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| EU chief Donald Tusk says 'most difficult' Brexit issues remain unresolved – Politics live | EU chief Donald Tusk says 'most difficult' Brexit issues remain unresolved – Politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| EU leaders have told Theresa May that she can no longer delay spelling out what she wants from Brexit. In a sign of the exasperation felt at what is perceived as UK dithering, Donald Tusk, president of the European council, told journalists at the end-of-summit press conference. | |
| There is a great deal of work ahead, and the most difficult tasks are still unresolved. If we want to reach a deal in October we need quick progress. This is the last call to lay the cards on the table. | |
| EU leaders also set out their demand for more clarity from London in a four-paragraph statement on Brexit agreed very quickly on Friday morning, after May had left Brussels to return to London. (See 11.58am.) In truth, they were not expecting progress at this two-day summit, which was dominated by the debate on migration. But May is now under intense pressure to ensure that the white paper on Brexit due to be published within the next fortnight provides a basis for kickstarting negotiations on the future trade relationship. | |
| European leaders have papered over the divisions on migration with a promise that some EU countries would take in migrants rescued from the Mediterranean sea, after marathon talks at an EU summit lasting nearly 10 hours. | |
| The Home Office behaved in a “shocking” manner towards two Windrush citizens, Paulette Wilson and Anthony Bryan, who were wrongly sent to immigration detention centres before planned removals from the UK, despite them being continuously resident for around 50 years, a committee of MPs and peers has ruled. | |
| The justice secretary, David Gauke, has defended the appointment of a former Serco lobbyist as a minister in his department and said steps would be taken to avoid any possible conflict of interest in future dealings with the outsourcing firm. | |
| Danny Dyer became an unlikely remainer icon on Thursday night when he launched into a diatribe calling David Cameron a “twat” and demanded to know why the former prime minister was able to relax in France “with his trotters up” while the rest of Britain dealt with the consequences of Brexit. | |
| That’s all from me for today. | |
| Thanks for the comments. | |
| Earlier, in my Danny Dyer post (see 3.16pm), I said that Theresa May does not believe Brexit will be good for the country. The Conservative pro-European Dominic Grieve is the guest on Nick Robinson’s Political Thinking podcast this week and he makes exactly the same point. | |
| “It may be ...she thinks this is a mistake” but “it is her duty” to deliver Brexit. Remainer rebel Dominic Grieve on his old friend the PM, on spies & torture & on dumping @DamianGreen in a river & more. Subscribe : https://t.co/clySpQySIW / 🎧 Download : https://t.co/FOX2k43FEI pic.twitter.com/5iHADTqyA8 | |
| And according to RTE’s Tony Connelly, the Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar told journalists at the end of the summit that the Irish backstop could not be something that applied to the UK as a whole. | |
| Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the backstop can’t apply to the UK as a whole. The EU is willing to make concessions for NI as it’s a small place, he says #euco | |
| Varadkar also said the EU would not agree to let the UK remain effectively in the single market for goods but not for services. | |
| Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says UK staying in SM for goods and not services is unrealistic, would involve UK benefitting from one free movement (goods) but not being obliged to follow others (services, capital). | |
| If UK got that other populist and eurosceptic parties wd want the same and that wd undermine EU. “We can help UK leave the EU but we won’t let them destroy it.” | |
| And this is from my colleague Daniel Boffey. | |
| Irish PM, after broad brush briefing from May on white paper, says he hopes it will form basis for negotiations but pointless to produce paper on single market access on goods. Populists would seize on a special deal. Sad that UK leaving ‘but we won’t let them destroy the EU’ | |
| According to the Telegraph’s Dia Chakravarty, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, did not rule out the idea of Brexit being delayed when asked about it at his end-of-summit press conference. | According to the Telegraph’s Dia Chakravarty, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, did not rule out the idea of Brexit being delayed when asked about it at his end-of-summit press conference. |
| Will there be agreement ahead of Oct Council on Brexit? Macron says he “cannot speculate on the chances of a deal.” Reiterates 4 freedoms come together, European solidarity will be absolute when it comes to Irish border. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/qhSxo7imDH | Will there be agreement ahead of Oct Council on Brexit? Macron says he “cannot speculate on the chances of a deal.” Reiterates 4 freedoms come together, European solidarity will be absolute when it comes to Irish border. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/qhSxo7imDH |
| Macron: 27 of us met today but we had no proposal from the Brits. I have no further information on the British deal, so timing of Brexit is “not for me to say”. Interesting that his answer isn’t a clear no when asked if Brexit timetable may be extended. | Macron: 27 of us met today but we had no proposal from the Brits. I have no further information on the British deal, so timing of Brexit is “not for me to say”. Interesting that his answer isn’t a clear no when asked if Brexit timetable may be extended. |
| The Telegraph’s Europe editor, Peter Foster, has posted an excellent thread on Twitter about the Brexit state of play after this week’s EU summit. It starts here. | The Telegraph’s Europe editor, Peter Foster, has posted an excellent thread on Twitter about the Brexit state of play after this week’s EU summit. It starts here. |
| Why will Barnier reject attempts by the UK to enter a 'Single Market for Goods" - as @CER_Grant and other well-informed UK sources is suggesting is the plan? Some thoughts on what Barnier means by "huge and serious" differences /1 | Why will Barnier reject attempts by the UK to enter a 'Single Market for Goods" - as @CER_Grant and other well-informed UK sources is suggesting is the plan? Some thoughts on what Barnier means by "huge and serious" differences /1 |
| Here is the full text of Donald Tusk’s statement at the start of his press conference earlier. | Here is the full text of Donald Tusk’s statement at the start of his press conference earlier. |
