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| Brexit: Varadkar says new agreement 'possible' by end of October after talks with Johnson - live news | Brexit: Varadkar says new agreement 'possible' by end of October after talks with Johnson - live news |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The London Assembly has asked Boris Johnson to explain by 5pm on Monday why his response to an investigation into his links to businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri should be kept confidential. | |
| The prime minister wrote to the Assembly regarding the inquiry, insisting the contents of his response should remain private. | |
| In the letter to Johnson’s solicitors, Len Duvall, chairman of the Assembly’s oversight committee, said: “Transparency and accountability are at the heart of the London Assembly’s operations and I was disappointed to see that your response is marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and ‘Not for Publication’. | |
| “The reason for confidentiality is not given and, on the face of it, is unclear to me. | |
| “I would request that you provide reasons for that confidentiality by 5pm on Monday 14 October 2019, so that the GLA oversight committee can consider appropriate handling of the letter.” | |
| The oversight committee has asked Mr Johnson for details and a timeline of all contact with Arcuri “including social, personal and professional” during his time as mayor of London. | |
| Johnson, who has denied any wrongdoing, previously accused his “old friends” in the Assembly of “barking up the wrong tree” with their investigation. | |
| The Guardian’s Peter Walker on the Brexit discussions | The Guardian’s Peter Walker on the Brexit discussions |
| No sign as yet what the ERG/Tory Brexit die-hards, might make of a Johnson-reached deal with concessions over NI customs arrangements. One such Tory MP tells me they are "keeping an open mind" until more details emerge. | No sign as yet what the ERG/Tory Brexit die-hards, might make of a Johnson-reached deal with concessions over NI customs arrangements. One such Tory MP tells me they are "keeping an open mind" until more details emerge. |
| Lisa O’ Carroll on the full blow-by-blow account of the press conference | Lisa O’ Carroll on the full blow-by-blow account of the press conference |
| Updated story with all the quotes from press conference. Guardian was only British newspaper at press conference. https://t.co/XKzwFUGvrJ | Updated story with all the quotes from press conference. Guardian was only British newspaper at press conference. https://t.co/XKzwFUGvrJ |
| The former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is no longer a Labour party member, according to the BBC. | The former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is no longer a Labour party member, according to the BBC. |
| Dugdale reportedly told friends that she terminated her membership in July, shortly after she stood down as an MSP, and she did not vote for the party in May’s European elections. | Dugdale reportedly told friends that she terminated her membership in July, shortly after she stood down as an MSP, and she did not vote for the party in May’s European elections. |
| A prominent Remain campaigner, Dugdale has been highly critical of Labour’s stance on Brexit. | A prominent Remain campaigner, Dugdale has been highly critical of Labour’s stance on Brexit. |
| Dugdale led the party for two years before quitting unexpectedly in August 2017, and later stunned supporters by appearing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. | Dugdale led the party for two years before quitting unexpectedly in August 2017, and later stunned supporters by appearing on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. |
| Meanwhile, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that a legal referendum is the only way to secure Scottish independence. | Meanwhile, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that a legal referendum is the only way to secure Scottish independence. |
| In an interview with the BBC ahead of SNP conference this weekend, she said there was “no easy or shortcut route to independence” and that a future referendum had to be “beyond any doubt in terms of its legitimacy”. | In an interview with the BBC ahead of SNP conference this weekend, she said there was “no easy or shortcut route to independence” and that a future referendum had to be “beyond any doubt in terms of its legitimacy”. |
| Moving away from Brexit, the Lord Speaker has called for an overhaul of how appointments are made to the upper chamber as he criticised peers who are “eager for the title” but do little work. | Moving away from Brexit, the Lord Speaker has called for an overhaul of how appointments are made to the upper chamber as he criticised peers who are “eager for the title” but do little work. |
| Lord Fowler said some peers are “entirely unprepared” for the position as he urged Boris Johnson to follow predecessor Theresa May’s example and show “restraint” in the number of peers he appoints. | Lord Fowler said some peers are “entirely unprepared” for the position as he urged Boris Johnson to follow predecessor Theresa May’s example and show “restraint” in the number of peers he appoints. |
| Writing in The House magazine, the former Conservative Cabinet minister said: “Frankly, we have had enough of peers who are eager enough for the honour of the title but do precious little when they arrive. | Writing in The House magazine, the former Conservative Cabinet minister said: “Frankly, we have had enough of peers who are eager enough for the honour of the title but do precious little when they arrive. |
| “They are a minority - I emphasise that - but it is difficult to justify their place in a modern working House.” | “They are a minority - I emphasise that - but it is difficult to justify their place in a modern working House.” |
| Lord Fowler suggested potential peers should be interviewed by a committee. | Lord Fowler suggested potential peers should be interviewed by a committee. |
| He said they should be “asked bluntly what contribution they intend to make”. | He said they should be “asked bluntly what contribution they intend to make”. |
| Deputy prime minister of Ireland Simon Coveney on the Brexit deadline | Deputy prime minister of Ireland Simon Coveney on the Brexit deadline |
| Back in Dublin, @simoncoveney says “significant Amount of work to be done” to seal Brexit deal - but can be done before end of October | Back in Dublin, @simoncoveney says “significant Amount of work to be done” to seal Brexit deal - but can be done before end of October |
| So what happens next? | So what happens next? |
