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| Brexit weekly briefing: Brussels says no to backstop concessions | Brexit weekly briefing: Brussels says no to backstop concessions |
| (30 days later) | |
| Welcome to the Guardian’s weekly Brexit briefing, essential reading now more than ever as the wheels come off the bus. If you would like to receive it as a weekly email, please sign up here. And you can catch our monthly Brexit Means … podcast here. | Welcome to the Guardian’s weekly Brexit briefing, essential reading now more than ever as the wheels come off the bus. If you would like to receive it as a weekly email, please sign up here. And you can catch our monthly Brexit Means … podcast here. |
| Producing the Guardian’s independent, in-depth journalism takes time and money. We do it because we believe our perspective matters, and it may be yours, too. If you value our Brexit coverage, please become a Guardian supporter. Thank you. | Producing the Guardian’s independent, in-depth journalism takes time and money. We do it because we believe our perspective matters, and it may be yours, too. If you value our Brexit coverage, please become a Guardian supporter. Thank you. |
| The briefing is taking a festive break for a fortnight. We’ll be back on 8 January, refreshed and raring to go for whatever fresh chaos Brexit may bring. | The briefing is taking a festive break for a fortnight. We’ll be back on 8 January, refreshed and raring to go for whatever fresh chaos Brexit may bring. |
| Top story | Top story |
| Well, that all went well, didn’t it? At the end of a nightmare week, Theresa May headed to Brussels hoping for concessions that would help her get her Brexit deal past a mutinous parliament – and Brussels said no. | Well, that all went well, didn’t it? At the end of a nightmare week, Theresa May headed to Brussels hoping for concessions that would help her get her Brexit deal past a mutinous parliament – and Brussels said no. |
| After postponing a Commons vote on the withdrawal agreement that she would clearly have lost, then emerging victorious, if weakened from an attempted Tory coup, the prime minister was told firmly that no legal guarantee limiting the unpopular Northern Ireland backstop to just 12 months would be forthcoming. | After postponing a Commons vote on the withdrawal agreement that she would clearly have lost, then emerging victorious, if weakened from an attempted Tory coup, the prime minister was told firmly that no legal guarantee limiting the unpopular Northern Ireland backstop to just 12 months would be forthcoming. |
| Instead, the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and a succession of national leaders lined up to say it was hard to imagine any deal getting through parliament at the moment and that it was really up to May, not the EU, to find a Brexit consensus among rebellious MPs. Juncker said: | Instead, the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and a succession of national leaders lined up to say it was hard to imagine any deal getting through parliament at the moment and that it was really up to May, not the EU, to find a Brexit consensus among rebellious MPs. Juncker said: |
| Our UK friends need to say what they want, rather than asking what we want. We would like in a few weeks for our UK friends to set out their expectations, because this debate is sometimes nebulous and imprecise and I would like clarifications. | Our UK friends need to say what they want, rather than asking what we want. We would like in a few weeks for our UK friends to set out their expectations, because this debate is sometimes nebulous and imprecise and I would like clarifications. |
| The prime minister forcefully rejected the “nebulous” accusation, saying she had been “crystal clear”, but the 27 were themselves clear at the EU’s last summit of the year that there could be no further renegotiation. Britain’s botched attempt to contrive a last-minute EU rescue of the deal ended in humiliation. | The prime minister forcefully rejected the “nebulous” accusation, saying she had been “crystal clear”, but the 27 were themselves clear at the EU’s last summit of the year that there could be no further renegotiation. Britain’s botched attempt to contrive a last-minute EU rescue of the deal ended in humiliation. |
| Under pressure to give parliament a say on Brexit straight away, and with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn tabling a no-confidence motion in the prime minister – accusing her of leading the UK into “national crisis” – May told MPs “further clarification” on the backstop was possible. | Under pressure to give parliament a say on Brexit straight away, and with Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn tabling a no-confidence motion in the prime minister – accusing her of leading the UK into “national crisis” – May told MPs “further clarification” on the backstop was possible. |
| She said more discussions with the EU would take place and, after a debate early in the new year, parliament would vote on the deal in the week of 14 January. (Brussels, of course, has repeatedly insisted that no further talks or clarification are planned.) | She said more discussions with the EU would take place and, after a debate early in the new year, parliament would vote on the deal in the week of 14 January. (Brussels, of course, has repeatedly insisted that no further talks or clarification are planned.) |
