exclusive] Details of EU Brexit talks with Blair and Soros kept secret
May evoked Blitz spirit to show EU Brexit progress
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Theresa May told fellow European Union leaders that she was taking emergency political measures not seen in Britain since World War Two as she urged them to give her more time to clinch a deal for an orderly Brexit. British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after holding a news conference following an extraordinary European Union leaders summit to discuss Brexit, in Brussels, Belgium April 11, 2019. REUTERS/Susana Vera? TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY People present at Wednesday night’s crisis summit in Brussels said the prime minister appealed to her continental peers to appreciate the significance of her move to launch talks with her Labour opponents, saying the last united front between the two big parties in the fiercely tribal Westminster parliamentary system was when Britain faced a German “blitzkrieg” bombing campaign and invasion threat. “She explained about the cross-party talks and made the point that, while such cross-party … [Read more...] about May evoked Blitz spirit to show EU Brexit progress
EU Brexit talks: What does Theresa May face today in Brussels and can she avoid humiliation?
Twelve days after Britain was supposed to leave the European Union, Theresa May finds herself with the unenviable task of heading back to Brussels to secure yet another Article 50 extension. This afternoon she will arrive at the EU27 summit, where she will be forced to sit outside the room as Britain’s fate is determined by her European counterparts over a working dinner. The Prime Minister has asked the EU to delay Britain’s departure until June 30 - provoking a fierce backlash from her Eurosceptic backbenchers - but her proposal is likely to get short shrift. Humiliation for the Prime Minister seems inevitable, with EU leaders expected to "take the pen out of her hand" as they did at the last... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week Register for free … [Read more...] about EU Brexit talks: What does Theresa May face today in Brussels and can she avoid humiliation?