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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/oct/20/brexit-theresa-may-angela-merkel-hopeful-deal-europe-politics-live
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| Brexit: Emmanuel Macron accuses UK of 'bluffing' on no-deal scenario - politics live | Brexit: Emmanuel Macron accuses UK of 'bluffing' on no-deal scenario - politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.01pm BST | |
| 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”. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.02pm BST | |
| 1.26pm BST | 1.26pm BST |
| 13:26 | 13:26 |
| Macron accuses the UK of 'bluffing' over 'no deal' option | Macron accuses the UK of 'bluffing' over 'no deal' option |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has given a press conference at the European council summit. He acknowledged the positive signals coming out of the European council summit on the Brexit negotiations. But he said: | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has given a press conference at the European council summit. He acknowledged the positive signals coming out of the European council summit on the Brexit negotiations. But he said: |
| Macron firm on Brexit talks. "A lot still needs to be done" before phase 2."We haven't even got half way there yet". UK long way off on bill | Macron firm on Brexit talks. "A lot still needs to be done" before phase 2."We haven't even got half way there yet". UK long way off on bill |
| And Macron insisted that, even if some in Britain say it would be possible to walk away from the EU without any deal, May never mentioned the possibility. Macron called speculation about that option “bluffing”. | And Macron insisted that, even if some in Britain say it would be possible to walk away from the EU without any deal, May never mentioned the possibility. Macron called speculation about that option “bluffing”. |
| Macron on Brexit: "Theresa May's problem is that those who wanted Brexit never told the British people what the cost would be." | Macron on Brexit: "Theresa May's problem is that those who wanted Brexit never told the British people what the cost would be." |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.02pm BST | |
| 1.00pm BST | 1.00pm BST |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Here are the morning’s main developments: | Here are the morning’s main developments: |
| 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. | 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. |
| EU leaders have agreed to start internal discussions on their approach to the “second phase” - talks on trade and the transition to Brexit. | EU leaders have agreed to start internal discussions on their approach to the “second phase” - talks on trade and the transition to Brexit. |
| Theresa May said negotiators are going through how much Britain owes the EU in financial contributions line by line. | 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”. | 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, | Mandelson also said Labour was in a strong position electorally but warned Jeremy Corbyn of the dangers of playing only to his base, |
| 1.00pm BST | 1.00pm BST |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Tusk said: | Tusk said: |
| My impression is that the reports of the deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated. While progress has not been sufficient, it doesn’t mean there has been no progress at all. | My impression is that the reports of the deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated. While progress has not been sufficient, it doesn’t mean there has been no progress at all. |
| The negotiations go on and we will continue to approach them positively and constructively. I hope that we will be able to move to the second phase of our talks in December... | The negotiations go on and we will continue to approach them positively and constructively. I hope that we will be able to move to the second phase of our talks in December... |
| I want to be the positive motivator for the next five or six weeks because our ambition is to achieve this, the final of the first phase in December. And for this we need also, maybe, more positive narrative ... | I want to be the positive motivator for the next five or six weeks because our ambition is to achieve this, the final of the first phase in December. And for this we need also, maybe, more positive narrative ... |
| What was my feeling today, also during my meeting before our session, my tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Theresa May, I feel that, for sure, both sides present only goodwill, and this is why I, maybe, in my rhetoric, I’m, maybe, a little bit more optimistic than Michel Barnier, but we are also in a different role. | What was my feeling today, also during my meeting before our session, my tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Theresa May, I feel that, for sure, both sides present only goodwill, and this is why I, maybe, in my rhetoric, I’m, maybe, a little bit more optimistic than Michel Barnier, but we are also in a different role. |