| Meanwhile, amid ever increasing signs that the economy is starting to come under serious strain, the government has said it is significantly ramping up planning for a potential no-deal exit. The EU said its bare-bones no-deal plan would be published this week. | Meanwhile, amid ever increasing signs that the economy is starting to come under serious strain, the government has said it is significantly ramping up planning for a potential no-deal exit. The EU said its bare-bones no-deal plan would be published this week. |
| What next | What next |
| Seeking a way out, several ministers, including the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, and the business secretary, Greg Clark, are touting the option of inviting MPs to say what Brexit they would agree to in a series of so-called “indicative votes”. | Seeking a way out, several ministers, including the work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, and the business secretary, Greg Clark, are touting the option of inviting MPs to say what Brexit they would agree to in a series of so-called “indicative votes”. |
| Other options include what some hardline Brexiters misleadingly call a “managed no-deal”; a “Norway Plus” arrangement; the May package (probably only after a second Commons vote); and, despite what the prime minister says, a second referendum. | Other options include what some hardline Brexiters misleadingly call a “managed no-deal”; a “Norway Plus” arrangement; the May package (probably only after a second Commons vote); and, despite what the prime minister says, a second referendum. |
| Several senior Tories favour another ballot on Brexit, and some observers argue that if MPs rejects the withdrawal agreement twice, a second referendum – between May’s deal and remain – may wind up being the prime minister’s least worst option. | Several senior Tories favour another ballot on Brexit, and some observers argue that if MPs rejects the withdrawal agreement twice, a second referendum – between May’s deal and remain – may wind up being the prime minister’s least worst option. |
| My colleague Peter Walker has a run-down of how a second referendum might work (although Downing Street has, of course, denied that it is making plans for one). | My colleague Peter Walker has a run-down of how a second referendum might work (although Downing Street has, of course, denied that it is making plans for one). |
| Best of the rest | Best of the rest |
| Business leaders warn against plan to slash EU immigration to UK. | Business leaders warn against plan to slash EU immigration to UK. |
| Britain’s goods exports collapse to three-year low amid Brexit unease. | Britain’s goods exports collapse to three-year low amid Brexit unease. |
| Jaguar Land Rover to axe up to 5,000 jobs. | Jaguar Land Rover to axe up to 5,000 jobs. |
| Blair claims May’s deal not in national interest in public Brexit spat. | Blair claims May’s deal not in national interest in public Brexit spat. |
| “Brexit is a business bankrupter”: small firms brace for no deal. | “Brexit is a business bankrupter”: small firms brace for no deal. |
| “Distressing and depressing”: stars bemoan Brexit at European film awards. | “Distressing and depressing”: stars bemoan Brexit at European film awards. |
| Brexit deadlock “is blocking vital domestic policy reforms”. | Brexit deadlock “is blocking vital domestic policy reforms”. |
| Bishops pray for politicians’ integrity amid Brexit turmoil. | Bishops pray for politicians’ integrity amid Brexit turmoil. |
| BBC unable to stop Brexit war among its sports broadcasters. | BBC unable to stop Brexit war among its sports broadcasters. |
| Britons must pay €7 to visit mainland Europe after Brexit. | Britons must pay €7 to visit mainland Europe after Brexit. |
| Brexit “delusions” risk putting UK into crisis, warns Ivan Rogers. | Brexit “delusions” risk putting UK into crisis, warns Ivan Rogers. |
| Labour plans to “throw kitchen sink” to force May’s hand on Brexit. | Labour plans to “throw kitchen sink” to force May’s hand on Brexit. |
| “Despairing” businesses triggering no-deal Brexit plans, says CBI. | “Despairing” businesses triggering no-deal Brexit plans, says CBI. |
| Brexit Commons vote to happen “as soon as possible” in January. | Brexit Commons vote to happen “as soon as possible” in January. |
| Nicola Sturgeon to decide whether to save unlawful Brexit bill. | Nicola Sturgeon to decide whether to save unlawful Brexit bill. |
| Business leaders warn against plan to slash EU immigration to UK. | Business leaders warn against plan to slash EU immigration to UK. |
| Britain’s goods exports collapse to three-year low amid Brexit unease. | Britain’s goods exports collapse to three-year low amid Brexit unease. |
| Jaguar Land Rover to axe up to 5,000 jobs. | Jaguar Land Rover to axe up to 5,000 jobs. |
| Blair claims May’s deal not in national interest in public Brexit spat. | Blair claims May’s deal not in national interest in public Brexit spat. |
| “Brexit is a business bankrupter”: small firms brace for no deal. | “Brexit is a business bankrupter”: small firms brace for no deal. |
| “Distressing and depressing”: stars bemoan Brexit at European film awards. | “Distressing and depressing”: stars bemoan Brexit at European film awards. |
| Brexit deadlock “is blocking vital domestic policy reforms”. | Brexit deadlock “is blocking vital domestic policy reforms”. |
| Bishops pray for politicians’ integrity amid Brexit turmoil. | Bishops pray for politicians’ integrity amid Brexit turmoil. |
| BBC unable to stop Brexit war among its sports broadcasters. | BBC unable to stop Brexit war among its sports broadcasters. |
