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Brexit: Macron says deal 'being finalised' after Johnson tells Tory MPs it's getting closer – live news
Brexit deal won't happen tonight, government sources confirm – as it happened
(about 1 year later)
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who has been with with Macron today has also indicated that she is hopeful for a deal.
We’re going to wrap up this liveblog now and summarise an eventful day in Brexit history.
Both leaders were keen to demonstrate the solidity of the French-German relationship at a meeting Toulouse, one day before a key EU summit that may approve what ever deal emerges (if it does) tonight.
Senior government figures have said there will be “no deal” on Wednesday night.
“The final sprint” was how Merkel put it, according to Andrew Connell, a Sky news producer.
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, attempted to secure backing from Tory Brexiters and the DUP as EU leaders spearheaded talks in Brussels, awaiting the green light to approve a deal before Thursday’s summit.
Merkel on chances of a Brexit deal: We believe it would be possible between the EU and the UK. From what I’ve been hearing in the past few days, I think it’s more and more possible.... We’re in the sprint final.
However, the DUP objected to several points in Johnson’s agreement.
Both leaders started with a visit to the headquarters of plane-maker Airbus, widely seen as a symbol of European industrial cooperation, near the city of Toulouse.
In addition, an issue over VAT was said to be an obstacle in talks as Michel Barnier briefed EU27 ambassadors this evening.
The company, which is holding its 50th anniversary celebrations this year, has production and manufacturing facilities in countries including Germany, Spain and Britain.
Johnson won the favour of hardline Eurosceptics, including MP Steve Baker.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, has been speaking and says that he “wants to believe” an agreement on Brexit is being “finalised” among negotiators in Brussels.
It is thought the prime minister could travel to Brussels early Thursday morning to secure his deal with EU leaders.
Speaking in Toulouse, he said “I want to believe that a deal is being finalised and that we can approve it tomorrow (Thursday),” when EU leaders are meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Johnson is expected to try to pass the deal through parliament on Saturday.
There are few things more pleasurable in politics than being able to say ‘I told you so’ and when Sir Ivan Rogers, the former UK ambassador to the EU who has become one of the most compelling critics of the Brexit process, gave evidence to the Commons European scrutiny this afternoon, he got the opportunity.
Jeremy Corbyn has been dealt a blow as veteran MP Dame Louise Ellman quit Labour accusing him of being a danger to Britain.
Rogers said, in the autumn of 2016, soon after the vote to leave the EU, ministers told him that a free-trade agreement would be in place the day after Brexit. He said:
Dame Louise, 73, who is Jewish, said she had been “deeply troubled” by the “growth of anti-Semitism” in Labour in recent years.
I was preoccupied by ministers telling me ‘don’t worry Ivan, you don’t understand,’ and they did say to me repeatedly, ‘you don’t understand, we’re going to have a trade deal in place with the European Union on the day after exit’. And I said ‘with the greatest of respects, we’re not.’ And I think I’m proven right.
She tweeted: “I have made the truly agonising decision to leave the Labour Party after 55 years.
Rogers does not seem to have named the credulous ministers (I’m just reading the Press Association copy), but it is a matter of public record that David Davis wrote a ConservativeHome article saying that “the new trade agreements will come into force at the point of exit from the EU” just before he was appointed Brexit secretary in July 2016.
“I can no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM.”
Rogers also criticised the decision of the Boris Johnson government to stop attending some meetings in Brussels even before the UK left. He said:
The Liverpool Riverside MP, who has been in the Party 55 years, added: “I believe that Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to serve as our Prime Minister.
After you leave, you are in this transition ... which may last a year or it may last two or three years.
“With a looming general election and the possibility of him becoming Prime Minister, I feel I have to take a stand.”
You are still hugely impacted by everything going on in those rooms. Why would you leave those rooms before you have to?
And she told the Times newspaper that if he became prime minister “I believe that Jeremy Corbyn would be a danger to the country, a danger to the Jewish community as well, but a danger to the country too”.
The idea that they are liberated off that and go and work on exciting new trade deals. No, they’re not, they’re still living in Brussels and they’re either attending the working group that they used to be in or doing some other business.
I have made the truly agonising decision to leave the Labour Party after 55 years. I can no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM. I will continue to serve the people of Liverpool Riverside as I have had the honour to do since 1997. pic.twitter.com/3BTzUacZvo
And some of the other business is finding out what the hell happened in the room when they weren’t there. It doesn’t strike me as a terribly sensible thing to do.
With Tory Eurosceptics now on the Prime Minister’s side, Mr Johnson is in a race against time to gain support from the DUP and get his deal through to the EU, as explained by Daniel Boffey.
