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| Brexit: Emmanuel Macron accuses Brexiters of 'bluffing' on no-deal scenario - as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.57pm BST | |
| 16:57 | |
| Thanks for following the blog today and for all your comments. Here is a summary of the day’s events: | |
| Emmanuel Macron, has accused Brexiters of “bluffing” on a no-deal scenario. The French president said Theresa May had never mentioned such a possibility. | |
| Macron also said “a lot still needs to be done” before phase 2 talks - which will address trade and the transition to Brexit - begin. “We haven’t even got half way there yet,” he said. Earlier, it was confirmed that EU leaders have agreed to start internal discussions on their approach to the second phase. | |
| The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said reports of a deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated and insisted there has been progress. | |
| Theresa May said negotiators are going through how much Britain owes the EU in financial contributions line by line. | |
| The former Labour cabinet minister, Peter Mandelson, told BBC Radio 4’s Today no deal would be “disastrous for the county”. | |
| Mandelson also said Labour was in a strong position electorally but warned Jeremy Corbyn of the dangers of playing only to his base. | |
| The Labour MP Clive Lewis has “unreservedly” apologised after video emerged of him telling someone to “get on your knees bitch” at a fringe event at last month’s party conference. His comments, which appeared to be made in jest and aimed at a man, attracted widespread condemnation from politicians on all sides including prominent women in the Labour party. | |
| 4.53pm BST | |
| 16:53 | |
| Here is the Guardian story on Macron’s comments accusing Brexiters of trying to “bluff” the EU into softening its negotiating stance. | |
| 4.39pm BST | |
| 16:39 | |
| Libby Brooks | |
| The SNP’s Mhairi Black has been talking in the Commons about Harvey Weinstein and the treatment of women more broadly, particularly in parliament. Her comments suggest that some MPs are stuck in the dark ages. | |
| She said: | |
| The Weinstein stuff shows you that when you get this culture of untouchable power that you can’t ask questions of, it shows you what goes on behind the scenes. That’s exactly what we’ve got in Westminster, so the more we can chip away at that the better it is for everybody. | |
| I’ve never been sexually assaulted or anything like that, but in terms of the sexism and the condescending attitudes, oh God yes. | |
| The first week I was down, one of the first conversations I had with with one of the Tory old guard. I’d asked when the summer holidays were and he said ‘I think you’ll find it’s called recess darling’. And I said ‘No I think you’ll find I’m called Mhairi sweetheart’. So I had to have loads of run-ins like that, some of them a lot uglier than that. | |
| Yesterday, I had the first I’ve had in ages, when someone I’m on a committee with walked by and he’s always very mannerly and said ‘It’s quite rich of you to have a go at Douglas Ross [Tory MP who skipped universal credit vote to referee] for not being here, when you’ve not been here’. And I said ‘There’s a difference between being unwell and being at a football match.’ Had I been a guy not a chance in hell he’s have said that to me, but that’s the world they live in. | |
| There’s plenty of creeps in politics but I steer well clear of them. Quite often I see conversations where I’m going: ‘see if I was her I’d have lamped him by now’ because there are guys in that place that are totally self- entitled. It’s a power thing. Even the way they speak, their body language, is awful. During debates some guys only take interventions from guys. | |
| Regarding the #metoo campaign, she said: | |
| Even on my personal Facebook, stories are coming up, and it’s ‘My God, I didn’t know that had happened’. It’s brilliant that women are coming forward and I’m sick to the back teeth especially of other women saying ‘you should have said something long ago’. Don’t dare put that on folk. The exact reason that they’re speaking out now is to make sure that the next generation don’t have to feel the way they did. I think it’s really harrowing reading through it. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.42pm BST | |
| 3.54pm BST | 3.54pm BST |
| 15:54 | 15:54 |
| Taking another detour from Brussels, Labour MP Clive Lewis has “unreservedly” apologised after video emerged of him telling someone to “get on your knees bitch” at a fringe event at last month’s party conference. | Taking another detour from Brussels, Labour MP Clive Lewis has “unreservedly” apologised after video emerged of him telling someone to “get on your knees bitch” at a fringe event at last month’s party conference. |
| His language attracted widespread condemnation from politicians on all sides including prominent women in the Labour party, among them Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy. | His language attracted widespread condemnation from politicians on all sides including prominent women in the Labour party, among them Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy. |
| A Labour party spokeswoman also denounced the comments, although other panellists at the Novara media-hosted event said Lewis’s words had been mischaracterised. | A Labour party spokeswoman also denounced the comments, although other panellists at the Novara media-hosted event said Lewis’s words had been mischaracterised. |
| Guardian columnist Dawn Foster tweeted: “For context, I’m stood next to Clive in this video – he said it to a male audience member in jest, not me.” | Guardian columnist Dawn Foster tweeted: “For context, I’m stood next to Clive in this video – he said it to a male audience member in jest, not me.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.30pm BST | at 4.30pm BST |
| 3.43pm BST | 3.43pm BST |
