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| Brexit: Irish PM hints extra EU summit might be needed because 'many issues' still to be resolved– live news | Brexit: Irish PM hints extra EU summit might be needed because 'many issues' still to be resolved– live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| From my colleague Daniel Boffey in Brussels | |
| EU capitals say there is not enough time now for formal agreement on the deal - but they can give political agreement to the deal on Thursday. If DUP can be won round. | |
| This is from PoliticalPics, a Twitter account run by the photographer Steve Back, who regularly covers Downing Street. | |
| DUP just gone in back door of No10 sneaked in is more appropriate! | |
| Back in the Commons committee Barclay says he cannot say what papers would be available to MPs before a possible Commons vote on Saturday. The Tory Richard Graham wanted to know if MPs would be able to read the text of the withdrawal agreement and political declaration. | |
| From the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn | |
| Cabinet meeting brought forward to 2.30pm now rather than late afternoon. Another sign it will no longer be asked to sign off any deal. | |
| Q: What engagement has the UK government had with the Scottish and Welsh governments this week about progress in the talks? Cherry says her suspicion is that there has been none. | |
| Barclay says he is not aware of the details, because he has been travelling, but he says he will write to the committee. | |
| Cherry says the Scottish and Welsh government are getting far less information than the DUP and the ERG, which have been called in to No 10. | |
| Barclay says the SNP has said it will vote against the deal anyway. | |
| Back in the Brexit committee the SNP MP Joanna Cherry, one of the people who took the government to court in Scotland seeking an assurance that Boris Johnson would obey the Benn act, is asking the questions now. | |
| Cherry asks Stephen Barclay if he agrees with the passage in the judgment from Lord Pentland, who said there was no need for the court to issue an order instructing the government to comply with the Benn act because the government had given assurances it would. Pentland said: | |
| I approach matters on the basis that it would be destructive of one of the core principles of constitutional propriety and of the mutual trust that is the bedrock of the relationship between the court and the crown for the prime minister or the government to renege on what they have assured the court that the prime minister intends to do. | |
| Barclay said the government would obey the law, but he did not endorse Pentland’s actual words. | |
| Q: Does the government have a plan to send two letters to the EU, one asking for an extension in line with the Benn act and another saying the government does not want an extension, as Andrea Leadsom suggests. | |
| Barclay said he was not aware of any plan to that effect. | |
| Barclays plays down suggestions government could use a “two-letter” strategy to sabotage the Benn act. | |
| These are from RTE’s Tony Connelly. | |
| BREAKING: Michel Barnier has told EU Commissioners he is optimistic of getting a deal done today, @rtenews understands | |
| 2/ However, there still outstanding issues, so this could go right to the wire. | |
| 3/ It's understood VAT has emerged as a last minute problem: if NI remains inside the EU's VAT system, essential for North-South trade, then a new mechanism will have to be created for East-West trade, as the UK will be in its own VAT system | |
| 4/ However, it's understood officials are confident that a solution can be found. | |
| 5/ It's understood consent is also proving difficult, with a senior EU source saying the DUP are pushing to restore a tighter Stormont lock | |
| 6/ The third big hurdle is on the "level playing field" provisions. The EU is concerned at Boris Johnson's bid to dilute Theresa May's commitments to not stray far from the EU's environmental, state aid, social and labour standards | |
| 7/ The meeting of EU ambassadors, whom Barnier will brief, is still scheduled for 14hr CET, suggesting that the timings are still on course | |
| ITV’s Robert Peston say the DUP are going back to Downing Street for another meeting. | ITV’s Robert Peston say the DUP are going back to Downing Street for another meeting. |
| DUP going back into Downing St, to try to find a way through roadblock. https://t.co/TDNS9amGqy | DUP going back into Downing St, to try to find a way through roadblock. https://t.co/TDNS9amGqy |
| Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister), has been speaking this morning, Sky’s Beth Rigby reports. He said he had spoken to Boris Johnson and to the European commission this morning. He said that he was still confident but that there were “many issues” to be resolved and that another EU summit later this month might be needed. | Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister), has been speaking this morning, Sky’s Beth Rigby reports. He said he had spoken to Boris Johnson and to the European commission this morning. He said that he was still confident but that there were “many issues” to be resolved and that another EU summit later this month might be needed. |
