EU leaders did not discuss extending Brexit transition period, reveals Donald Tusk October 18, 2018 EU leaders did not discuss extending the UK’s post-Brexit transition period last night despite Theresa May floating the offer as a way to jumpstart negotiations. The PM made the proposal to her EU counterparts on Wednesday, but European Council president Donald Tusk revealed it was not talked about after she had left the room. German [...]
It’s time for Theresa May to use her secret Brexit weapon: business October 17, 2018 Two weeks ago, I was in Birmingham among my fellow Conservatives awaiting Theresa May’s closing conference speech. I expected her to take a strong stance on the Chequers-based plan for Brexit and finally call upon her most valuable and underused supporters – business leaders – to champion her vision, not least because I and my [...]
Chomping at the bit: The race is on to be the next Tory leader October 17, 2018 There will be no deal this week. It was intended, then hoped for, but a Brexit deal is now as far away as it has ever been. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that there will be a late capitulation, the mother-of-all-compromises by Downing Street, presented as a victory for all [...]
Donald Tusk: No grounds for optimism on Brexit deal October 16, 2018 There are no grounds for optimism that a Brexit deal can be struck this week, European Council president Donald Tusk has warned just a day before a crunch summit. Speaking on the eve of EU leaders gathering in Brussels, Tusk called on Theresa May to put forward “concrete proposals” on how to break the deadlock [...]
No deal ‘more likely than ever’ says EU as Theresa May is given another chance to sell her Brexit plan October 15, 2018 Theresa May will be given one final chance to sell her Brexit plan to the EU on Wednesday – with a warning from Brussels that no deal is “more likely than ever before”. European Council president Donald Tusk has invited the Prime Minister to address her EU counterparts in a bid to persuade them to [...]
Dominic Raab slams David Davis’ Brexit plan as a ‘shortcut to no deal’ October 9, 2018 Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has dubbed his predecessor's negotiating strategy "a shortcut to no deal" as the Tory war of words over Europe escalated. Raab made the comments after former Brexit secretary David Davis sent a letter to every Tory MP urging them to back a Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU, or face [...]
Downing Street plays down EU rhetoric on a Brexit deal being close October 8, 2018 Downing Street today called for actions, not words from the EU as the clock ticks down on the Brexit talks. Speaking ahead of a crunch summit in Brussels next week, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said there are still "big issues" to be worked out before a deal can be agreed between the UK and [...]
Plan to keep all of UK in EU customs union after Brexit welcomed by Dublin in Irish backstop row October 4, 2018 A radical plan to keep the whole of the UK in a customs union with the EU after Brexit has been welcomed by Dublin, it has been reported. The proposal, seen as a way of stopping a hard border being created on the island of Ireland, would be the 'backstop' arrangement if no other deal [...]
Donald Tusk offers UK a Canada-style trade deal in blow for Theresa May’s Brexit plan October 4, 2018 Donald Tusk has delighted the 'chuck Chequers' group of Tories by offering the UK a Canada-style free trade deal. Speaking just days after Boris Johnson urged Theresa May to shelve her Brexit plan, the European Council president backed striking a looser arrangement with the UK. The comments were welcomed by leading Brexiteers, with one claiming [...]
Brexit secretary says Chequers plan is not ‘perfect’ as he urges Tories to back the proposal October 1, 2018 Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab today admitted the Prime Minister's EU negotiating plan is not perfect as he appealed to his fellow Tories to back the so-called Cheques proposal. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Raab claimed eurosceptics would have "bitten my arm off" before the 2016 referendum for the deal he and other [...]