| 15:43 | 15:43 |
| Senior Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin has warned the prime minister she should not sign up to a deal at any price, suggesting that failure to strike a deal would not be as bad as feared. | Senior Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin has warned the prime minister she should not sign up to a deal at any price, suggesting that failure to strike a deal would not be as bad as feared. |
| He told BBC News: “The cost of paying tariffs on our exports to the EU would be less than half our annual net contribution. It is cheaper to pay for access to the single market by paying the tariffs than for us to be continuing to pay our subscription as a member of the EU. | He told BBC News: “The cost of paying tariffs on our exports to the EU would be less than half our annual net contribution. It is cheaper to pay for access to the single market by paying the tariffs than for us to be continuing to pay our subscription as a member of the EU. |
| “We are pulling out halfway through a budget process. It is only reasonable that we should consider helping the EU out as we leave the EU and withdraw our contributions but if this becomes much more expensive than envisaged it is simply not worth it.” | “We are pulling out halfway through a budget process. It is only reasonable that we should consider helping the EU out as we leave the EU and withdraw our contributions but if this becomes much more expensive than envisaged it is simply not worth it.” |
| 3.26pm BST | 3.26pm BST |
| 15:26 | 15:26 |
| Henry Newman, director of the Open Europe thinktank, believes those casting doubt about the progress of the Brexit talks are wrong. He writes for Comment is Free: | Henry Newman, director of the Open Europe thinktank, believes those casting doubt about the progress of the Brexit talks are wrong. He writes for Comment is Free: |
| Despite publicly saying that sufficient progress is not made, the European commission is privately telling politicians from EU member states that only “technical issues” remain to be resolved before settling on EU citizens’ rights. | Despite publicly saying that sufficient progress is not made, the European commission is privately telling politicians from EU member states that only “technical issues” remain to be resolved before settling on EU citizens’ rights. |
| Meanwhile several of Open Europe’s contacts at the London embassies of EU member states have confirmed to us that they are pleased with developments in the talks. One embassy is even sending the message back to their capital that the UK had moved about as far as it could at this stage of the talks and there is a danger of backing the prime minister into a corner – precisely what May herself is now saying. | Meanwhile several of Open Europe’s contacts at the London embassies of EU member states have confirmed to us that they are pleased with developments in the talks. One embassy is even sending the message back to their capital that the UK had moved about as far as it could at this stage of the talks and there is a danger of backing the prime minister into a corner – precisely what May herself is now saying. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.08pm BST | at 4.08pm BST |
| 2.57pm BST | 2.57pm BST |
| 14:57 | 14:57 |
| Reaction to the prime minister’s comments in Brussels is starting to come in. | Reaction to the prime minister’s comments in Brussels is starting to come in. |
| The Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman, Tom Brake, said: | The Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman, Tom Brake, said: |
| The prime minister cannot say one thing in Brussels and another in Britain. She needs to face down the right-wing Brexiteers in her party in order to guarantee the talks actually move forward. | The prime minister cannot say one thing in Brussels and another in Britain. She needs to face down the right-wing Brexiteers in her party in order to guarantee the talks actually move forward. |
| Above all, she still needs to protect citizens’ rights to ensure they are not a casualty of a no deal Brexit, and the European Union must also do more to make this happen. | Above all, she still needs to protect citizens’ rights to ensure they are not a casualty of a no deal Brexit, and the European Union must also do more to make this happen. |
| Allie Renison, the head of EU and trade policy at the Institute of Directors, warned that “rigidity will cost both sides dearly” in the talks: | Allie Renison, the head of EU and trade policy at the Institute of Directors, warned that “rigidity will cost both sides dearly” in the talks: |
| No one should treat this as a simple game of brinkmanship; the livelihoods of too many businesses and employees are at stake. | No one should treat this as a simple game of brinkmanship; the livelihoods of too many businesses and employees are at stake. |
| We hope EU member states will use the next two months to work constructively with the European commission and the UK, so that discussion on our future relationship and interim arrangements in particular starts before the end of the year. | We hope EU member states will use the next two months to work constructively with the European commission and the UK, so that discussion on our future relationship and interim arrangements in particular starts before the end of the year. |
| Finally, while we know there is a risk of all parties failing to reach a deal, it is important that this does not become an overriding fixation for the UK. | Finally, while we know there is a risk of all parties failing to reach a deal, it is important that this does not become an overriding fixation for the UK. |
| 2.35pm BST | 2.35pm BST |
| 14:35 | 14:35 |
