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Brexit: EU27 to move to 'tunnel' negotiations on detail of deal – live news Brexit: Johnson refuses to rule out NI staying in customs union – as it happened
(about 1 year later)
And now to ask, what will happen in the tunnel? Will it even be called a tunnel? Here’s a quick summary of what happened this afternoon.
EU has agreed to enter the "tunnel" on new Brexit proposals - so intensifying talks. Big boost for Boris Johnson but we're still not clear what's been floatedMay be related to whether N Ireland stays in customs union, and fresh idea on securing consent from people of N Ireland Boris Johnson has signalled to the EU that he would make a major U-turn on his plans for the Irish border to successfully secure a 48-hour window of intensive negotiations over a potential Brexit deal. EU diplomats gave the green light to a weekend of talks after being told by the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, that Johnson seemed to better understand the importance of not having a customs border on the island of Ireland.
I hear the EU27 have agreed to some form of intensified negotiations with the UK but it's not clear how they're going to be described, what the premise is and under what conditions. I bet the word "tunnel" will not feature. Boris Johnson declined to say whether Northern Ireland would definitely leave the EU’s customs union when asked. “I think it would be wrong of me to give a running commentary on the negotiations,” he said. “With the greatest possible respect I think, look at everything I’ve said previously. I think you can draw your own conclusions from that. But let our negotiators get on.”
Senior EU source inside Barnier briefing confirms to @skynews that intense negotiations - aka "the tunnel" - will now begin between EU and UK pic.twitter.com/7CX4doDOjl The DUP has said it will only support a Brexit deal that is in Northern Ireland’s “long-term economic and constitutional interests”. Leader Arlene Foster said the party would exercise its “considerable influence” in Parliament to stand up for the region. She said her party was clear the UK must leave the EU as “one nation” and that no barriers to trade could be erected within the UK. She also stressed the importance of Northern Ireland giving democratic consent to any arrangement that might align the region with specific sectors of the single market.
This is from PA Media, confirming some of Campbell’s tweets from earlier. Jeremy Corbyn would be likely to step down as Labour leader if the party loses the next election, John McDonnell has said. In an interview with Tony Blair’s former spokesman, Alastair Campbell, in GQ, the shadow chancellor also said that in such an event he would also probably quit his role. McDonnell also raised the possibility of Labour potentially supporting a second Brexit referendum before a general election, an idea popular with some Labour MPs but so far resisted by Corbyn and his team.
John McDonnell has said he and Jeremy Corbyn would have to resign if Labour loses the next election. The DUP have issued an interestingly positive seeming statement –
Asked by former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell whether it was “possible for him to stay on” if Labour failed to win next time round, the shadow chancellor said: “I can’t see so.” Arlene Foster, DUP leader, issues positive sounding statement about the nascent Johnson plan pic.twitter.com/IvpOgxThTu
“I can’t see... I think it is the same for my own personal position, I can’t see so,” he told Campbell for an interview in GQ magazine. This statement from the DUP appears significant for what it does not say. When May thought she had them on side between MV2 and MV3 they torpedoed her hopes in a statement like this. This time the game is still afoot https://t.co/WQI89TuJn6
“What we’d do is as the tradition, which is have an election for a new leader.” The pound had its biggest two-day rally against the dollar since the Brexit vote as hopes rose that a deal could be struck before the deadline later this month, my colleagues Richard Partington and Graeme Wearden report.
McDonnell said he thought Mr Corbyn’s successor should be a woman. Sterling climbed to the highest level in three months against the US currency, briefly hitting $1.27, amid mounting optimism in the City, after the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said talks could progress to the next phase.
“I’m still of the view now that whoever comes after Jeremy has got to be a woman,” he said. The pound has risen four cents against the dollar since Thursday, when Boris Johnson and the Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, agreed there was a “pathway to a possible Brexit deal”. That is the sharpest two-day rise in the pound since the EU referendum more than three years ago.
“We’ve got to have a woman leader. If you look at the new youngsters that have come through, they are fantastic.” You can read the full story here –
This will be the first time Boris Johnson’s negotiators will enter the tunnel, and it was not smooth going for his predecessors’ . Pound surges as hopes of Brexit deal rise
However, it allowed for an agreement to be reached. Ministers have agreed to hand over £86.6m of taxpayers money to four ferry companies to ensure the flow of vital medicines into the UK after a No-Deal Brexit under a deal to be announced on Friday afternoon: Britanny Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena Line. Story to follow soon....
It was an unseasonably warm and sunny October day when the idea of the ‘tunnel’, the secretive negotiating phase from which Wednesday’s deal has emerged, was first raised with EU ambassadors in Brussels. The government has announced it has signed contracts with ferry operators Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena Line to provide freight capacity in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The deals will be worth up to £86.6m if the UK leaves the bloc without an agreement. An early termination fee of £11.5m will be paid to the firms if a Brexit deal is agreed.
