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| Brexit: Talks resume amid reports Boris Johnson downbeat about prospects of winning over DUP – live news | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Irish agriculture minister, Michael Creed, said this morning there was some room for optimism in relation to Brexit. He said: | |
| This time last week we were probably engulfed in darkness and depression in the context of Brexit. | |
| There is some room for optimism now but we’re not there yet. However I would countenance if we do get a deal in Brussels on Brexit we have been here before with the withdrawal agreement which didn’t get through the House of Commons so there are some hurdles to be cleared yet and I’m not underestimating those in any way. | |
| They are significant and reflective of the magnitude of the challenge but we remain hopeful. | |
| From Bloomberg’s Nikos Chrysoloras | |
| Boris Johnson’s government is pessimistic about the chances of securing a #Brexit deal after his Northern Irish allies raised objections to the plans that have been drawn up in talks in Brussels, according to a British official, @TimRoss_1 reports. https://t.co/TWY3PGvbVt | |
| The DUP is denying multiple reports this morning that it had been offered “billions” in Downing St talks in the past two days. A DUP spokesman said: “This is categorically untrue and utter nonsense.“The DUP secured £1bn in investment for Northern Ireland as part of the confidence and supply deal with Theresa May after the 2017 election returned a hung parliament. Reports in Ireland suggest what might be on the table is a package involving the EU, Ireland and the UK.The EU has already promised it will continue, whatever the outcome of Brexit talks, the Peace IV programme which has invested millions in cross-community initiatives. Northern Ireland also benefits from the Interreg regional programme for bordering countries, which also includes Scotland. | |
| Those reports prompted this tweet last night from Nick Macpherson, a former permanent secretary to the Treasury. | |
| Another difficult night in prospect for HM Treasury. Every PM I worked under sought to answer the Irish question. And, whether or not they succeeded, the prospective deal required up front many millions, sometimes billions, of cash. #dotheyeverlearn | |
| Mark Francois, the deputy chair of the European Research Group, which represents Tories pushing for a harder Brexit, has just told Sky’s All Out Politics that he and his ERG colleagues have “a number of concerns” about what is being proposed by Boris Johnson. But he refused to give details. | Mark Francois, the deputy chair of the European Research Group, which represents Tories pushing for a harder Brexit, has just told Sky’s All Out Politics that he and his ERG colleagues have “a number of concerns” about what is being proposed by Boris Johnson. But he refused to give details. |
| He also said that he would give “very strong weight” to the views of the DUP when deciding whether or not to back any deal negotiated by Johnson (backing up what David Davis told the Today programme – see 9.03am.) | He also said that he would give “very strong weight” to the views of the DUP when deciding whether or not to back any deal negotiated by Johnson (backing up what David Davis told the Today programme – see 9.03am.) |
| He also said that, if no deal is agreed in Brussels this week, he would not expect the emergency sitting of the House of Commons planned for Saturday to go ahead. | He also said that, if no deal is agreed in Brussels this week, he would not expect the emergency sitting of the House of Commons planned for Saturday to go ahead. |
| Asked if he would be willing to accept another extension, keeping the UK in the EU beyond 31 October (which many EU figures believe would be essential, even if a deal is agreed this week, to allow time for the details to be finalised), Francois did not firmly rule it out. But he said that most people in the country, particularly outside London, just wanted to see this matter sorted out. | Asked if he would be willing to accept another extension, keeping the UK in the EU beyond 31 October (which many EU figures believe would be essential, even if a deal is agreed this week, to allow time for the details to be finalised), Francois did not firmly rule it out. But he said that most people in the country, particularly outside London, just wanted to see this matter sorted out. |
| Francois is one of the so-called “Spartans” – the 28 ERG Tories who voted against Theresa May’s deal on all three occasions. | Francois is one of the so-called “Spartans” – the 28 ERG Tories who voted against Theresa May’s deal on all three occasions. |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg |
| Govt sources are indicating this morning chances of a deal this week are now shrinking - this is of course, partly because room for manouvre limited by DUP and Brexiteers, even tho many of them are reluctantly on board | Govt sources are indicating this morning chances of a deal this week are now shrinking - this is of course, partly because room for manouvre limited by DUP and Brexiteers, even tho many of them are reluctantly on board |
| David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told the Today programme this morning that some Tory Brexiters would be strongly influenced by the DUP in deciding whether or not to back Boris Johnson’s deal. In an interview this morning the presenter Nick Robinson pointed out that the DUP have 10 votes in the Commons. Davis said that understated their influence. | David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told the Today programme this morning that some Tory Brexiters would be strongly influenced by the DUP in deciding whether or not to back Boris Johnson’s deal. In an interview this morning the presenter Nick Robinson pointed out that the DUP have 10 votes in the Commons. Davis said that understated their influence. |