| NEW: Varadkar. Spoken to PM this am. Hopes issues can be resolved today, if not still more time as he floats a possible second summit before Oct 31 pic.twitter.com/C7HMkBRnwO | NEW: Varadkar. Spoken to PM this am. Hopes issues can be resolved today, if not still more time as he floats a possible second summit before Oct 31 pic.twitter.com/C7HMkBRnwO |
| The Tory Brexiter Craig Mackinlay goes next. He says he welcomes what the government is saying about the political declaration (covering the future relationship). There was too much “vassalage” in Theresa May’s version, he says. | The Tory Brexiter Craig Mackinlay goes next. He says he welcomes what the government is saying about the political declaration (covering the future relationship). There was too much “vassalage” in Theresa May’s version, he says. |
| Barclay says there is a “shared desire” with the EU to move on to that stage of the talks. | Barclay says there is a “shared desire” with the EU to move on to that stage of the talks. |
| Q: You and Michael Gove have both said you would back Theresa May’s deal. But it would stop us negotiating good trade deals, wouldn’t it? I am concerned about you thinking along those lines. | Q: You and Michael Gove have both said you would back Theresa May’s deal. But it would stop us negotiating good trade deals, wouldn’t it? I am concerned about you thinking along those lines. |
| Barclay says Boris Johnson has been clear about the kind of trade deal he is seeking. | Barclay says Boris Johnson has been clear about the kind of trade deal he is seeking. |
| The former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Crabb goes next. | The former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Crabb goes next. |
| Q: What makes this deal better than Theresa May’s deal? | Q: What makes this deal better than Theresa May’s deal? |
| Barclay says the key difference is that the Boris Johnson plan would be deliverable. Johnson is looking for something that would get through parliament. | Barclay says the key difference is that the Boris Johnson plan would be deliverable. Johnson is looking for something that would get through parliament. |
| Q: So why were ERG (European Research Group) MPs so angry after being briefed in No 10 last night? | Q: So why were ERG (European Research Group) MPs so angry after being briefed in No 10 last night? |
| Barclay says he cannot say, as he was not there. | Barclay says he cannot say, as he was not there. |
| Q: Is it fair to say we are moving to a Northern Ireland-only backstop, not a UK-wide one? | Q: Is it fair to say we are moving to a Northern Ireland-only backstop, not a UK-wide one? |
| Barclay says the PM said in his letter to President Juncker earlier this month that the UK must leave the EU whole and entire. | Barclay says the PM said in his letter to President Juncker earlier this month that the UK must leave the EU whole and entire. |
| Q: Do you acccept, though, that Northern Ireland will be treated differently. | Q: Do you acccept, though, that Northern Ireland will be treated differently. |
| Barclay says the sovereignty of the UK must be respected, and that includes in relation to the customs union. | Barclay says the sovereignty of the UK must be respected, and that includes in relation to the customs union. |
| Q: Would you be comfortable with a short, technical extension to allow more time for the details to be finalised? | Q: Would you be comfortable with a short, technical extension to allow more time for the details to be finalised? |
| No, says Barclay. He says the Commons can legislate quickly. These issues have been discussed extensively. No one thinks MPs have not had enough time to debate Brexit, he says. | No, says Barclay. He says the Commons can legislate quickly. These issues have been discussed extensively. No one thinks MPs have not had enough time to debate Brexit, he says. |
| Barclay says he would oppose even a short, technical extension. | Barclay says he would oppose even a short, technical extension. |
| Stephen Timms, the Labour MP, is asking the questions now. | Stephen Timms, the Labour MP, is asking the questions now. |
| Q: HM Revenue and Customs says a no-deal Brexit would cost business £15bn. Your party used to be opposed to burdens on business. | Q: HM Revenue and Customs says a no-deal Brexit would cost business £15bn. Your party used to be opposed to burdens on business. |
| Barclay says the government wants a deal. | Barclay says the government wants a deal. |
| Q: Would the government help businesses cover these costs? | Q: Would the government help businesses cover these costs? |
| Barclay repeats the point about wanting a deal. | Barclay repeats the point about wanting a deal. |
| From Bloomberg’s Dara Doyle | From Bloomberg’s Dara Doyle |
| interesting from Sammy Wilson to our @Jess_Shankleman : ``If the union is weakened no amount of money will get us to accept the deal.'' | interesting from Sammy Wilson to our @Jess_Shankleman : ``If the union is weakened no amount of money will get us to accept the deal.'' |
| Sammy Wilson is the DUP’s Brexit spokesman. | Sammy Wilson is the DUP’s Brexit spokesman. |
| From Bloomberg’s Nikos Chrysoloras | From Bloomberg’s Nikos Chrysoloras |