That’s all from me for today.
Johnson seeks DUP backing in race against time over Brexit deal
My colleague Ben Quinn is taking over now.
Labour MP Stella Creasy has raised suspicions that the DUP are striking a Brexit bargain with the government that will include an attempt to stop expected abortion rights in Northern Ireland.
From the Times’ Steven Swinford
So that’s deal government has done to get @DUPleader support this week- they are going to wash their hands of responsibility to regulate abortion in Northern Ireland. It’s not in law they can whatever they say. Shameful using women as bargaining chips! #brexithaos #trustwomen
More from Cabinet:Geoffrey Cox apparently pulled out his previous reference to Theresa May's backstop being akin to Dante's Seven Circles of Hell In an extended metaphor the AG assured colleagues that what is on the table now is relatively heavenly and light
Now in parliament to try to find out why all of a sudden government trying to get Northern Ireland assembly up and running and using the possibility of stopping equal abortion access in Northern Ireland as bargaining chip…. #brexithaos #trustwomen
The DUP are going back into Downing Street for further talks tonight, we’ve been told.
Boris Johnson’s senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, was seen leaving No 10 shortly before 9pm.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
In need of a little light relief? Read John Crace’s sketch on the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay: “Calming to the point of comatose, each word more meaningless than the one before.
Hearing the issues btw UK, EU and Ireland are now pretty much sorted, but still not clear on whether DUP are ready to sign up or not.. (Brexit watchers, remind you of anything?)
“By the end of a sentence, you are far worse informed than if he had said nothing.”
Sammy Wilson, the DUP Brexit spokesman, argued this morning that abandoning the plan that would effectively give the DUP a veto over new arrangements would breach the Good Friday agreement and its commitment to the principle of “cross-community consent”. (See 12.39pm.)
Stephen Barclay, a pointless secretary for a pointless Brexit | John Crace
In the Irish parliament today Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (PM), described this aspect of the Good Friday agreement as a “flaw”. He was not making a point about Brexit per se, but responding to a question from the Green party leader, Eamon Ryan, who complained that the system for cross-party consent involves members of the legislative assembly having to register themselves as unionist, nationalist or other.
The Leader of the Independent Group for Change and former Conservative Anna Soubry has described the amount of time MPs would have to scrutinise Boris Johnson’s prospective deal on Saturday as “plain wrong”.
Varadkar said the use of the category other in this context was pejorative because “it doesn’t describe that growing identity in Northern Ireland, that centre ground of people who see themselves as being both British and Irish”. He added:
It is increasingly clear Johnson’s “new” deal is worse than May’s. Parliament will get 5 hours debate on Saturday without any independent assessments, analysis or select committee scrutiny of the most important set of decisions we will make in generations. That’s plain wrong.
One of the real flaws in double majorities in the system of cross community consent is not just that it allows one community or one party within that community to have a veto, it totally discounts and reduces to nothing the votes of those who designated as others.
While the ERG appear to be rallying behind Johnson and his deal, the PM has to convince the 21 MPs he expelled from the party.
That is something that has developed as a flaw and one that I am very aware of.
PM yet to win Brexit support of ex-Tories including Hammond
From Reuters’ Andy Bruce
If Boris Johnson manages to bring back a deal from Brussels, shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman said she expects Labour would support any amendment put forward in the Commons to attach a confirmatory referendum to that deal.
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, CUSTOMS ARRANGEMENTS, N. IRISH CONSENT ALL AGREED IN EU-UK TALKS - EU SOURCESVAT PROVISIONS NOT DONE YET, OVERALL AGREEMENT OF UK GOVERNMENT STILL NEEDED
Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Neil Show, she added: “The expectation would be that should a deal be tabled on Saturday, and we don’t know that is going to happen, I am as sure as you can be that there will be an amendment tabled that would want to see a referendum attached to the deal.”
This is what the prime minister’s spokesman told journalist about today’s cabinet.
Asked if Labour would support this, she said: “I would expect us to support that, yes.”
The prime minister gave an update to cabinet on the progress in the ongoing Brexit talks. He said there was a chance of securing a good deal but we are not there yet and there remain outstanding issues. Following a positive discussion, cabinet gave the PM its full support in the government’s continuing efforts to secure a deal ahead of European council.
She added: “I’d rather have a general election but we are not in control of this unfortunately.
Asked if the issue of consent was the main stumbling block to a Brexit deal, the spokesman said: “I think there are a number of outstanding issues.”