| Michel Barnier is responsible for the negotiations, I am more responsible, first of all for our unity, but also for a good atmosphere and positive mood. This is the only difference. | Michel Barnier is responsible for the negotiations, I am more responsible, first of all for our unity, but also for a good atmosphere and positive mood. This is the only difference. |
| 12.51pm BST | 12.51pm BST |
| 12:51 | 12:51 |
| And here is Juncker | And here is Juncker |
| "I hate the 'no deal' scenario." @JunckerEU says no one wants #Brexit negotiations to end without a deal https://t.co/Z5xjc02Pv0 pic.twitter.com/aMUOzwD5pG | "I hate the 'no deal' scenario." @JunckerEU says no one wants #Brexit negotiations to end without a deal https://t.co/Z5xjc02Pv0 pic.twitter.com/aMUOzwD5pG |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| The press conference has concluded but here is Tusk in optimistic mood: | The press conference has concluded but here is Tusk in optimistic mood: |
| "Both sides present only good will" @eucopresident Donald Tusk on his optimism about #Brexit talkshttps://t.co/Z5xjc02Pv0 pic.twitter.com/J69XyYmgIz | "Both sides present only good will" @eucopresident Donald Tusk on his optimism about #Brexit talkshttps://t.co/Z5xjc02Pv0 pic.twitter.com/J69XyYmgIz |
| 12.40pm BST | 12.40pm BST |
| 12:40 | 12:40 |
| Juncker says no-one from Britain has explained to him what a “no deal” looks like and he says no-one explained to the British people what Brexit would look like. | Juncker says no-one from Britain has explained to him what a “no deal” looks like and he says no-one explained to the British people what Brexit would look like. |
| 12.38pm BST | 12.38pm BST |
| 12:38 | 12:38 |
| Asked about European Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michele Barnier’s use of the expression “deadlock” last week, Tusk says this is not the best moment to discuss “rhetoric”. He wants to be positive, he says. | Asked about European Chief Negotiator for Brexit Michele Barnier’s use of the expression “deadlock” last week, Tusk says this is not the best moment to discuss “rhetoric”. He wants to be positive, he says. |
| Both sides present only goodwill, he insists, although he concedes that he is maybe more optimistic | Both sides present only goodwill, he insists, although he concedes that he is maybe more optimistic |
| The European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, makes a reference to the British press being “superficial”. He jokes - I think - that he might have used the expression “deadlock” four times instead of three. He adds: | The European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, makes a reference to the British press being “superficial”. He jokes - I think - that he might have used the expression “deadlock” four times instead of three. He adds: |
| I want to have a fair deal with Britain. | I want to have a fair deal with Britain. |
| Juncker said he would “hate no deal”. | Juncker said he would “hate no deal”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.42pm BST | at 12.42pm BST |
| 12.32pm BST | 12.32pm BST |
| 12:32 | 12:32 |
| Tusk said he hopes to move into the second phase of Brexit talks in December. He said Theresa May’s Florence speech had given the talks some momentum. | Tusk said he hopes to move into the second phase of Brexit talks in December. He said Theresa May’s Florence speech had given the talks some momentum. |
| 12.29pm BST | 12.29pm BST |
| 12:29 | 12:29 |
| 'Deadlock exaggerated' - Tusk | 'Deadlock exaggerated' - Tusk |
| The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk is speaking in Brussels now. He says reports of a deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated and insists there has been progress. | The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk is speaking in Brussels now. He says reports of a deadlock between the EU and the UK have been exaggerated and insists there has been progress. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.41pm BST | at 12.41pm BST |
| 12.16pm BST | 12.16pm BST |
| 12:16 | 12:16 |
| Haroon Siddique | Haroon Siddique |
| Video of the prime minister’s press conference can now be viewed online: | Video of the prime minister’s press conference can now be viewed online: |
| 📽️ UK Prime Minister @Number10gov Theresa May held a press conference following European Council #EUCO. | VIDEO ⬇️https://t.co/xYXmX0aQka | 📽️ UK Prime Minister @Number10gov Theresa May held a press conference following European Council #EUCO. | VIDEO ⬇️https://t.co/xYXmX0aQka |