| Beyond the Brexit talks, the US president, Donald Trump, has been criticised for erroneously linking a rise in recorded crime in England and Wales - which he referred to as the United Kingdom - and the “spread of radical Islamic terror”. | Beyond the Brexit talks, the US president, Donald Trump, has been criticised for erroneously linking a rise in recorded crime in England and Wales - which he referred to as the United Kingdom - and the “spread of radical Islamic terror”. |
| Just out report: "United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror." Not good, we must keep America safe! | Just out report: "United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror." Not good, we must keep America safe! |
| Labour’s deputy leader was among those to chastise Trump. | Labour’s deputy leader was among those to chastise Trump. |
| Officer, I’d like to report a hate crime. https://t.co/piD5sotK3P | Officer, I’d like to report a hate crime. https://t.co/piD5sotK3P |
| 2.18pm BST | 2.18pm BST |
| 14:18 | 14:18 |
| Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
| Some more on Macron’s comments: asked by a journalist if he took “seriously the threat of no deal, raised by some Conservatives”, the French president said: “There is one negotiator on the British side under the political authority of Theresa May. At no moment has Theresa May ever raised a ‘no deal’ as an option.” | Some more on Macron’s comments: asked by a journalist if he took “seriously the threat of no deal, raised by some Conservatives”, the French president said: “There is one negotiator on the British side under the political authority of Theresa May. At no moment has Theresa May ever raised a ‘no deal’ as an option.” |
| He added that, if there were “noises, bluff, false information by secondary actors or spectators to this discussion or in the media” in the UK, it was just part and parcel of it. But he stressed the option of “no deal” had not been formally put on the table. | He added that, if there were “noises, bluff, false information by secondary actors or spectators to this discussion or in the media” in the UK, it was just part and parcel of it. But he stressed the option of “no deal” had not been formally put on the table. |
| In no case is it part of the discussions. The discussions are going forward. They are going forward at a better pace these past few weeks. But the objective of all the negotiators is to get to an agreement on the first phase. | In no case is it part of the discussions. The discussions are going forward. They are going forward at a better pace these past few weeks. But the objective of all the negotiators is to get to an agreement on the first phase. |
| If there’s no agreement on the first phase, there can’t be a moving on to the second phase. And it’s principally the UK that has something to lose by that, given its very strong dependence on the European Union and its engagements taken as part of the European Union. | If there’s no agreement on the first phase, there can’t be a moving on to the second phase. And it’s principally the UK that has something to lose by that, given its very strong dependence on the European Union and its engagements taken as part of the European Union. |
| Asked to put a figure on the divorce bill, Macron said: “It’s not up to me to put a figure on the remaining amount — it’s up to Michel Barnier to lead the detail on that — but it’s substantial.” | Asked to put a figure on the divorce bill, Macron said: “It’s not up to me to put a figure on the remaining amount — it’s up to Michel Barnier to lead the detail on that — but it’s substantial.” |
| 2.01pm BST | 2.01pm BST |
| 14:01 | 14:01 |
| The Confederation of British Industry’s director general, Carolyn Fairbairn, says the “warm words” at the European council summit are welcome and praised the prime minister for her Florence speech. “But, for firms across Europe, warm words are not enough”. | The Confederation of British Industry’s director general, Carolyn Fairbairn, says the “warm words” at the European council summit are welcome and praised the prime minister for her Florence speech. “But, for firms across Europe, warm words are not enough”. |
| She called for firms to be given more stability. | She called for firms to be given more stability. |
| A transition deal by year end is top of the list. We urge the EU to put people before process and take a pragmatic approach to recognising sufficient progress. And the UK must continue to seek to unblock discussions. Where agreement is within touching distance, make the final step. | A transition deal by year end is top of the list. We urge the EU to put people before process and take a pragmatic approach to recognising sufficient progress. And the UK must continue to seek to unblock discussions. Where agreement is within touching distance, make the final step. |
| While all effort and goodwill must go into securing the new partnership, firms across the EU have no choice but to prepare for all outcomes, including ‘no deal’. Larger firms are already well advanced in their plans and the CBI will now support its small and medium sized members to do the same. Inevitably, as these plans are implemented there is a cost to communities, from Berlin to Brighton. | While all effort and goodwill must go into securing the new partnership, firms across the EU have no choice but to prepare for all outcomes, including ‘no deal’. Larger firms are already well advanced in their plans and the CBI will now support its small and medium sized members to do the same. Inevitably, as these plans are implemented there is a cost to communities, from Berlin to Brighton. |
| Both sides must put the shared interests of UK and EU citizens first by providing a roadmap for the future, with transition agreed by Christmas so the shape of the final deal can be discussed early next year. | Both sides must put the shared interests of UK and EU citizens first by providing a roadmap for the future, with transition agreed by Christmas so the shape of the final deal can be discussed early next year. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.02pm BST | at 2.02pm BST |