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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/oct/11/brexit-barnier-and-barclay-hold-talks-after-positive-johnson-varadkar-meeting-on-potential-deal-live-news
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| Donald Tusk: 'I have received promising signals that a Brexit deal is possible' – live news | Donald Tusk: 'I have received promising signals that a Brexit deal is possible' – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 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. | The Barnier - Barclay breakfast ends after 2 hours and 20 minutes.. Big breakfast, big day. Sensible. |
| Interesting spot by Roy Greenslade on the different way the Irish and English versions of the Sun regard the prospects of a deal: | Interesting spot by Roy Greenslade on the different way the Irish and English versions of the Sun regard the prospects of a deal: |
| Slight difference in emphasis between @thesun in England and Ireland over latest twist in the Brexit saga. The former is sceptical about the "pathway" mentioned by Leo Varadkar while the latter is more positive: "We could, finally, have a breakthrough in the backstop deadlock" pic.twitter.com/KQ4AnYTVTJ | Slight difference in emphasis between @thesun in England and Ireland over latest twist in the Brexit saga. The former is sceptical about the "pathway" mentioned by Leo Varadkar while the latter is more positive: "We could, finally, have a breakthrough in the backstop deadlock" pic.twitter.com/KQ4AnYTVTJ |
| Here’s the full written text of Tusk’s statement on Brexit: | Here’s the full written text of Tusk’s statement on Brexit: |
| Let me conclude with Brexit. Prime Minister Johnson promised the EU to come forward with a solution that would work for all. A solution that would not only satisfy the hardcore Brexiteers, but also solve our well known and legitimate objectives: to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to ensure the integrity of the Single Market. | Let me conclude with Brexit. Prime Minister Johnson promised the EU to come forward with a solution that would work for all. A solution that would not only satisfy the hardcore Brexiteers, but also solve our well known and legitimate objectives: to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to ensure the integrity of the Single Market. |
| Unfortunately, we are still in a situation in which the UK has not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal. | Unfortunately, we are still in a situation in which the UK has not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal. |
| A week ago I told PM Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today, I would announce publicly that there are no more chances – because of objective reasons - for a deal during the incoming European Council. | A week ago I told PM Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today, I would announce publicly that there are no more chances – because of objective reasons - for a deal during the incoming European Council. |
| However, yesterday when the Irish Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister met they both saw - for the first time - a pathway to a deal. I have received promising signals from the Taoiseach that a deal is still possible. Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course, there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up. But even the slightest chance must be used. A no deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU. | However, yesterday when the Irish Taoiseach and the UK Prime Minister met they both saw - for the first time - a pathway to a deal. I have received promising signals from the Taoiseach that a deal is still possible. Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course, there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up. But even the slightest chance must be used. A no deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU. |
| My press statement in Nicosia on #Syria, #Brexit and Turkey’s illegal drilling activities off the coast of Cyprus: https://t.co/CY8bPulLoI pic.twitter.com/YLY8sjpU1v | My press statement in Nicosia on #Syria, #Brexit and Turkey’s illegal drilling activities off the coast of Cyprus: https://t.co/CY8bPulLoI pic.twitter.com/YLY8sjpU1v |
| The head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has urged the Brexit negotiators not to waste the “slightest chance” of a deal. | The head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has urged the Brexit negotiators not to waste the “slightest chance” of a deal. |
| Speaking in Nicosia after meeting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Tusk said: | Speaking in Nicosia after meeting Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Tusk said: |
| A week ago I told Prime Minister Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today I would announce publicly that there are no more chances, because of objective reasons, for a deal during the upcoming European council. However yesterday when the Irish taoiseach and the UK prime minister met, they both saw for the first time a pathway to a deal. | A week ago I told Prime Minister Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today I would announce publicly that there are no more chances, because of objective reasons, for a deal during the upcoming European council. However yesterday when the Irish taoiseach and the UK prime minister met, they both saw for the first time a pathway to a deal. |
| I have received promising signals from the taoiseach that deal a still possible. Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course, there’s no guarantee of success and the time is practically up. But even the slightest chance must be used. | I have received promising signals from the taoiseach that deal a still possible. Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course, there’s no guarantee of success and the time is practically up. But even the slightest chance must be used. |
| Ireland’s finance minister, Paschal Donohoe, said he is hopeful talks between Barnier and Barclay will yield a positive outcome. | Ireland’s finance minister, Paschal Donohoe, said he is hopeful talks between Barnier and Barclay will yield a positive outcome. |
| Speaking to Ireland’s Newstalk, Donohoe said: | Speaking to Ireland’s Newstalk, Donohoe said: |
| What happened yesterday was a positive discussion but the real detail discussion will begin now and that will be in Brussels. | What happened yesterday was a positive discussion but the real detail discussion will begin now and that will be in Brussels. |
| Hopefully the meeting and the process today will be positive. | Hopefully the meeting and the process today will be positive. |
| Barnier, Barclay and Tim Barrow, the UK ambassador to the EU, all looked fairly jolly before their talks at the European commission HQ in Brussels. | Barnier, Barclay and Tim Barrow, the UK ambassador to the EU, all looked fairly jolly before their talks at the European commission HQ in Brussels. |
| The pro-Brexit Tory MP Nigel Evans has said members of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs could vote for concessions on Northern Ireland if the Democratic Unionist party was in favour. | The pro-Brexit Tory MP Nigel Evans has said members of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs could vote for concessions on Northern Ireland if the Democratic Unionist party was in favour. |
