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| Version 22 | Version 23 |
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| Cameron: 'no cabinet meeting tonight' as EU talks continue – live | Cameron: 'no cabinet meeting tonight' as EU talks continue – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.58pm GMT | |
| 18:58 | |
| The latest scheduled time for tonight’s working dinner involving EU leaders in Brussels is 8.30pm. | |
| Rather incredibly perhaps, it’ll be the first time that all 28 will have been in the same room today. | |
| Meanwhile, here’s your one stop shop for the whole ‘English breakfast/brunch/dinner/dog’s breakfast’ affair: | |
| Related: EU talks: how an English breakfast became an English dinner | |
| 6.33pm GMT | |
| 18:33 | |
| It’s still tough going, depending on who you listen to. Here’s one of the summit’s star tweeters, the Czech Republic’s State Secretary for European Affairs, translating a tweet from one of his fellow V4 members | |
| Negotiations not easy, edging only very slowly towards a solution. UK PM meets Czech PM representing Central Europe. https://t.co/rz0vLvjaEs | |
| Also, turns out that the “V4” (not to be confused with the rocket of the same name) have a “war room” to deal with UK “demands”: | |
| Visegrad war room running full speed ahead, finetuning possible solutions to #UK demands. #V4 #UKinEU pic.twitter.com/oldGk33irS | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.35pm GMT | |
| 6.23pm GMT | 6.23pm GMT |
| 18:23 | 18:23 |
| Struggling to keep track of which EU state is where? Here’s a Guardian graphic which might help. | Struggling to keep track of which EU state is where? Here’s a Guardian graphic which might help. |
| A crucial question in it all of course: Will that Beatrix Potter box-set help swing things with Belgium’s Charles Michel? | A crucial question in it all of course: Will that Beatrix Potter box-set help swing things with Belgium’s Charles Michel? |
| 6.16pm GMT | 6.16pm GMT |
| 18:16 | 18:16 |
| Hopes have been building in Brussels that a deal might be in the making this evening. | Hopes have been building in Brussels that a deal might be in the making this evening. |
| Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, said earlier that he believed all that the negotiators were close to a compromise this evening. Here’s the audio (via the BBC): | Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, said earlier that he believed all that the negotiators were close to a compromise this evening. Here’s the audio (via the BBC): |
| 6.10pm GMT | 6.10pm GMT |
| 18:10 | 18:10 |
| BBC confirms Gove will back Brexit | |
| David Cameron won’t be able to count on the support of his justice secretary, Michael Gove, in the coming referendum, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, backing up those earlier reports that this was the case. | David Cameron won’t be able to count on the support of his justice secretary, Michael Gove, in the coming referendum, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, backing up those earlier reports that this was the case. |
| Gove WILL back Brexit - his decision to campaign to leave has been taken sources tell me | Gove WILL back Brexit - his decision to campaign to leave has been taken sources tell me |
| Neither his team nor no 10 officially confirm or deny - spokesman says his position is still to back the renegotiation and rule nothing out | Neither his team nor no 10 officially confirm or deny - spokesman says his position is still to back the renegotiation and rule nothing out |
| Updated | |
| at 6.33pm GMT | |
| 5.56pm GMT | 5.56pm GMT |
| 17:56 | 17:56 |
| Seems like as good a time as any.. Angela Merkel has just popped out for some chips. | Seems like as good a time as any.. Angela Merkel has just popped out for some chips. |
| Here’s the photographic evidence - guilty expression captured by James Mates of ITV: | Here’s the photographic evidence - guilty expression captured by James Mates of ITV: |
| Breakfast? Cancelled. Lunch? Abandoned. Dinner? Not till 8, if at all. So Angela Merkel heads out for chips #Brexit pic.twitter.com/dz2CRuAdYK | Breakfast? Cancelled. Lunch? Abandoned. Dinner? Not till 8, if at all. So Angela Merkel heads out for chips #Brexit pic.twitter.com/dz2CRuAdYK |
| 5.55pm GMT | 5.55pm GMT |
| 17:55 | 17:55 |
| Philip Oltermann | Philip Oltermann |
| A poll published this morning may hint at a surprising amount of goodwill the German public has retained towards the British government: according to a new survey by public broadcaster ZDF. | A poll published this morning may hint at a surprising amount of goodwill the German public has retained towards the British government: according to a new survey by public broadcaster ZDF. |
| The Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, Philip Oltermann, reports that it finds that 73% of Germans think it is ‘important’ or ‘very important’ that Britain stays in the European Union. | The Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, Philip Oltermann, reports that it finds that 73% of Germans think it is ‘important’ or ‘very important’ that Britain stays in the European Union. |