| If there is no agreement reached with the EU, Boris Johnson will face demands from opposition parties to comply with the Benn Act which would require him to go back to Brussels and request a further Brexit delay. | If there is no agreement reached with the EU, Boris Johnson will face demands from opposition parties to comply with the Benn Act which would require him to go back to Brussels and request a further Brexit delay. |
| The prime minister has said that while he will abide by the law, he is determined to leave on the Halloween deadline. | The prime minister has said that while he will abide by the law, he is determined to leave on the Halloween deadline. |
| Many MPs believe that if he cannot get a deal, Johnson will use the occasion to lambast them for thwarting an agreement, laying the ground for a “people versus Parliament” general election, potentially as early as next month. | Many MPs believe that if he cannot get a deal, Johnson will use the occasion to lambast them for thwarting an agreement, laying the ground for a “people versus Parliament” general election, potentially as early as next month. |
| be a ruse. Either way, the hint of an entente is perfectly timed, to limit the risk that backbench MPs take Johnson hostage before next Thursday's EU council meeting, when EU leaders face their darkest Brexit hour and hardest Brexit decision - namely whether to close the door... | be a ruse. Either way, the hint of an entente is perfectly timed, to limit the risk that backbench MPs take Johnson hostage before next Thursday's EU council meeting, when EU leaders face their darkest Brexit hour and hardest Brexit decision - namely whether to close the door... |
| deal is a genuine possibility, even the ultras among Tory rebels will feel obliged to give Johnson and his negotiators the time and space to try and conclude that deal. In other words, Johnson's optimism and apparent readiness to adapt his offer may be real or may... | deal is a genuine possibility, even the ultras among Tory rebels will feel obliged to give Johnson and his negotiators the time and space to try and conclude that deal. In other words, Johnson's optimism and apparent readiness to adapt his offer may be real or may... |
| referendum on May's gone-but-not-forgotten Brexit deal. When that flopped (as it probably would), the rebels would go for a vote of no confidence, to engineer Johnson's removal. As I understand it, this has been their plan. However if Dublin and [tomorrow] Brussels signal a... | referendum on May's gone-but-not-forgotten Brexit deal. When that flopped (as it probably would), the rebels would go for a vote of no confidence, to engineer Johnson's removal. As I understand it, this has been their plan. However if Dublin and [tomorrow] Brussels signal a... |
| however is that if the negotiations were to collapse this weekend, that would be the worst timing for Johnson, because it would spur rebel Tory MPs to use SO24 next week to take control of commons business - and they would try to get a motion passed in favour of a... | however is that if the negotiations were to collapse this weekend, that would be the worst timing for Johnson, because it would spur rebel Tory MPs to use SO24 next week to take control of commons business - and they would try to get a motion passed in favour of a... |
| ITV’s Robert Peston on his take on the Brexit discussions | ITV’s Robert Peston on his take on the Brexit discussions |
| I pass on, with little confidence or real understanding, that @BorisJohnson seems to believe that @LeoVaradkar and Dublin have lessened their objections of principle to his Brexit offer. Maybe both sides are moving in a signficant way. We'll see. What I should point out... | I pass on, with little confidence or real understanding, that @BorisJohnson seems to believe that @LeoVaradkar and Dublin have lessened their objections of principle to his Brexit offer. Maybe both sides are moving in a signficant way. We'll see. What I should point out... |
| Micheál Martin’s reaction to the talks in Liverpool | Micheál Martin’s reaction to the talks in Liverpool |
| I’m pleased that the megaphone diplomacy has been replaced by proper & serious #Brexit discussion today. The signals coming from Liverpool are encouraging and we hope that positive momentum can be sustained over coming week. | I’m pleased that the megaphone diplomacy has been replaced by proper & serious #Brexit discussion today. The signals coming from Liverpool are encouraging and we hope that positive momentum can be sustained over coming week. |
| Scottish Brexit Secretary Mike Russell responding to Michael Gove who accused the SNP of undermining the Brexit process. | Scottish Brexit Secretary Mike Russell responding to Michael Gove who accused the SNP of undermining the Brexit process. |
| Russell said: “Mr Gove has completely ignored Scotland’s overwhelming vote to remain in the EU, and has ignored every attempt to find compromise from the Scottish Government - so we will take absolutely no lectures from him on democracy. | Russell said: “Mr Gove has completely ignored Scotland’s overwhelming vote to remain in the EU, and has ignored every attempt to find compromise from the Scottish Government - so we will take absolutely no lectures from him on democracy. |
| “We are preparing as best as we can for Brexit, but no one can fully mitigate the impact of the Brexit chaos that Mr Gove’s government is set to inflict on us.” | “We are preparing as best as we can for Brexit, but no one can fully mitigate the impact of the Brexit chaos that Mr Gove’s government is set to inflict on us.” |
| More from Lisa O’Carroll on the progress made | More from Lisa O’Carroll on the progress made |
| But this feels like a significant day. Consider that on Tuesday Downing St was briefing that deal was essentially impossible after call with Merkel...to have both leaders issue joint statement agreeing there is path to deal is quite something | But this feels like a significant day. Consider that on Tuesday Downing St was briefing that deal was essentially impossible after call with Merkel...to have both leaders issue joint statement agreeing there is path to deal is quite something |
| Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll’s take on the meeting between Johnson and Varadkar | Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll’s take on the meeting between Johnson and Varadkar |
| So upshot of meeting is cautious optimism that deal can be struck, suggestions concessions on both sides. This obviously not the same as a deal being ratified by parliament and we won’t know where we are with that until Johnson shares details with party and, crucially, DUP. 1/ | So upshot of meeting is cautious optimism that deal can be struck, suggestions concessions on both sides. This obviously not the same as a deal being ratified by parliament and we won’t know where we are with that until Johnson shares details with party and, crucially, DUP. 1/ |