| “I think it is very difficult to get it through without the DUP, but we have seen a shift from the DUP already,” he said, according to PA Media. “And if the DUP are in favour of it, it’d be very difficult for the ERG to go against.” | “I think it is very difficult to get it through without the DUP, but we have seen a shift from the DUP already,” he said, according to PA Media. “And if the DUP are in favour of it, it’d be very difficult for the ERG to go against.” |
| Evans said the ERG had not been briefed on the exchanges between Johnson and Varadkar. He said: | Evans said the ERG had not been briefed on the exchanges between Johnson and Varadkar. He said: |
| “We’re going to look at the detail - none of us know. | “We’re going to look at the detail - none of us know. |
| “I believe it is three-dimensional poker and we’re playing very high risk stakes here. | “I believe it is three-dimensional poker and we’re playing very high risk stakes here. |
| “But at the end of the day, I think there’s a realisation by the European Union that Boris Johnson, completely different to Theresa May, is prepared to leave the European Union on October 31, unlike the March 29 deadline, which was movable.” | “But at the end of the day, I think there’s a realisation by the European Union that Boris Johnson, completely different to Theresa May, is prepared to leave the European Union on October 31, unlike the March 29 deadline, which was movable.” |
| ITV’s Joe Pike has been told that the Labour defector, Angela Smith, now a Liberal Democrat MP, plans to stand against Graham Brady, the acting chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs. | ITV’s Joe Pike has been told that the Labour defector, Angela Smith, now a Liberal Democrat MP, plans to stand against Graham Brady, the acting chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs. |
| She faces a tough battle: in 2017 Brady secured a majority of more than 6,000 votes over Labour, with the Lib Dems a distant third. | She faces a tough battle: in 2017 Brady secured a majority of more than 6,000 votes over Labour, with the Lib Dems a distant third. |
| Angela Smith says: ‘Me and the @LibDems are confident we stand an excellent chance of winning the seat.’The Altrincham constituency leans Remain and Sir Graham Brady is pro-Brexit. | Angela Smith says: ‘Me and the @LibDems are confident we stand an excellent chance of winning the seat.’The Altrincham constituency leans Remain and Sir Graham Brady is pro-Brexit. |
| The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, sees an opening in all the speculation about compromises. | The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, sees an opening in all the speculation about compromises. |
| Varadkar says a new “treaty agreement” is possible by the end of October. We didn’t vote Brexit to leave one EU treaty and sign up to another. | Varadkar says a new “treaty agreement” is possible by the end of October. We didn’t vote Brexit to leave one EU treaty and sign up to another. |
| And Leave.EU, the pro-Brexit group that Farage founded, reckons Johnson has “blinked”. | And Leave.EU, the pro-Brexit group that Farage founded, reckons Johnson has “blinked”. |
| If a deal is in the offing, as today's media excitedly report, it means someone's blinked, and it looks like it's Boris. The PM's original proposal provided for a DUP veto. Not so, says the Northern Ireland Secretary, "I can tell you it doesn't mean a veto for one community". pic.twitter.com/efKRzUnsA3 | If a deal is in the offing, as today's media excitedly report, it means someone's blinked, and it looks like it's Boris. The PM's original proposal provided for a DUP veto. Not so, says the Northern Ireland Secretary, "I can tell you it doesn't mean a veto for one community". pic.twitter.com/efKRzUnsA3 |
| The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, says the cabinet has been briefed on what was agreed between Johnson and Varadkar. | The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, says the cabinet has been briefed on what was agreed between Johnson and Varadkar. |
| But he has been giving nothing away in a round of broadcast interviews. “I had a very nice briefing this morning which was very much appreciated,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | But he has been giving nothing away in a round of broadcast interviews. “I had a very nice briefing this morning which was very much appreciated,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| Asked what the reason was for optimism following the meeting, he said: “It does not benefit anyone to have a running commentary on live negotiations.” | Asked what the reason was for optimism following the meeting, he said: “It does not benefit anyone to have a running commentary on live negotiations.” |
| Welcome to a Friday edition of Politics live after an unexpectedly positive Brexit meeting between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar. | Welcome to a Friday edition of Politics live after an unexpectedly positive Brexit meeting between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar. |
| Positive but also very private – it is unclear even whether the UK cabinet has been briefed on the detail of what was discussed. The two leaders agreed a delphic joint statement after their meeting at a wedding hotel in Wirral. | Positive but also very private – it is unclear even whether the UK cabinet has been briefed on the detail of what was discussed. The two leaders agreed a delphic joint statement after their meeting at a wedding hotel in Wirral. |
| Andrew Sparrow, who is taking a well-earned break from liveblogging duty, has a helpful guide on what the joint statement could mean. | Andrew Sparrow, who is taking a well-earned break from liveblogging duty, has a helpful guide on what the joint statement could mean. |
| The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, has just started talks in Brussels with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, to see if they can build on whatever was agreed by Johnson and Varadkar. | The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, has just started talks in Brussels with the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, to see if they can build on whatever was agreed by Johnson and Varadkar. |
| The Northern Ireland secretary, Julian Smith, has hinted that Johnson compromised on a proposal to give the suspended Stormont assembly a say every four years on Northern Ireland staying in the the European single market for goods but leave the customs union. | The Northern Ireland secretary, Julian Smith, has hinted that Johnson compromised on a proposal to give the suspended Stormont assembly a say every four years on Northern Ireland staying in the the European single market for goods but leave the customs union. |
| Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland, he said: “What I’m committing to is that we are not going to have one party having a veto over any element of this situation.” | Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland, he said: “What I’m committing to is that we are not going to have one party having a veto over any element of this situation.” |
| Downing Street pointed out that so few people had been briefed about what was proposed that any comments about what could be involved is just speculation. | Downing Street pointed out that so few people had been briefed about what was proposed that any comments about what could be involved is just speculation. |