| But the slow pace of today’s negotiations seems to be testing many German commentators’ patience. On the website Der Spiegel, commentators Peter Müller and Christoph Pauly question why Cameron felt the need to go to war for such a “risible sum” of 25 million pounds a year – the maximum amount of money Britain could save by cutting child benefits. | But the slow pace of today’s negotiations seems to be testing many German commentators’ patience. On the website Der Spiegel, commentators Peter Müller and Christoph Pauly question why Cameron felt the need to go to war for such a “risible sum” of 25 million pounds a year – the maximum amount of money Britain could save by cutting child benefits. |
| In Frankfurter Rundschau, Green MEP Terry Reintke bemoans that Cameron has effectively brought EU policy to a standstill at a time at which the refugee crisis demanded action. | In Frankfurter Rundschau, Green MEP Terry Reintke bemoans that Cameron has effectively brought EU policy to a standstill at a time at which the refugee crisis demanded action. |
| “For years, Cameron has done nothing but appease the populists in Great Britain, he even met them halfway, making the EU responsible for all sorts of ills. With little success. Now he is lying in an European grave of his own making, because he knows that Brexit would be an economic and political disaster for the UK (just as it would be for the EU). | “For years, Cameron has done nothing but appease the populists in Great Britain, he even met them halfway, making the EU responsible for all sorts of ills. With little success. Now he is lying in an European grave of his own making, because he knows that Brexit would be an economic and political disaster for the UK (just as it would be for the EU). |
| 5.48pm GMT | 5.48pm GMT |
| 17:48 | 17:48 |
| The approach of the British Labour Party to the EU negotiations in Brussels is set to get an airing on Monday at one of Labour’s (now often fractious) Parliamentary Party meetings, according to Conor Pope of Labour List. | The approach of the British Labour Party to the EU negotiations in Brussels is set to get an airing on Monday at one of Labour’s (now often fractious) Parliamentary Party meetings, according to Conor Pope of Labour List. |
| Hilary Benn and Alan Johnson will address the PLP on Monday, about Labour's reactions to EU negotiation and approach to referendum campaign. | Hilary Benn and Alan Johnson will address the PLP on Monday, about Labour's reactions to EU negotiation and approach to referendum campaign. |
| As we reported yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn attacked David Cameron’s emergency brake on migrant benefits as ineffectual, as he branded the whole renegotiation a “theatrical sideshow”. | As we reported yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn attacked David Cameron’s emergency brake on migrant benefits as ineffectual, as he branded the whole renegotiation a “theatrical sideshow”. |
| Corbyn’s comments were at odds with the cross-party Britain Stronger in Europe campaign to keep the UK in the EU, which supports the prime minister’s renegotiation and praised the “significant proposals which everyone should get behind” when they were announced in early February. | Corbyn’s comments were at odds with the cross-party Britain Stronger in Europe campaign to keep the UK in the EU, which supports the prime minister’s renegotiation and praised the “significant proposals which everyone should get behind” when they were announced in early February. |
| A shadow cabinet source said Corbyn’s position had been pre-agreed, but there had been some concern among parliamentary colleagues that he was not sending out the right message by failing to back a measure aimed at cutting immigration and also that being too critical of the proposals would help Eurosceptics who want to portray Cameron’s efforts as insignificant. | A shadow cabinet source said Corbyn’s position had been pre-agreed, but there had been some concern among parliamentary colleagues that he was not sending out the right message by failing to back a measure aimed at cutting immigration and also that being too critical of the proposals would help Eurosceptics who want to portray Cameron’s efforts as insignificant. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.51pm GMT | at 5.51pm GMT |
| 5.36pm GMT | 5.36pm GMT |
| 17:36 | 17:36 |
| Questions about Britain’s EU membership isn’t the only issue where there are tensions at the Brussels talks. Slovakia has signalled that it is prepared to take measures to protect its border with Austria following Vienna’s decision to cap the number of migrants travelling through its territory. | Questions about Britain’s EU membership isn’t the only issue where there are tensions at the Brussels talks. Slovakia has signalled that it is prepared to take measures to protect its border with Austria following Vienna’s decision to cap the number of migrants travelling through its territory. |
| The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico told a briefing earlier: | The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico told a briefing earlier: |
| We are launching all technical measures for the protection of our border with Austria for the eventuality that larger groups stay at the Austrian border ... and try to get around and get to Germany via a different route. | We are launching all technical measures for the protection of our border with Austria for the eventuality that larger groups stay at the Austrian border ... and try to get around and get to Germany via a different route. |
