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| Brexit: Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar 'agreed they could see pathway to possible deal' - live news | Brexit: Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar 'agreed they could see pathway to possible deal' - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| From the Irish Independent’s Hugh O’Connell (20 minutes ago) | |
| We're now being told it could be an hour before Taoiseach speaks to the media here at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. | |
| Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar have agreed they can see a “pathway to a possible Brexit deal” but warned there were still challenges ahead if an agreement was to be struck at next week’s EU summit, my colleagues Lisa O’Carroll and Rowena Mason report. | |
| Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar say they 'see pathway' to Brexit deal | |
| Since all we’ve got to go on at the moment is the joint statement from No 10 and the Irish government, let’s try and subject it to some analysis. | |
| Each paragraph from the statement is in quotes. My take on each passage is below. | |
| The prime minister and taoiseach have had a detailed and constructive discussion. | |
| “Detailed” and “constructive” are the key words, and both are positive. | |
| Both continue to believe that a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal. | |
| The first sentence does not amount to much, because it is what all sides have always said from the moment the Brexit talks started. The second sentence is the most significant, and the one that has sent the pound moving up. (See 3.25pm.) It is more positive than people were expecting, and it implies that the Brexit talks are now at least off their deathbed. | |
| But does it mean much more than that? We don’t know. It is worth noting that there are two qualifiers in this sentence: “They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal.” | |
| And does it mean they are both looking the same pathway? No one has ever had problems imagining a possible deal, or a pathway to it. The trouble has been finding one acceptable to all veto players in this process: the EU, Dublin, parliament, the Conservative party, the ERG and the DUP. | |
| Their discussion concentrated on the challenges of customs and consent. | |
| That is no surprise, because these are the two main features of Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan identified as unacceptable by Dublin and Brussels. | |
| They also discussed the potential to strengthen bilateral relations, including on Northern Ireland. | |
| It is not clear what this refers to, although the UK government quite often talks about the desirability of improving bilateral relations with Dublin, particularly when they are under strain. | |
| They agreed to reflect further on their discussions and that officials would continue to engage intensively on them. | |
| This sentence is moderately positive: “reflect further” means no one will be pulling the plug on the talks process today, and the reference to officials implies they have some new ideas to discuss. | |
| Following their discussions the taoiseach will consult with the taskforce 50 and the Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay will meet Michel Barnier tomorrow morning. | |
| Originally Barclay and Barnier were due to meet today, but that meeting got put back until Friday. There were some suggestions that, if today went badly, it would get cancelled. The fact it is going ahead means neither side wants to give up yet. | |
| From Sky’s economics editor Ed Conway | From Sky’s economics editor Ed Conway |
| Pound shoots higher vs dollar after PM concludes talks with @LeoVaradkar and says: "both continue to believe that a deal is in everyone's interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal." pic.twitter.com/Lt1LPLUWS9 | Pound shoots higher vs dollar after PM concludes talks with @LeoVaradkar and says: "both continue to believe that a deal is in everyone's interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal." pic.twitter.com/Lt1LPLUWS9 |
| It is a joint statement from No 10 and from the Irish government. Leo Varadkar has tweeted it too. | It is a joint statement from No 10 and from the Irish government. Leo Varadkar has tweeted it too. |
| Here’s our joint statement following my meeting with @BorisJohnson in Cheshire this afternoon pic.twitter.com/RxjF9qFte8 | Here’s our joint statement following my meeting with @BorisJohnson in Cheshire this afternoon pic.twitter.com/RxjF9qFte8 |
| Here is the full text of the joint statement about the Johnson/Varadkar meeting. | Here is the full text of the joint statement about the Johnson/Varadkar meeting. |
| The prime minister and taoiseach have had a detailed and constructive discussion. | The prime minister and taoiseach have had a detailed and constructive discussion. |
| Both continue to believe that a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal. | Both continue to believe that a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal. |
| Their discussion concentrated on the challenges of customs and consent. | Their discussion concentrated on the challenges of customs and consent. |
| They also discussed the potential to strengthen bilateral relations, including on Northern Ireland. | They also discussed the potential to strengthen bilateral relations, including on Northern Ireland. |
| They agreed to reflect further on their discussions and that officials would continue to engage intensively on them. | They agreed to reflect further on their discussions and that officials would continue to engage intensively on them. |
| Following their discussions the taoiseach will consult with the taskforce 50 and the Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay will meet Michel Barnier tomorrow morning. | Following their discussions the taoiseach will consult with the taskforce 50 and the Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay will meet Michel Barnier tomorrow morning. |
