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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 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Stephen Barclay hearing is now over. | |
| The most significant points were made not by Barclay himself, who studiously avoided saying anything very revealing about the detail of the ongoing Brexit talks, but by Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesman. | |
| I will post the key quotes in a moment, but the Times’ Steven Swinford has the gist of it here. | |
| So while Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds are in No 10, Sammy Wilson is raising significant concerns:* Consent *must* be based on cross-community double majority* Deal will 'diminish' NI Assembly* Customs checks will lead to 'impediments' to trade between GB & NI | |
| Q: By Saturday will we have clarity on what infrastructure might be in place under these plans? | Q: By Saturday will we have clarity on what infrastructure might be in place under these plans? |
| Barclay says the first thing to do is to get a deal. After that, there will be an urgent need to bring the matter back to the Commons, and to then inform MPs. | Barclay says the first thing to do is to get a deal. After that, there will be an urgent need to bring the matter back to the Commons, and to then inform MPs. |
| Q: Is it government policy to oppose customs checks in the Irish Sea? | Q: Is it government policy to oppose customs checks in the Irish Sea? |
| Barclay says the government says Northern Ireland must be part of UK customs territory. | Barclay says the government says Northern Ireland must be part of UK customs territory. |
| As for the details, those are part of the negotiations. It would be better to discuss them when there is “further clarity”, he says. | As for the details, those are part of the negotiations. It would be better to discuss them when there is “further clarity”, he says. |
| In the Brexit committee Sammy Wilson, the DUP Brexit spokesman, is asking about customs arrangements. | In the Brexit committee Sammy Wilson, the DUP Brexit spokesman, is asking about customs arrangements. |
| Q: What assessment has the government made of the impact of imposing EU tariffs on goods coming to Northern Ireland from Great Britain? | Q: What assessment has the government made of the impact of imposing EU tariffs on goods coming to Northern Ireland from Great Britain? |
| Barclay says the negotiations are still ongoing. | Barclay says the negotiations are still ongoing. |
| The government wants to understand the impact of any such plan. | The government wants to understand the impact of any such plan. |
| These ideas are subject to “live discussions”, he says. He says it would not be appropriate to go further. | These ideas are subject to “live discussions”, he says. He says it would not be appropriate to go further. |
| Q: Would Northern Ireland businesses be compensated? | Q: Would Northern Ireland businesses be compensated? |
| Barclay says the government has already proposed a new deal for Northern Ireland. This is part of the PM’s desire to “level up” those parts of the UK that are less prosperous. | Barclay says the government has already proposed a new deal for Northern Ireland. This is part of the PM’s desire to “level up” those parts of the UK that are less prosperous. |
| Jeremy Corbyn is playing down suggestions that he could remove the whip from any Labour MP who votes for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, the BBC’s Norman Smith reports. | Jeremy Corbyn is playing down suggestions that he could remove the whip from any Labour MP who votes for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, the BBC’s Norman Smith reports. |
| Jeremy Corbyn plays down claims he might remove whip from Labour MPs who back a Boris Johnson Brexit deal | Jeremy Corbyn plays down claims he might remove whip from Labour MPs who back a Boris Johnson Brexit deal |
| "I believe in persuasion rather than threats," says @jeremycorbyn on claims he cd remove whip from Labour MPs who support Brexit deal. | "I believe in persuasion rather than threats," says @jeremycorbyn on claims he cd remove whip from Labour MPs who support Brexit deal. |
| If Labour MPs were to lose the whip for voting with the government on this, they would be unable to stand for the party as a candidate at the next election. | If Labour MPs were to lose the whip for voting with the government on this, they would be unable to stand for the party as a candidate at the next election. |
| Nineteen Labour MPs recently signed an open letter saying that they were opposed to extending Brexit (Labour’s official policy) and that they wanted to vote for a deal. No 10 hopes many or all of these MPs might back a deal, potentially compensating for the lack of DUP support. | Nineteen Labour MPs recently signed an open letter saying that they were opposed to extending Brexit (Labour’s official policy) and that they wanted to vote for a deal. No 10 hopes many or all of these MPs might back a deal, potentially compensating for the lack of DUP support. |
| From my colleague Rowena Mason | From my colleague Rowena Mason |
| Cabinet now meeting earlier at 2.30pm. Noises still quite negative from the UK side re getting the DUP on board. PM's official spokesman says "issues remain to be resolved" although he insists some progress was made overnight. | Cabinet now meeting earlier at 2.30pm. Noises still quite negative from the UK side re getting the DUP on board. PM's official spokesman says "issues remain to be resolved" although he insists some progress was made overnight. |
| Back in the Commons Stephen Barclay claims that, if the UK leaves the EU this autumn, the negotiation of a future trade deal with the EU could conclude by the end of next year, when the transition is due to end. | Back in the Commons Stephen Barclay claims that, if the UK leaves the EU this autumn, the negotiation of a future trade deal with the EU could conclude by the end of next year, when the transition is due to end. |
| He says the political declaration will provide a framework for the future deal. And he says the trade negotiators will be able to meet more easily than in, for example, the EU-US trade talks, when negotiators had to fly over from America. | He says the political declaration will provide a framework for the future deal. And he says the trade negotiators will be able to meet more easily than in, for example, the EU-US trade talks, when negotiators had to fly over from America. |
| From my colleague Daniel Boffey in Brussels | 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. | 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. | 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! | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Barclays plays down suggestions government could use a “two-letter” strategy to sabotage the Benn act. |
| These are from RTE’s Tony Connelly. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |