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Juncker: UK will leave EU on 31 October if MPs back Brexit deal Juncker seeks to sell Brexit deal by 'ruling out' further delay
(about 1 hour later)
Jean-Claude Juncker has promised the UK will leave the European Union on 31 October if MPs back what Boris Johnson described as an “excellent deal” during a joint appearance in Brussels. Jean-Claude Juncker has tried to help sell the new Brexit deal in the face of opposition from the Democratic Unionist party by pouring doubt on a further Brexit extension in the event of it being rejected.
The DUP’s refusal to support the new agreement and pledge to fight it every step of the way, however, leaves Downing Street with an uphill struggle to get Commons backing when it sits on Saturday. With Boris Johnson facing an uphill struggle to secure a majority in the Commons when it sits on Saturday, the European commission president piled pressure on MPs who fear a no-deal Brexit into giving their support.
However, both leaders insisted it was time for the negotiations to move on to discussions about future trading relationships. Juncker said he was “ruling out” a prolongation, although the issue is solely the remit of the heads of state and government. “If we have a deal, we have a deal and there is no need for prolongation,” he added.
The claim was not repeated by any EU leaders. Donald Tusk, the European council president, confined himself to saying that “a deal is always better than a no deal”. Sources in Brussels suggested that previous comments from Juncker in which he had said the bloc would never choose a no-deal Brexit were a “better reflection” of the EU’s position.
France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said: “As far as I’m concerned, I am satisfied we managed to find it and reasonably confident it can be ratified by the British and European parliament.”
Agreement on the new deal was struck in a phone call between Juncker and Johnson at 11.10am London time.
During a later joint appearance in Brussels the two men called on the Commons to pass the deal so that negotiations could move on to the terms of the trading relationship.
Johnson said: “I hope very much … that my fellow MPs in Westminster do now come together to get Brexit done to get this excellent deal over the line and to deliver Brexit without any more delay so that we can focus on the priorities of the British people.”Johnson said: “I hope very much … that my fellow MPs in Westminster do now come together to get Brexit done to get this excellent deal over the line and to deliver Brexit without any more delay so that we can focus on the priorities of the British people.”
Doubts had been raised that the last-minute rush to reach consensus on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration would leave too little time for ratification on both sides of the Channel. Juncker said the EU would ensure the UK was able to exit on 31 October if parliament gave its consent to the deal on its “super Saturday” sitting this weekend.
Juncker insisted, however, that the EU would ensure the UK was able to exit on 31 October if parliament gave its consent to the deal on its “super Saturday” sitting this weekend. He said: “We have a deal, and this deal means that there is no need for any kind of prolongation.”
He said: “We have a deal, and this deal means that there is no need for any kind of prolongation. The leaders are expected to give their political sign-off to the deal on Thursday afternoon. In a draft statement, the EU27 will urge the commission and European parliament to “take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on November 1”.
“There will be no border on the island of Ireland and the single market will be protected. The deal is not about us, the deal is about people and peace. We start the negotiations on the future relations immediately after the deal will have been approved. We will start our debates on 1 November without interruption.”
He added: “It is for both our parliaments to have the final say – it’s not only Westminster having to approve the deal, the deal being in fact the treaty. It’s also up to the EU parliament to do the same.”
The two leaders were speaking after agreement was reached on Thursday morning to allow a deal to be signed off at an EU summit later in the day.
According to a draft statement, the EU27 will urge the commission and European parliament to “take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on November 1”.
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she would scrutinise the draft treaty but that “good news” had emerged from “an extremely difficult situation”.The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she would scrutinise the draft treaty but that “good news” had emerged from “an extremely difficult situation”.
The DUP, however, rejected the deal in a statement in which it accused Downing Street of driving “a coach and horses through the professed sanctity of the Belfast agreement”. Johnson will have to win over a significant number of Labour MPs and those among the 21 former Conservatives who had their whip removed last month.
As details of the new deal emerged, the DUP issued a statement accusing Downing Street of driving “a coach and horses through the professed sanctity of the Belfast agreement”.
“It is our view that these arrangements would not be in Northern Ireland’s long-term interests,” the party said. “Saturday’s vote in parliament on the proposals will only be the start of a long process to get any withdrawal agreement bill through the House of Commons.”“It is our view that these arrangements would not be in Northern Ireland’s long-term interests,” the party said. “Saturday’s vote in parliament on the proposals will only be the start of a long process to get any withdrawal agreement bill through the House of Commons.”
There remains serious doubt that the deal will pass through parliament unless Johnson is able to convince both a significant number of Labour MPs and most of the 21 MPs whose whip as Conservatives was removed last month.
Corbyn refuses to confirm backing for second referendum on Johnson's dealCorbyn refuses to confirm backing for second referendum on Johnson's deal
Soon after the agreement was announced, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, rejected it as worse than the deal produced by Johnson’s predecessor in Downing Street Theresa May. Soon after the agreement was announced, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also rejected it as worse than the deal produced by Johnson’s predecessor in Downing Street Theresa May.
He said: “From what we know, it seems the prime minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May’s, which was overwhelmingly rejected. The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the prime minister had backed himself to win over a majority of MPs to support the deal during a phone call earlier in the day with Juncker – but he adopted a sceptical tone.
“These proposals risk triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers’ rights, and opening up our NHS to a takeover by US private corporations.
“This sell-out deal won’t bring the country together and should be rejected. The best way to get Brexit sorted is to give the people the final say in a public vote.”
In an earlier press conference in Brussels, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the prime minister had backed himself to win over a majority of MPs to support the deal during a phone call earlier in the day with Juncker.
“[Boris Johnson] said, based on this agreement and the explanations he intends to give, he has the confidence to win that vote,” Barnier said. “That is all I can say on that.”“[Boris Johnson] said, based on this agreement and the explanations he intends to give, he has the confidence to win that vote,” Barnier said. “That is all I can say on that.”
Inside the EU, both Ireland and Northern Ireland are part of the single market and customs union so share the same regulations and standards, allowing a soft or invisible border between the two.Inside the EU, both Ireland and Northern Ireland are part of the single market and customs union so share the same regulations and standards, allowing a soft or invisible border between the two.
Britain’s exit from the EU – taking Northern Ireland with it – risks a return to a hard or policed border. The only way to avoid this post-Brexit is for regulations on both sides to remain more or less the same in key areas including food, animal welfare, medicines and product safety.Britain’s exit from the EU – taking Northern Ireland with it – risks a return to a hard or policed border. The only way to avoid this post-Brexit is for regulations on both sides to remain more or less the same in key areas including food, animal welfare, medicines and product safety.
The 'backstop' in Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement was intended to address this - stating that if no future trade agreement could be reached between the EU and the UK, then rules and regulations would stay as they are. This has been rejected by Brexit supporters as a 'trap' to keep the UK in the EU's customs union, which would prevent the UK striking its own independent trade deals. The 'backstop' in Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement was intended to address this - stating that if no future trade agreement could be reached between the EU and the UK, then rules and regulations would stay as they are. This has been rejected by Brexit supporters as a 'trap' to keep the UK in the EU's customs union, which would prevent the UK striking its own independent trade deals. 
There are an estimated 72m road vehicle crossings a year between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and about 14% of those crossings are consignments of goods, some of which may cross the border several times before they reach a consumer. Brexit supporters say this can be managed by doing checks on goods away from the border, but critics say it will be difficult to police this without any physical infrastructure like border posts or cameras, which could raise tensions in the divided communities of Ireland. There are an estimated 72m road vehicle crossings a year between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and about 14% of those crossings are consignments of goods, some of which may cross the border several times before they reach a consumer. Brexit supporters say this can be managed by doing checks on goods away from the border, but critics say it will be difficult to police this without any physical infrastructure like border posts or cameras, which could raise tensions in the divided communities of Ireland. 
Interactive: A typical hour in the life of the Irish borderInteractive: A typical hour in the life of the Irish border
Asked whether the agreement was the final possible deal for the EU, he declined to comment.Asked whether the agreement was the final possible deal for the EU, he declined to comment.
Under the agreement, Barnier said Northern Ireland would stay in the EU’s single market for goods and the EU’s customs code would be enforced on goods coming from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.Under the agreement, Barnier said Northern Ireland would stay in the EU’s single market for goods and the EU’s customs code would be enforced on goods coming from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.
“Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of EU rules notably relating to goods,” he said. “This means that all applicable procedures on goods will take place at points on entry into Northern Ireland and not across the island.” “This means that all applicable procedures on goods will take place at points on entry into Northern Ireland and not across the island”, he said.
But Northern Ireland would legally remain in the UK’s customs territory to allow the prime minister to boast the country “whole and entire” has left the EU.But Northern Ireland would legally remain in the UK’s customs territory to allow the prime minister to boast the country “whole and entire” has left the EU.
He said: “Northern Ireland will remain in the UK customs territory. It will therefore benefit from the UK future trade policy. But Northern Ireland will also remain an entry point into our single market. So what have we done to square this circle? UK authorities can apply UK tariffs on products coming from third countries as long as those goods entering Northern Ireland are not at risk of entering our single market. However, for goods at risk of entering the single market the UK authorities will apply the EU tariffs.” Barnier said: “It will therefore benefit from the UK future trade policy. But Northern Ireland will also remain an entry point into our single market. So what have we done to square this circle? UK authorities can apply UK tariffs on products coming from third countries as long as those goods entering Northern Ireland are not at risk of entering our single market. However, for goods at risk of entering the single market the UK authorities will apply the EU tariffs.”
Businesses in Northern Ireland will be able to apply for rebates if the UK has lower tariff rates on goods imported from outside the EU.Businesses in Northern Ireland will be able to apply for rebates if the UK has lower tariff rates on goods imported from outside the EU.
The new Irish protocol also includes a last-minute compromise on VAT, after negotiators worked through the night to resolve this final sticking point. The UK has now conceded that Northern Ireland will follow EU rules on VAT, although the UK will remain responsible for collecting VAT and enforcement action. A joint committee of EU and UK officials will oversee how the system works.The new Irish protocol also includes a last-minute compromise on VAT, after negotiators worked through the night to resolve this final sticking point. The UK has now conceded that Northern Ireland will follow EU rules on VAT, although the UK will remain responsible for collecting VAT and enforcement action. A joint committee of EU and UK officials will oversee how the system works.
Barnier stressed the arrangement would not be superseded by a future trade deal with the UK and so required democratic consent. Under a complicated consent mechanism, four years after the end of the transition period, the Northern Ireland assembly at Stormont would vote on maintaining the arrangements.
Under the complicated consent mechanism devised, four years after the end of the transition period, the Northern Ireland assembly at Stormont would vote on maintaining the arrangements.
The assembly would have to decide whether to vote by a simple majority or under a vote in which 40% of both nationalist and unionist assembly members would be required to give their assent. A 60% threshold of all members would need to be passed in that case. If Stormont was not sitting, the status quo would continue.The assembly would have to decide whether to vote by a simple majority or under a vote in which 40% of both nationalist and unionist assembly members would be required to give their assent. A 60% threshold of all members would need to be passed in that case. If Stormont was not sitting, the status quo would continue.
There would be another opportunity four years later to give consent if they voted by simple majority, and eight years later if they took the cross-party route. A two-year notice period would be granted if Northern Ireland exited the special relationship with the EU to allow alternative arrangements to be put in place.There would be another opportunity four years later to give consent if they voted by simple majority, and eight years later if they took the cross-party route. A two-year notice period would be granted if Northern Ireland exited the special relationship with the EU to allow alternative arrangements to be put in place.
“It will be their responsibility,” Barnier said of the role of Northern Ireland assembly members in the consent mechanism. “This democratic support is a cornerstone of our newly agreed approach. Why? Because this newly agreed protocol is no longer to be replaced by a subsequent agreement between the EU and the UK. So it makes sense to ensure consent.” “This democratic support is a cornerstone of our newly agreed approach”, Barnier said. “Why? Because this newly agreed protocol is no longer to be replaced by a subsequent agreement between the EU and the UK.”
Barnier said Johnson had agreed the political declaration would maintain British commitments to fair competition. The prime minister had agreed this was the quid pro quo for a free trade agreement which would seek to keep trade between the UK and the EU tariff and quota free.Barnier said Johnson had agreed the political declaration would maintain British commitments to fair competition. The prime minister had agreed this was the quid pro quo for a free trade agreement which would seek to keep trade between the UK and the EU tariff and quota free.
The EU negotiator said the British government was, however, seeking a looser relationship to the bloc, and that this would be reflected in the trade negotiations to come. The EU negotiator said the British government was seeking a looser relationship to the bloc and “the option of creating a single customs territory between us has been discarded”.
He said: “Boris Johnson’s government has made a clear choice with respect to the future economic relationship and that is the choice of a free trade agreement.
“Any reference to other options, particularly the option of creating a single customs territory between us has been discarded.”
BrexitBrexit
European UnionEuropean Union
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Jean-Claude JunckerJean-Claude Juncker
EuropeEurope
Foreign policyForeign policy
Democratic Unionist party (DUP)Democratic Unionist party (DUP)
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