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Brexit: No one from the EU Commission is going to Theresa May's big speech Brexit: No one from the EU Commission is going to Theresa May's big speech
(35 minutes later)
No European Commission officials will be travelling to Florence to attend Theresa May’s landmark speech on the future of Brexit negotiations, in what appears to be a snub to the Prime Minister. No European Commission officials will be travelling to Florence to attend Theresa May’s landmark speech on the Brexit negotiations, The Independent can reveal, in what appears to be a snub to the Prime Minister.
The Independent understands that Brussels officials and negotiators will be staying away from the PM’s landmark address – despite chief negotiator Michel Barnier already being in Italy the day before to address local politicians.  The Independent understands that Brussels officials and negotiators will be staying away from the PM’s critical address, despite chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier already being in Italy to address local politicians the day before. 
In the audience instead will be Ms May’s own cabinet ministers, including Boris Johnson, who laid out his own conflicting vision for what Brexit should look like in a 4,000-word Daily Telegraph article published less than a week ago.  In the audience instead will be Ms May’s own cabinet ministers – including Boris Johnson, who laid out his own (conflicting) vision for what Brexit should look like, in a 4,000-word Daily Telegraph article less than a week ago. 
Others ministers in the audience will include Brexit Secretary David Davis, Chancellor Philip Hammond, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd Read. Others ministers in the audience will include Brexit Secretary David Davis, Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
The lack of attendance by EU ministers come a week after Ms May was admonished by MEPs for refusing to appear before a public meeting of the European Parliament, amid further signs of souring relations between the two negotiating parties. The news comes a week after Ms May was admonished by MEPs for refusing to appear before a public meeting of the European Parliament, amid further signs of souring relations between the two negotiating parties.
The Florence speech is expected to be the Prime Minister biggest Brexit intervention since her Lancaster House speech in January, where she committed to leaving the single market. It is said to include an “open and generous offer” to the EU, according to one Cabinet minister who spoke to the BBC. The Florence speech is expected to be the Prime Minister’s biggest Brexit intervention since her Lancaster House speech in January, when she committed to leaving the single market. It is said to include an “open and generous offer” to the EU, according to one Cabinet minister who spoke to the BBC.
The Prime Minister, who is flying in from a UN meeting in New York, will speak to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the telephone on Thursday afternoon ahead of the speech, a European Commission spokesperson however confirmed. However, Ms May (who is flying in from a UN meeting in New York) will speak to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker by phone on the Thursday afternoon before the speech, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed.
Reporters present at the UN while Ms May gave an address there said she was speaking to a room with large numbers of empty seats. Reporters present at the UN where Ms May gave an address said she was spoke to a room with a large number of empty seats.
The negotiator Mr Barnier is expected to respond to the speech on Friday after its currently mysterious contents become clear. A Commission spokesperson, speaking in Brussels on Thursday, said he would wait until the speech had been delivered to comment on it. Mr Barnier is expected to respond to the speech on Friday, after its currently mysterious contents become clear. A Commission spokesperson, speaking in Brussels on Thursday, said he would wait until the speech had been delivered to comment.
The coming event in Florence is thought to be an attempt by Ms May to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations, whose latest round was due to be held this week until they were postponed so they could be conducted after the latest speech.  The event in Florence is thought to be an attempt by Ms May to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations, the latest round of which was due to be held this week, but have been postponed until after speech takes place. 
It is thought that the speech might include a pledge that no EU country will lose out from the EU budget as a result of Britain leaving the bloc. The subject of the divorce bill has been a major sticking point in talks so far, with little “concrete progress” according to the EU Commission.  It is thought that the speech might include a pledge that no EU country will lose out from the EU budget as a result of Britain leaving the bloc. The subject of the divorce bill has been a major sticking point in talks so far, with little “concrete progress”, according to the EU Commission. 
Other reports suggest the UK might offer the EU 20 billion euros – down from the claimed roughly 50 billion figure apparently floated by the Commission. Other reports suggest the UK might offer the EU €20bn – down from the claimed €50bn figure apparently floated by the Commission.