| Britons must pay €7 to visit mainland Europe after Brexit. | Britons must pay €7 to visit mainland Europe after Brexit. |
| Brexit “delusions” risk putting UK into crisis, warns Ivan Rogers. | Brexit “delusions” risk putting UK into crisis, warns Ivan Rogers. |
| Labour plans to “throw kitchen sink” to force May’s hand on Brexit. | Labour plans to “throw kitchen sink” to force May’s hand on Brexit. |
| “Despairing” businesses triggering no-deal Brexit plans, says CBI. | “Despairing” businesses triggering no-deal Brexit plans, says CBI. |
| Brexit Commons vote to happen “as soon as possible” in January. | Brexit Commons vote to happen “as soon as possible” in January. |
| Nicola Sturgeon to decide whether to save unlawful Brexit bill. | Nicola Sturgeon to decide whether to save unlawful Brexit bill. |
| Top comment | Top comment |
| In the Guardian, Arwa Mahdawi argues that when Americans want to understand Brexit, it’s clear Britain is in trouble: | In the Guardian, Arwa Mahdawi argues that when Americans want to understand Brexit, it’s clear Britain is in trouble: |
| I am not sure anyone’s brains can grasp what is happening in the UK at the minute; it defies all logic. As the Wall Street Journal put it: “From afar, the spectacle of the UK undergoing the national political equivalent of a nervous breakdown has been a source of head-scratching … The country once defined by its stiff upper lip has been indulging in a kind of orgy of public histrionics more commonly associated with Latin American telenovelas.” Certain parts of American society now feel a sort of exhausted solidarity with the UK, a relief that they are not the only ones whose country is a raging dumpster fire. A new sort of special relationship has been forged between the UK and the US; we are united by the fact that we have become global jokes. | I am not sure anyone’s brains can grasp what is happening in the UK at the minute; it defies all logic. As the Wall Street Journal put it: “From afar, the spectacle of the UK undergoing the national political equivalent of a nervous breakdown has been a source of head-scratching … The country once defined by its stiff upper lip has been indulging in a kind of orgy of public histrionics more commonly associated with Latin American telenovelas.” Certain parts of American society now feel a sort of exhausted solidarity with the UK, a relief that they are not the only ones whose country is a raging dumpster fire. A new sort of special relationship has been forged between the UK and the US; we are united by the fact that we have become global jokes. |
| Rafael Behr notes that with so little time left, there are now three places to go: | Rafael Behr notes that with so little time left, there are now three places to go: |
| Option one: exit with a deal almost exactly like the one May has negotiated. Option two: membership of the EU – the best available outcome in strategic and economic terms, but one that incurs serious political cost by enraging already furious leavers. Option three: exit with no deal, an appalling idea recommended only by fools, liars and vandals. Option one requires approval of the withdrawal agreement and an implementation bill in parliament. Option two is reached by rescinding article 50, which should for democracy’s sake be done after a referendum. Option three involves carrying on as we are, bickering about process, failing to cross tribal party lines in pursuit of consensus, refusing to be honest about what is available. Those are the choices. They aren’t complicated. The EU identified them two years ago and spelled them out clearly. The British public is bored with watching their politicians arguing about the wrong questions. The EU is bored with watching British politicians refuse to level with the public about the right questions. Everyone should be afraid of what happens in the absence of clear answers, because disaster by inaction is the default option. | Option one: exit with a deal almost exactly like the one May has negotiated. Option two: membership of the EU – the best available outcome in strategic and economic terms, but one that incurs serious political cost by enraging already furious leavers. Option three: exit with no deal, an appalling idea recommended only by fools, liars and vandals. Option one requires approval of the withdrawal agreement and an implementation bill in parliament. Option two is reached by rescinding article 50, which should for democracy’s sake be done after a referendum. Option three involves carrying on as we are, bickering about process, failing to cross tribal party lines in pursuit of consensus, refusing to be honest about what is available. Those are the choices. They aren’t complicated. The EU identified them two years ago and spelled them out clearly. The British public is bored with watching their politicians arguing about the wrong questions. The EU is bored with watching British politicians refuse to level with the public about the right questions. Everyone should be afraid of what happens in the absence of clear answers, because disaster by inaction is the default option. |
| Top tweet | Top tweet |
| Mr Gary Lineker, ladies and gentlemen: | Mr Gary Lineker, ladies and gentlemen: |
| Brexit is a game where 66 million people kick themselves about for 2.5 years and in the end Britain wins the Golden Dumbass award. https://t.co/RcqlqfnuBp | Brexit is a game where 66 million people kick themselves about for 2.5 years and in the end Britain wins the Golden Dumbass award. https://t.co/RcqlqfnuBp |
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