How the draft Brexit agreement emerged from the 'tunnel' | Daniel Boffey Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
The UK government had been keen to open “tunnel” negotiations with the commission on the detail of a deal, and this will be seen as a sign that progress is being made with the EU. The UK is getting ready to leave the EU on October 31 and, like any sensible government, we are preparing for all outcomes. Our decisive action means freight operators will be ready and waiting to transport vital medicines into the country from the moment we leave.
These intensive talks are now set to be held in the days befire the summit on 17 and 18 October. In May, then-transport secretary Chris Grayling was forced to cancel ferry contracts signed to ensure critical imports could reach the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit, when the date of Brexit was pushed back from 29 March to 31 October.
The tunnel is Brussels jargon for discussions held among a small group of negotiators in complete secrecy, with no press briefings or documents published, meaning that the offers and counter-offers are not disclosed – unless they are leaked. The contracts worth £89m with Brittany Ferries and DFDS were designed to secure ferry space for vital goods across the Channel. The cancellation resulted in a termination payout of £43.8m to the firms, along with costs taking the final bill over £50m.
Even ambassadors of the EU27 would not be kept informed of the progress, as they are regularly with Brexit negotiations, and the results would be presented as a joint proposal. The prime minister visited a school in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire today – Dominic Grieve’s constituency – which ITV’s Paul Brand says has prompted speculation that he could be planning to stand there in the next election. Johnson only has a majority of 5,000 in his Uxbridge seat.
The Sunday Times reported last week that the Liberal Democrats would stand aside in Beaconsfield to help Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, now an independent, to retain his seat.
Rumour mill in overdrive about PM choosing Beaconsfield for his visit today by the way. Sitting MP is Dominic Grieve, who is planning to stand as an independent. But could Boris Johnson fancy running there rather than in Uxbridge, where things could be dicey for him? 🤷‍♂️
Boris Johnson visited St Mary and All Saints C of E Primary School, where he admitted to the Bucks Free Press that some schools had fallen behind as a result of under funding.
The BBC is reporting that the aerospace, automotive, chemicals, food and drink and pharmaceutical sectors have written to the prime minister to express concern that Boris Johnson’s negotiators have dropped commitments to maintain regulatory alignment. They are concerned that the UK might no longer participate in specific EU regulatory institutions after any Brexit deal.
NEW: bodies representing carmakers, chemicals industry, food and drink industry, aerospace, and pharma 1.1m workers, ok with May deal, previously concern on no deal - expressing big concern about general wider direction of the PMs Brexit deal. FULL storyhttps://t.co/00slRN1K7g
In a pooled television clip following a visit to a school on Friday, Boris Johnson declined to say whether Northern Ireland would definitely leave the EU’s customs union when asked.
“I think it would be wrong of me to give a running commentary on the negotiations,” he said. “With the greatest possible respect I think, look at everything I’ve said previously. I think you can draw your own conclusions from that. But let our negotiators get on.”
Johnson said: “I can certainly tell you that under no circumstances will we see anything that damages the ability of the whole of the United Kingdom to take full advantage of Brexit, and I think that’s what people would expect, and that’s what I think we can achieve.”
He added: “Where Leo Varadkar and I got to yesterday was a joint feeling that there is a way forward, and we can see a pathway to a deal. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. So there’s work to be done.”
Lots of chatter over what will happen now to the backstop, although no details were revealed officially today.
This is from Reuters, who have spoken to sources within the European commission:
A diplomat and an EU official said Barnier had told member states that Britain had changed its position to now accept that the proposed replacement to the so-called “backstop” cannot erect a customs border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.
“On customs, they admitted that the solution cannot result in the creation of a border in Ireland,” the diplomat said, adding that this admission was the reason Barnier gave national envoys in Brussels to justify going into intensified talks with Britain over the weekend.
Separately, two senior EU diplomats told Reuters the possible solution could include two elements: keeping Northern Ireland inside the UK’s customs regime and, at the same time, ensuring that customs and regulatory checks were carried out together.
Under an earlier British proposal, the regulatory border would run in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain. The sources said they understood that customs checks could be carried out there as well under the plan now under discussions.
That marked a change from the latest EU-UK discussions when London proposed dispersed customs checks across the whole island of Ireland, which the bloc rejected as unworkable and not offering enough protection to its single market.
The second ERG amendment made it unlawful for Northern Ireland to enter a separate customs territory from UK.Boris Johnson will have to find a Commons majority to repeal/amend the trade bill if his new Brexit plan is going to fly. pic.twitter.com/ZbtGXkEszQ
NEW: Boris Johnson twice refuses to say Northern Ireland will leave the EU's Customs Union under the new pathway agreed with Varadkar. Instead, says: "The whole of the UK will be able to take full advantage of Brexit".
Reuters reports that UK has dropped plans for doing customs checks on the land border between NI and Republic of Ireland. Checks on customs and goods instead to go in the Irish seaSounds a lot like...the Northern Ireland-only backstop
The Federation of Small Businesses has described the agreement to intensify Brexit negotiations as a circuit breaker which offers light at the end of the tunnel.
The FSB national chairman, Mike Cherry, said:
After months lost in the Brexit uncertainty that has hit many of our small businesses, there finally appears to be a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.
Positive technical talks appear to have been the circuit breaker needed to kick-start negotiations and provide a credible pathway towards a deal that avoids a no-deal Brexit on 31 October that many small businesses are simply unable to prepare for.
For these small firms, averting this outcome is the only sensible way forward. It truly is crunch time now and the small business message is clear – we need intensity and determination from both the UK government and EU, in the time that is left, to get a last-minute deal done.
These small businesses cannot afford to see this progress squandered and a return to the prospect of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October which would cause real harm to many small businesses.
RTÉ’s Europe editor has said the UK appears to be moving back towards the original aims of the Northern Ireland backstop.
NEW: The UK appears to be drifting closer back to the original aims of the Northern Ireland backstop, I understand. This is the message Michel Barnier delivered to EU27 ambassadors late this morning following his meeting with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay
Brexit: what is the UK's backstop proposal?
The British government’s version of Brexit involves the UK ultimately leaving the single market and customs union, requiring the return of a range of checks on goods crossing the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The “backstop” is intended as a standstill placeholder to ensure such checks do not have to be imposed between Brexit happening with a deal, and the start of a new free trade agreement yet to be negotiated between the UK and the EU.
Theresa May's withdrawal agreement proposed keeping the whole of the UK in a shared customs territory with the EU during this period. An alternative idea involves only Northern Ireland staying in the EU’s customs territory. That would place a customs border in the Irish Sea. May described it as a threat to the constitutional integrity of the UK, but the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, has opened the current talks by proposing an all-Ireland agri-food zone. The suggestion is that he will seek to quietly build on that with further NI-only arrangements.
Given an NI-only backstop was an EU proposal in the first place, the U-turn would be warmly welcomed in Brussels, although attempts to give the Northern Ireland assembly a veto on its continuation would not be acceptable, and the DUP would be unlikely to support the prime minister in such a move in parliament.
If there is a no-deal Brexit, then there is no backstop.
Daniel Boffey
Attention will also now turn to the absence of a devolved government in Northern Ireland.
3/ On consent, I understand Mr Barnier said the UK is signalling a willingness to accept a simple majority endorsement in NI, rather than a veto for one party. Whether this is via a Stormont Assembly vote or even a referendum on exiting the new arrangements is not clear
And here is some more tunnel intrigue.
And one EU diplomat tells me: "So we seem to be going into a tunnel although that would imply a way out. So let’s see. Barnier has been given space to negotiate over the weekend. He will revert to ambassadors pre-summit to discuss the guidance sought from leaders at council."
EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has secured the agreement of the EU27 to open intensive “tunnel” negotiations on Boris Johnson’s latest proposals in major boost for UK government.
"Tunnel" negotiations describe a Brussels process whereby a small group of negotiators hold discussions in secret, with no press briefings or documents published, meaning the offers and counter-offers are not disclosed – unless they are leaked.
In theory it allows a "safe space" where controversial ideas can be discussed without worrying about the political fall-out on either side from even considering them, emboldening negotiators to consider politically riskier proposals.
When Brexit negotiations have previously gone into the tunnel, even EU27 ambassadors have not been kept informed of the progress. It also allows the results to be presented as a joint proposal, avoiding the appearance that there have been winners and losers in a negotiation.
The Irish Times has reported that when a journalist asked a European commission official where the tunnel was, they replied: “The tunnel is not a place, but a state of mind.”The Irish Times has reported that when a journalist asked a European commission official where the tunnel was, they replied: “The tunnel is not a place, but a state of mind.”
NEW: Michel Barnier has got green light from the EU27 for there to be tunnel negotiations Earlier, he compared Brexit negotiations with climbing a mountain after both the UK and the EU released statements recognising that the talks were constructive.
The BBC’s Katya Adler tweets that EU diplomats fear Boris Johnson could pull out of negotiations even after securing a concession. Jeremy Corbyn would be likely to step down as Labour leader if the party loses the next election, John McDonnell has said, also raising the possibility of Labour potentially supporting a second Brexit referendum before a general election.
EU diplomats also sceptical Boris Johnson would want to be seen to be ‘conceding’ to EU ahead of elex, with Brexit Party breathing down his neck. EU fear is the PM might enter intensive negotiations, get a concession from EU and then pull out.. /2 Pro-remain MPs are planning a crunch vote on a second referendum during the “super Saturday” sitting of parliament, as Jeremy Corbyn comes under pressure to back another Brexit vote before an election.
Here are some further thoughts and insights from Sky’s Sam Coates. Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s most senior aide, is facing conflict of interest accusations over a consultancy role he undertook for a government-endorsed healthcare startup that is in position to receive a share of a new £250m flagship public fund.
If as advertised, there’s something politically very clever about Boris Johnson - Leo Varadkar plan. Allow BJ/DUP to say NI has left the customs union, while allowing EU to say whole of Ireland of Ireland continues to enforce one uniform rate of customs at border Boris Johnson’s mother withdrew her name from a public letter expressing concerns about the poor provision of Parkinson’s treatment on the NHS following an intervention from Downing Street.
Although we haven’t seen the full quotes, Alastair Campbell has suggested that the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, told him that he and the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, would step down if they lost the next general election. This is from Reuters, and suggests Macron was not fully abreast of the developments when he made these remarks:
The next leader must also be a woman, McDonnell said in an as yet unpublished GQ interview, according to Campbell. French President Emmanuel Macron hinted on Friday that the “next few hours” could be crucial regarding the possibility of a breakthrough on a Brexit deal.
McDonnell also confirmed to Tony Blair’s former spin doctor that there must be a second referendum, as well as a general election. Corbyn said in his speech yesterday that an election must come before any further referendum. Asked by a Reuters reporter if there was a “glimmer of hope” regarding a Brexit agreement, Macron replied: “Let us wait for the next few hours.”
Campbell also tweets that McDonnell claimed parliamentary democracy and the rule of law is under threat. Major investment banks said on Friday they had become more optimistic on the prospects for a Brexit deal following an upbeat meeting between Boris Johnson and [his] Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar. Macron is also due to meet German leader Angela Merkel on Sunday.
We talk elections/referendums -he wants the first but insists there must be the second. And he will not be neutral. Brexit policy ‘a vase’. Says no way of doing Brexit without undermining GFA. Believes @UKLabour can win GE but If they don’t he and @jeremycorbyn will step down 2/8
The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, has also welcomed a “constructive meeting” in Brussels.
A government spokesman said: “Steve Barclay had a constructive meeting with Michel Barnier this morning. Michel Barnier will brief ambassadors from the EU27 this afternoon.”
Vintage Barnier here.
NEW: EU chief negotiator @MichelBarnier: “Brexit is like climbing a mountain. You need vigilance, determination and patience” #Brexit @itvnews pic.twitter.com/PzYG5ygr0y
The commission spokesperson declines to go into detail about the meeting.
Commission spokesperson declines to go into detail on meeting but tells reporters that "you can assume that they exchanged ideas or they discussed many different angles”
But we do have confirmation the breakfast lasted 140 minutes.
The Barnier - Barclay breakfast ends after 2 hours and 20 minutes.. Big breakfast, big day. Sensible.
After leaving the meeting, the EU’s chief negotiator said:
We had a constructive meeting with Steve Barclay and the British team and now I’m going to debrief the 27 ambassadors and the Brexit steering group of the parliament.
I’ve already said that Brexit is like climbing a mountain: we need vigilance, determination and patience.
A spokeswoman for the European commission has said the Barnier-Barclay meeting was constructive.
“What I can say from our side is that Michel Barnier had a constructive meeting this morning with Steve Barclay,” said the spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva.
“And now he will debrief the EU27 ambassadors... and also inform the Brexit steering group accordingly.”
She added: “We are working towards a deal .. If there is a will, there is a way.”
Speaking in Dublin, the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has said he is still positive that a breakthrough can be found after his meeting with Boris Johnson yesterday.
“I think at this stage probably the less said the better,” he said.
The focus today very much switches to Brussels where Secretary [Stephen] Barclay is going to meet with Michel Barnier and I’d anticipate that will lead to some more detailed proposals being made, and the possible talks to enter the proverbial tunnel, but that’s kind of where things stand today.
Leo Varadkar says he anticipates U.K. will table more detailed proposals that could lead to talks entering ‘the tunnel’. Says focus has very much shifted to Brussels and ‘the less said the better’ pic.twitter.com/imeg6Y8YVV
Here’s the full story from Daniel Boffey in Brussels.
Make new offer today or 'no more chances', Tusk tells Johnson
Those Barnier/Barclay talks have come to an end. Barnier is expected to brief EU27 ambassadors on the discussions at around 11.30am UK time.
The Barnier - Barclay breakfast ends after 2 hours and 20 minutes.. Big breakfast, big day. Sensible.