| Here is the Number 10 statement about the talks. It is a joint statement. | Here is the Number 10 statement about the talks. It is a joint statement. |
| It says Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar “agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal”. | It says Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar “agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal”. |
| That is a lot more positive than people were expecting - although still well short of an agreement. | That is a lot more positive than people were expecting - although still well short of an agreement. |
| PM @BorisJohnson’s joint statement with Taoiseach Varadkar. pic.twitter.com/JRlctHX4V7 | PM @BorisJohnson’s joint statement with Taoiseach Varadkar. pic.twitter.com/JRlctHX4V7 |
| We have been told that we will get a statement from No 10 shortly about the Boris Johnson/Leo Varadkar talks. | We have been told that we will get a statement from No 10 shortly about the Boris Johnson/Leo Varadkar talks. |
| The prime minister has given the green light for Labour to hold talks with top civil service officials in the clearest sign yet that an election is looming, the Press Association reports. The main opposition party is traditionally given time before a polling date to speak with senior civil servants to discuss the policy changes planned if they win power. The decision n to allow shadow ministers access to the civil service - a right usually reserved solely for the government - indicates that the wheels are being oiled for a fresh trip to the polls. A Labour spokesman said the party would use the talks with Whitehall mandarins to “prepare for a transformational” government. | The prime minister has given the green light for Labour to hold talks with top civil service officials in the clearest sign yet that an election is looming, the Press Association reports. The main opposition party is traditionally given time before a polling date to speak with senior civil servants to discuss the policy changes planned if they win power. The decision n to allow shadow ministers access to the civil service - a right usually reserved solely for the government - indicates that the wheels are being oiled for a fresh trip to the polls. A Labour spokesman said the party would use the talks with Whitehall mandarins to “prepare for a transformational” government. |
| This is from the Press Association’s Catherine Wylie on Thornton Manor. | This is from the Press Association’s Catherine Wylie on Thornton Manor. |
| The luxury wedding venue chosen for Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar’s Brexit talks was where Coleen Rooney held her circus-themed 21st birthday party. | The luxury wedding venue chosen for Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar’s Brexit talks was where Coleen Rooney held her circus-themed 21st birthday party. |
| Rooney, who caused an online sensation this week after alleging Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram account was the source of leaked stories about her in the media, hosted the glamorous party at Thornton Manor in 2007. | Rooney, who caused an online sensation this week after alleging Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram account was the source of leaked stories about her in the media, hosted the glamorous party at Thornton Manor in 2007. |
| The venue is a Grade II listed building that was once the home of the soap magnate William Hesketh Lever in the village of Thornton Hough on the Wirral. | The venue is a Grade II listed building that was once the home of the soap magnate William Hesketh Lever in the village of Thornton Hough on the Wirral. |
| Thornton Manor, which hails itself as a “truly unique” wedding venue that “exudes historic enchantment and charm”, is the setting of a political showdown this week between two men talking about a separation and a union of a different kind. | Thornton Manor, which hails itself as a “truly unique” wedding venue that “exudes historic enchantment and charm”, is the setting of a political showdown this week between two men talking about a separation and a union of a different kind. |
| But it is not the first event relating to a significant milestone and involving familiar faces that has taken place here. | But it is not the first event relating to a significant milestone and involving familiar faces that has taken place here. |
| Back on March 31 2007, stilt walkers dressed as swans and jugglers in sailor suits greeted guests as they arrived to celebrate the 21st birthday of Rooney, then the fiancee of footballer Wayne Rooney who she went on to marry. | Back on March 31 2007, stilt walkers dressed as swans and jugglers in sailor suits greeted guests as they arrived to celebrate the 21st birthday of Rooney, then the fiancee of footballer Wayne Rooney who she went on to marry. |
| These are from my colleague Jennifer Rankin in Brussels. | These are from my colleague Jennifer Rankin in Brussels. |
| Nigel Farage and the Brexit party have voted against a European parliament resolution calling for stronger EU action to counter election meddling and Russian disinformation. Highlights from resolution here. pic.twitter.com/mPt0YZrVyG | Nigel Farage and the Brexit party have voted against a European parliament resolution calling for stronger EU action to counter election meddling and Russian disinformation. Highlights from resolution here. pic.twitter.com/mPt0YZrVyG |
| Here is a link to the EP resolution on election interference that the BP voted against (much easier to read than my screenshot).https://t.co/NIxlkyvJ0E | Here is a link to the EP resolution on election interference that the BP voted against (much easier to read than my screenshot).https://t.co/NIxlkyvJ0E |