| You said 10 votes, by the way earlier. Just as an aside on that, there will be quite a lot of Tory MPs who will take their line from what the DUP do. | You said 10 votes, by the way earlier. Just as an aside on that, there will be quite a lot of Tory MPs who will take their line from what the DUP do. |
| Davis said he would not decide himself whether or not to back any deal negotiated by Johnson until he had read the detail. But he would take note of the DUP position, he said: | Davis said he would not decide himself whether or not to back any deal negotiated by Johnson until he had read the detail. But he would take note of the DUP position, he said: |
| I will look at what they say. If the DUP says this is intolerable to us, that will be quite important. | I will look at what they say. If the DUP says this is intolerable to us, that will be quite important. |
| When it was put to him that, when he was Brexit secretary, he said he would not accept any part of the UK being treated differently, and that the Johnson deal will treat Northern Ireland differently (because for practical purposes it would be in the EU customs union), Davis replied: | When it was put to him that, when he was Brexit secretary, he said he would not accept any part of the UK being treated differently, and that the Johnson deal will treat Northern Ireland differently (because for practical purposes it would be in the EU customs union), Davis replied: |
| If we believe what we read, there is going to be complete openness between the British market, the rest of the UK market, and the Northern Ireland market for British goods sold in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland goods sold in Britain. There would be a red channel, as it were, for outside goods. That’s what we are told. So that preserves that bit of it. | If we believe what we read, there is going to be complete openness between the British market, the rest of the UK market, and the Northern Ireland market for British goods sold in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland goods sold in Britain. There would be a red channel, as it were, for outside goods. That’s what we are told. So that preserves that bit of it. |
| In terms of the union, we are not seeing a break-up of the union in those terms. | In terms of the union, we are not seeing a break-up of the union in those terms. |
| Davis voted against Theresa May’s deal in the first Commons “meaningful vote”. But in the two subsequent votes, he backed the deal. | Davis voted against Theresa May’s deal in the first Commons “meaningful vote”. But in the two subsequent votes, he backed the deal. |
| From Sky’s Michelle Clifford | From Sky’s Michelle Clifford |
| UK’s Brexit negotiator @DavidGHFrost is back in the European Commission to resume talks in hope of getting legal text done ahead of Council Summit tomorrow. EU official says progress has been made | UK’s Brexit negotiator @DavidGHFrost is back in the European Commission to resume talks in hope of getting legal text done ahead of Council Summit tomorrow. EU official says progress has been made |
| A Number 10 source has told the Press Association that the talks in Brussels went on until 1.30am this morning. “Constructive talks, worked into the night, continue to make progress, continue in the morning,” the source said. | A Number 10 source has told the Press Association that the talks in Brussels went on until 1.30am this morning. “Constructive talks, worked into the night, continue to make progress, continue in the morning,” the source said. |
| From the BBC’s Adam Fleming | From the BBC’s Adam Fleming |
| #brexit talks resuming now. https://t.co/iCjU0BW9ca | #brexit talks resuming now. https://t.co/iCjU0BW9ca |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Sarah Marsh. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Sarah Marsh. |
| We will be focusing exclusive on Brexit today. Here are the main events in the diary. | We will be focusing exclusive on Brexit today. Here are the main events in the diary. |
| 9.30am: Simon Byrne, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, gives evidence to the Commons Northern Ireland committee. | 9.30am: Simon Byrne, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, gives evidence to the Commons Northern Ireland committee. |
| 10am: Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, gives evidence to the Commons Brexit committee. | 10am: Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, gives evidence to the Commons Brexit committee. |
| 10am: Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, gives evidence to the Commons international trade committee. | 10am: Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, gives evidence to the Commons international trade committee. |
| 11am: Downing Street lobby briefing. | 11am: Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| 1pm (UK time): Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, is due to brief EU ambassadors on the talks. | 1pm (UK time): Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, is due to brief EU ambassadors on the talks. |
| 3.30pm: Sir Ivan Rogers, the former UK ambassador to the EU, gives evidence to the Commons European scrutiny committee. | 3.30pm: Sir Ivan Rogers, the former UK ambassador to the EU, gives evidence to the Commons European scrutiny committee. |