| Breaking: EU sees Brexit negotiations at impasse, as remaining issues can't be resolved at technical level. A new mandate from London is needed. UK government is trying to get DUP on board. More on @TheTerminal | Breaking: EU sees Brexit negotiations at impasse, as remaining issues can't be resolved at technical level. A new mandate from London is needed. UK government is trying to get DUP on board. More on @TheTerminal |
| These are from Sky’s Beth Rigby | These are from Sky’s Beth Rigby |
| So..legal text submitted but mood in No 10 a little downcast this morning. Govt source tells me it’s going to be tough to get something over line. PM held 3 hours of talks with DUP over past 36, but if he can’t get Foster over line, the ERG falls away & then no chance of majority | So..legal text submitted but mood in No 10 a little downcast this morning. Govt source tells me it’s going to be tough to get something over line. PM held 3 hours of talks with DUP over past 36, but if he can’t get Foster over line, the ERG falls away & then no chance of majority |
| Source says some of optimism recent days now feels bit over-egged. PM’s win is to have NI to leave CU with rest of GB. BUT EU needs customs checks somewhere & if not N-S has to be at ports. DUP might decide they cannot go further than the concession on E-W regulatory checks 2/ | Source says some of optimism recent days now feels bit over-egged. PM’s win is to have NI to leave CU with rest of GB. BUT EU needs customs checks somewhere & if not N-S has to be at ports. DUP might decide they cannot go further than the concession on E-W regulatory checks 2/ |
| From my colleague Daniel Boffey | From my colleague Daniel Boffey |
| The deal is there but the DUP may yet pull the rug from under it. This is so 4th December 2017: the day that Arlene trashed Theresa May's first go at this. https://t.co/6qLx71FoeP | The deal is there but the DUP may yet pull the rug from under it. This is so 4th December 2017: the day that Arlene trashed Theresa May's first go at this. https://t.co/6qLx71FoeP |
| The Tory Brexiter Andrea Jenkyns is asking questions now. She says she was critical of Theresa May’s handling of Brexit (she is one of the 28 “Spartans”, who voted against May’s deal three times) but she says she supports what Boris Johnson is doing. | The Tory Brexiter Andrea Jenkyns is asking questions now. She says she was critical of Theresa May’s handling of Brexit (she is one of the 28 “Spartans”, who voted against May’s deal three times) but she says she supports what Boris Johnson is doing. |
| Q: Do you think the Benn act has weakened the government’s negotiating stance? | Q: Do you think the Benn act has weakened the government’s negotiating stance? |
| Barclay says it has been “unhelpful”. | Barclay says it has been “unhelpful”. |
| Benn is now asking questions about the plan for an alternative to the backstop published by Boris Johnson earlier this month. The government’s explanation of those plans is here (pdf). | Benn is now asking questions about the plan for an alternative to the backstop published by Boris Johnson earlier this month. The government’s explanation of those plans is here (pdf). |
| Q: The plan says, if Northern Ireland withdraws consent, the customs rules default to existing rules. What are they? | Q: The plan says, if Northern Ireland withdraws consent, the customs rules default to existing rules. What are they? |
| Barclay says they would be the rules that would be in place if there were no deal. | Barclay says they would be the rules that would be in place if there were no deal. |
| Benn says that means there would be a hard border in Ireland. | Benn says that means there would be a hard border in Ireland. |
| Q: How can the government propose something that would lead to a hard border, if Northern Ireland withdrew consent, when the UK government is opposed to a hard border? | Q: How can the government propose something that would lead to a hard border, if Northern Ireland withdrew consent, when the UK government is opposed to a hard border? |
| Barclay says the UK government is opposed to a hard border. It would not put up infrastructure at the border. | Barclay says the UK government is opposed to a hard border. It would not put up infrastructure at the border. |
| Two Tory Brexiters on the committee, Craig Mackinlay and Andrea Jenkyns, complain about Benn’s questioning, saying he is taking up too much time and could be seen as biased, because he put through the Benn Act. | Two Tory Brexiters on the committee, Craig Mackinlay and Andrea Jenkyns, complain about Benn’s questioning, saying he is taking up too much time and could be seen as biased, because he put through the Benn Act. |
| Benn asks Barclay how long it would take the government to pass the withdrawal agreement legislation if there is a deal. | Benn asks Barclay how long it would take the government to pass the withdrawal agreement legislation if there is a deal. |
| Barclay tells him that his own bill (the Benn Act - the law requiring the PM to request an extension if there is no deal) showed that it is possible for the Commons to pass legislation very quickly. | Barclay tells him that his own bill (the Benn Act - the law requiring the PM to request an extension if there is no deal) showed that it is possible for the Commons to pass legislation very quickly. |