“So should that opportunity come, on Saturday, to have that referendum on the deal – the deal that we don’t know yet is going to be there.
Mark Francois, the Tory Brexiter and vice chair of the European Research Group (which represents Tories pushing for a harder Brexiter), told reporters after the 1922 Committee meeting that the ERG would take the views of the DUP “strongly into account” when deciding whether or not to back Boris Johnson’s deal. He said:
“But should that happen … in the circumstance I think there is an opportunity there and the pragmatic, sensible thing for the Labour party to do, given that we’ve been asking for this, would be to take that opportunity.”
What we have said consistently the ERG and DUP have always been strong allies. We’ve been friends throughout this process. We talk to each other all the time. It is not axiomatic we would follow whatever the DUP do but particularly on anything that relates to Northern Ireland we would take their views very strongly into account.
Even if Boris Johnson managed to pull off a Brexit deal, he would still have other problems on his plate as this story on the latest developments on the Arcuri saga by Matthew Weaver shows.
Boris Johnson is fond of Mount Everest similes. He also called his close friend Jennifer Arcuri (who has refused to comment on speculation they had an affair when he was London mayor) “the Mount Everest every man wants to climb”, according to her account.
MPs call for police investigation into Jennifer Arcuri's firm
Boris Johnson told Tory MPs that the government was “on the Hillary Step” in relation to the Brexit talks, referring to what was famous as the most perilous part of the route up Everest.
Here’s our take on how ERG chair Steve Baker and his allies are warming to a deal after Boris Johnson promised them the UK would leave the customs union and secure a quick free trade deal with the EU.
But, according to Wikipedia, the Hillary Step was destroyed in an earthquake four years ago.
Tory Eurosceptics rally round Boris Johnson as deal nears
And here are some tweets about Boris Johnson told the 1922 Committee from journalists in the corridor outside.
Asked whether there could be a Brexit extension, MP Steve Baker said Boris Johnson confirmed the UK will leave the EU on 31 October.
Boris Johnson told the 1922 on Brexit deal that he was on the Hillary step of Everest but the summit was still “shrouded in mist”.... but hopeful he will get there
Baker said: “My sense is we really must see the text, time is becoming very short for everybody.”
Boris Johnson told the ‘22 ‘We’re on the Hillary Step going strong for the summit but it is shrouded in cloud’
“The prime minister has been absolutely clear – we are leaving on the 31st of October.”
There was also a Shawsank redemption joke about a tunnel that exceeds the limits of my cinematic knowledge
Chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) Steve Baker said “great progress” has been made in talks with No 10.
Mark Francois of the ERG says Boris Johnson gave a “vintage” performance at the 1922 committee. PM told MPs “we’re not quite at the summit, it’s shrouded in mist, we’re at the Hilary step.”
Speaking to Sky News after a meeting in Downing Street, Baker said: “We have made great progress in our discussions with No 10,” adding: “Really at this point, it just remains to wish the prime minister every possible success as he goes to negotiate for our country.”
Mark Francois says the PM was “crystal clear” in the 1922 meeting that the UK will leave the EU on Halloween if attempts to strike a deal are unsuccessful
Asked if he would back a deal, he said: “I know everybody is desperate for us to say whether we can vote for it but until we can see it, we can’t say.”
ERG leader Steve Baker after hearing Boris Johnson’s address to 1922 says the deal in the works “could well be tolerable”. He adds there will be “further discussions with Number 10 shortly” with Brexieers including Mark Francois and Iain Duncan Smith.
He added: “We really must see the text in time to read it in order to vote on Saturday.
Baker adds he won’t decide how to vote until a final deal is secured. “I do insist on reading the text of the deal I’m voting on.”
“Time is becoming very short for everyone now. As Michel Barnier famously said, ‘the clock is ticking’.
Theresa May tight lipped as she leaves 22
“We need to get through this (European) council, have the text of the deal, have the implementing legislation ready, and we need to be voting on that on Saturday.”
Boris Johnson has been speaking to the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee. But he was not there for long. Only five minutes, or eight minutes, or 10 minutes - the lobby can’t agree.
Two government sources said there would not be a deal on Wednesday night, although talks will continue.
PM leaves 1922 cttee after just 5mins
No 10 refused to confirm Boris Johnson’s travel plans for the summit on Thursday, but he could go earlier than usual if it were felt his presence could help move stalled talks along.
Boris leaves 1922 committee after 8/9 minutes inside. Lots of banging and "hear hear" from inside
The anti-Brexit campaigner Jo Maugham QC has announced plans to launch a legal action in an attempt to ban the government from putting the withdrawal agreement before parliament.