| 4pm: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet | 4pm: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet |
| 7.30pm: Johnson is due to address the Conservative 1922 Committee. | 7.30pm: Johnson is due to address the Conservative 1922 Committee. |
| That’s it from me, I am handing over the live blog to Andrew Sparrow. | That’s it from me, I am handing over the live blog to Andrew Sparrow. |
| 9:01 and no sign of UK negotiator David Frost yet.Negotiations were meant to kick off again 1 minute ago...and there’s a welcome committee all waiting too... pic.twitter.com/Ec9CPisc0D | 9:01 and no sign of UK negotiator David Frost yet.Negotiations were meant to kick off again 1 minute ago...and there’s a welcome committee all waiting too... pic.twitter.com/Ec9CPisc0D |
| There are multiple reports that the DUP is being offered a significant cash deal alongside the Brexit pact. | There are multiple reports that the DUP is being offered a significant cash deal alongside the Brexit pact. |
| The Financial Times is reporting sources as saying the DUP were being offered “billions not millions” as a sweetener. | The Financial Times is reporting sources as saying the DUP were being offered “billions not millions” as a sweetener. |
| The Irish Times also noted the offer of “a multimillion-euro package of investment funded by the EU, London and Dublin”. They are reporting indications that “political agreement had been reached on the main points and precise details were being worked through”. | The Irish Times also noted the offer of “a multimillion-euro package of investment funded by the EU, London and Dublin”. They are reporting indications that “political agreement had been reached on the main points and precise details were being worked through”. |
| ITV’s Robert Peston said Downing Street sources were downbeat about a deal. The issue seems to be what is on the table is not going to get the support of the DUP. | ITV’s Robert Peston said Downing Street sources were downbeat about a deal. The issue seems to be what is on the table is not going to get the support of the DUP. |
| The DUP’s Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds had a second 90-minute briefing with Downing Street officials last night but declined to comment. A spokesman said “it would be fair to indicate gaps remain and further work is required”. | The DUP’s Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds had a second 90-minute briefing with Downing Street officials last night but declined to comment. A spokesman said “it would be fair to indicate gaps remain and further work is required”. |
| Downing St AGAIN downbeat there will be real. Government source telling me: “Chances of a deal are low. DUP seem unlikely to support anything that's negotiable”. This follows the meeting with DUP last night. To be clear, as I said last night, this could be final... | Downing St AGAIN downbeat there will be real. Government source telling me: “Chances of a deal are low. DUP seem unlikely to support anything that's negotiable”. This follows the meeting with DUP last night. To be clear, as I said last night, this could be final... |
| British and EU negotiators are to press on with more talks in Brussels this morning to try and reach a new withdrawal agreement before a summit of EU leaders tomorrow. The EU chief negotiator suggested a deal had to be reached by 11pm UK time to be approved at the summit. | British and EU negotiators are to press on with more talks in Brussels this morning to try and reach a new withdrawal agreement before a summit of EU leaders tomorrow. The EU chief negotiator suggested a deal had to be reached by 11pm UK time to be approved at the summit. |
| With just two weeks until the UK’s scheduled withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October, the National Audit Office (NAO) said that mitigating the risks was now, to some extent, out of the government’s control. The most significant risks to the operation of the border remain business-readiness, EU member states imposing controls, and arrangements for the Northern Ireland and Ireland land border. In its report, the NAO said the government has made progress with putting in place the systems, infrastructure and resources required to manage the border if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October, but said “there is still some work to do to finalise arrangements in the short time that remains and bringing all these elements together for the first time in a live environment carries inherent risk”. The report adds: “It is impossible to know exactly what would happen at the border in the event of no deal on October 31 2019.” | With just two weeks until the UK’s scheduled withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October, the National Audit Office (NAO) said that mitigating the risks was now, to some extent, out of the government’s control. The most significant risks to the operation of the border remain business-readiness, EU member states imposing controls, and arrangements for the Northern Ireland and Ireland land border. In its report, the NAO said the government has made progress with putting in place the systems, infrastructure and resources required to manage the border if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October, but said “there is still some work to do to finalise arrangements in the short time that remains and bringing all these elements together for the first time in a live environment carries inherent risk”. The report adds: “It is impossible to know exactly what would happen at the border in the event of no deal on October 31 2019.” |