| 5.26pm GMT | 5.26pm GMT |
| 17:26 | 17:26 |
| The Irish Government will use the common travel between Ireland and the UK area to try to exempt Irish citizens working in Britain from Britain’s proposed reduction in welfare payments to EU migrants during Brexit talks in Brussels, according to the Irish Times. | The Irish Government will use the common travel between Ireland and the UK area to try to exempt Irish citizens working in Britain from Britain’s proposed reduction in welfare payments to EU migrants during Brexit talks in Brussels, according to the Irish Times. |
| The common travel area, which predates both states’ entries into the Common Market, is recognised in Protocol 20 of the EU Treaty. | The common travel area, which predates both states’ entries into the Common Market, is recognised in Protocol 20 of the EU Treaty. |
| Denis Staunton, London Editor of the Irish Times, quotes the treaty, which says: | Denis Staunton, London Editor of the Irish Times, quotes the treaty, which says: |
| The UK and Ireland may continue to make arrangements between themselves relating to the movement of persons between their territories. | The UK and Ireland may continue to make arrangements between themselves relating to the movement of persons between their territories. |
| Nothing in Articles 26 and 77 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in any other provision of that Treaty or of the Treaty on European Union or in any measure adopted under them, shall affect any such arrangements. | Nothing in Articles 26 and 77 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in any other provision of that Treaty or of the Treaty on European Union or in any measure adopted under them, shall affect any such arrangements. |
| 5.13pm GMT | 5.13pm GMT |
| 17:13 | 17:13 |
| Everyone should make compromises but those taking part in the talks “could be there” this evening, according to Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister. | Everyone should make compromises but those taking part in the talks “could be there” this evening, according to Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister. |
| Rumen Alexandriv told the BBC that the “social part” of negotiations - and in particular proposed restrictions on benefits payments to the children of EU migrants working in the UK but who have offspring in their home countries - was an issue of sensitivity | Rumen Alexandriv told the BBC that the “social part” of negotiations - and in particular proposed restrictions on benefits payments to the children of EU migrants working in the UK but who have offspring in their home countries - was an issue of sensitivity |
| However, he signalled that a compromise might be possible in relation to the duration when such restrictions would apply after workers start receiving it. | However, he signalled that a compromise might be possible in relation to the duration when such restrictions would apply after workers start receiving it. |
| 5.10pm GMT | 5.10pm GMT |
| 17:10 | 17:10 |
| One particular sticking point in talks surrounds welfare payments to EU migrant workers in Britain, according to details coming out of a briefing by Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament | One particular sticking point in talks surrounds welfare payments to EU migrant workers in Britain, according to details coming out of a briefing by Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament |
| Poland is putting some serious points on the tables about its citizens in the UK, according to the BBC. | Poland is putting some serious points on the tables about its citizens in the UK, according to the BBC. |
| 5.06pm GMT | 5.06pm GMT |
| 17:06 | 17:06 |
| The Union flag is out for some updates on the British side, although no deal is in sight. | The Union flag is out for some updates on the British side, although no deal is in sight. |
| Flags out in the UK press briefing room. The stage is set but still no deal pic.twitter.com/cgwk49BN9N | Flags out in the UK press briefing room. The stage is set but still no deal pic.twitter.com/cgwk49BN9N |
| 4.58pm GMT | 4.58pm GMT |
| 16:58 | 16:58 |
| More on that potentially important development in relation to Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who is now expected to back a UK departure from the European Union in the forthcoming referndum. | More on that potentially important development in relation to Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who is now expected to back a UK departure from the European Union in the forthcoming referndum. |
| The Spectator’s James Forsyth writes: | The Spectator’s James Forsyth writes: |
| If Gove has gone to Out, it will be a shot of pure adrenaline for the Out campaign. It will give it intellectual respectability and genuine Cabinet heft. | If Gove has gone to Out, it will be a shot of pure adrenaline for the Out campaign. It will give it intellectual respectability and genuine Cabinet heft. |
| The move will also confirm Gove’s status as a conviction politician. | The move will also confirm Gove’s status as a conviction politician. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.59pm GMT | at 4.59pm GMT |