Very rapid 22 with Boris Johnson, his appearance done in ten mins
I intend to lodge an immediate petition for an injunction in the Court of Session preventing the Government from placing the Withdrawal Agreement before Parliament for approval. We expect that petition to be lodged tomorrow and to be heard on Friday.
Whatever, he wasn’t there for long. Normally when the PM attends a meeting of the 1922, the session lasts for around an hour.
Quoting a source from No 10, the Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, has said there will be no deal tonight as government talks are still taking place.
Downing Street has announced that it has tabled a motion for the House of Commons and the House of Lords to sit on Saturday, from 9.30am until 2pm.
Govt source says no Brexit deal tonight, because of unresolved issues with both the DUP and EU: "Everyone will be working into the night but there won’t be a deal this evening".
MPs are due to vote on the motion tomorrow. But if the government decided at the last minute not to go ahead with the Saturday sitting (because the deal did not materialise), it could decide not to move the motion tomorrow (which would mean it did not get put to a vote).
Michel Barnier has arrived at a meeting of EU ambassadors in the Europa building in Brussels to brief them on the latest developments in London, reports the Guardian’s Daniel Boffey in Brussels.
From ITV’s Joe Pike
“He said nothing to reporters. The deal is done. And all depends on London giving the green light. All that stands in the way of leaders signing off on Thursday are the DUP’s objections,” his report said.
NEW: The Government have tabled a motion calling for the House of Commons and House of Lords to sit this Saturday.It is possible they won’t move the motion tomorrow.#Brexit
At the same time, Downing Street is playing down expectations of a deal being done tonight.
When Theresa May was prime minister she told MPs that she was opposed to the EU’s original plan for a Northern Ireland-only backstop because no British prime minister could accept a customs border of that kind down the Irish Sea. The quote will come back to haunt her if Boris Johnson does negotiate a deal that would in practice keep Northern Ireland in the customs union. May told MPs in February 2018:
Just as Barnier arrives to see ambassadors, government source has just told me there will not be a deal tonight
The draft legal text the commission have published would, if implemented, undermine the UK common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and no UK prime minster could ever agree to it.
Talk of hundreds of millions, if not billions, going the way of Northern Ireland as part of a sweetener for the DUP has piqued the interest of many, though the SNP’s Joanna Cherry vents the anger of Scottish nationalists here.
Boris Johnson faces the same problem because, as the People’s Vote campaign points out, he also said that no Conservative government could sign up to a plan that would impose customs controls between Britain and Northern Ireland. What makes this particularly awkward for him is that he made this comment in a speech to the DUP annual conference in November 2018. He said:
The #DUP are kept informed of #Brexit negotiations but @scotgov are kept totally in the dark. Scotland will be the only country in UK to be taken out of the EU against our will & with no say over our future relationship with Europe hence need for #indyref2 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZOkuKaEIeO
If we wanted to do free trade deals, if we wanted to cut tariffs ... if we wanted to vary our regulation then we would have to leave Northern Ireland behind as an economic semi-colony of the EU and we would be damaging the fabric of the union with regulatory checks and even customs controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland – on top of those extra regulatory checks down the Irish Sea that are already envisaged in the withdrawal agreement.
And one view – from Irish economist and commentator David Williams – of the so-called bung that might be headed Northern Ireland’s way …
Now I have to tell you, no British Conservative government could or should sign up to any such arrangement.
In Toulouse, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said this evening that she believed it was the “final sprint” for negotiations and she was “increasingly of the belief” that an agreement would be reached with the UK.
Here is the clip.
Merkel said she wanted every success for the agreement and paid tribute to Michel Barnier’s negotiations. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, said: “I share everything the chancellor has said.
REVEALED: In 2018 Boris Johnson admits that 'no Conservative government' could sign up to a border in the Irish Sea. But that's exactly what his hard Brexit proposal does. No one can trust Boris Johnson to solve the #Brexit crisis. Only the people can: https://t.co/Q3yda24SQF pic.twitter.com/RhffGzTWj8
“It’s our hope and will to be able to endorse an agreement, and I hope that agreement will be found in the coming hours.”
You might be tempted to see this as another Boris Johnson Brexit lie (see 3.36pm), but breaking a promise is not the same as saying something you know to be untrue (although both are offences against trust).
He said he had heard positive things today. “I thank Michel Barnier for negotiating with a great deal of seriousness and in respect of our member states,” Macron said.
“I hope we succeed in getting an agreement on withdrawal and on the political declaration on the future relationship.
“We’re determined that that agreement can be endorsed at the European council.”