| Danny Dyer’s rant about David Cameron (see 12.41pm) has gone viral on social media. For the most part that is probably because people share his exasperation with Brexit, and enjoyed his withering assessment of our former prime minister (the second “twat” is generally agreed to be glorious). | Danny Dyer’s rant about David Cameron (see 12.41pm) has gone viral on social media. For the most part that is probably because people share his exasperation with Brexit, and enjoyed his withering assessment of our former prime minister (the second “twat” is generally agreed to be glorious). |
| But Dyer was also making a substantive argument; that, having called the EU referendum and lost it, it was wrong for Cameron to resign when he should stayed on as prime minister to sort things out. | But Dyer was also making a substantive argument; that, having called the EU referendum and lost it, it was wrong for Cameron to resign when he should stayed on as prime minister to sort things out. |
| Has Dyer got a point? Or is he being naive? | Has Dyer got a point? Or is he being naive? |
| The conventional wisdom at the time, and probably still now, is that, having called the referendum and lost, Cameron had to go. That is what happened to Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, two years earlier when he lost the independence referendum. Before the EU referendum Cameron repeatedly said that he would not resign if leave won, but I don’t think any of his colleagues, or any political journalists, believed him and at a 4am meeting in Downing Street on the night of the referendum Cameron told his close aides he would have to quit because he did not think staying on (the Dyer option) was plausible. | The conventional wisdom at the time, and probably still now, is that, having called the referendum and lost, Cameron had to go. That is what happened to Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, two years earlier when he lost the independence referendum. Before the EU referendum Cameron repeatedly said that he would not resign if leave won, but I don’t think any of his colleagues, or any political journalists, believed him and at a 4am meeting in Downing Street on the night of the referendum Cameron told his close aides he would have to quit because he did not think staying on (the Dyer option) was plausible. |
| But counterfactuals are always worth exploring, and so what would have happened if he had announced that he was going to stay on as prime minister - perhaps just to oversee Brexit and to resign once the UK was out? | But counterfactuals are always worth exploring, and so what would have happened if he had announced that he was going to stay on as prime minister - perhaps just to oversee Brexit and to resign once the UK was out? |
| One of Cameron’s objections at the time was that he would have been overseeing a policy he did not believe in. But Theresa May does not believe Brexit will be good for the country either. When challenged on this, her default position is to say that this is what the country wants. And a majority of MPs are also voting through legislation that they don’t believe will be in the country’s best interests. Two years on from the referendum it has turned out (regrettably) that implementing policy without believing in it is easier than Cameron assumed. | One of Cameron’s objections at the time was that he would have been overseeing a policy he did not believe in. But Theresa May does not believe Brexit will be good for the country either. When challenged on this, her default position is to say that this is what the country wants. And a majority of MPs are also voting through legislation that they don’t believe will be in the country’s best interests. Two years on from the referendum it has turned out (regrettably) that implementing policy without believing in it is easier than Cameron assumed. |
| Another assumption is that Conservative MPs would have forced Cameron out anyway. But it is often forgotten that on the night of the referendum 84 pro-Brexit Tory MPs signed an open letter saying Cameron should stay on as prime minister even if leave won. (It was probably the most short-lived and unsuccessful campaign ever mounted by Conservative backbenchers.) And, remember, in the parliamentary Conservative party the pro-Brexit MPs were in a minority. A majority voted remain, like Cameron. If Cameron had tried to stay on, he would undoubtedly have been a lame duck. But MPs with leadership ambitions like serving under lame duck PMs (they have been doing it for the last year anyway), and a two or three-year extension of the Cameron premiership might have suited those who wanted to see a Brexiter succeed him before the next election. | Another assumption is that Conservative MPs would have forced Cameron out anyway. But it is often forgotten that on the night of the referendum 84 pro-Brexit Tory MPs signed an open letter saying Cameron should stay on as prime minister even if leave won. (It was probably the most short-lived and unsuccessful campaign ever mounted by Conservative backbenchers.) And, remember, in the parliamentary Conservative party the pro-Brexit MPs were in a minority. A majority voted remain, like Cameron. If Cameron had tried to stay on, he would undoubtedly have been a lame duck. But MPs with leadership ambitions like serving under lame duck PMs (they have been doing it for the last year anyway), and a two or three-year extension of the Cameron premiership might have suited those who wanted to see a Brexiter succeed him before the next election. |
| But would the public have put up with it? A poll in May 2016 found that 58% of the public thought, if Cameron lost, he would have to resign within a year. But people can stay on for years as prime minister when the public want them to go. It is only at general election time that that position becomes untenable, and in June 2016 Cameron was four years away from one of those. | But would the public have put up with it? A poll in May 2016 found that 58% of the public thought, if Cameron lost, he would have to resign within a year. But people can stay on for years as prime minister when the public want them to go. It is only at general election time that that position becomes untenable, and in June 2016 Cameron was four years away from one of those. |
| And another argument is that, if Cameron had tried to have stayed on, he would have had zero negotiating credibility with Brussels. But, looking at the current state of negotiations, does anyone really think he would have less influence with his EU partners than Theresa May? | And another argument is that, if Cameron had tried to have stayed on, he would have had zero negotiating credibility with Brussels. But, looking at the current state of negotiations, does anyone really think he would have less influence with his EU partners than Theresa May? |
| If Cameron had tried to remain as PM, we know what he would have done. He said so in the Commons on the Monday after the result. “I think it is in all our interests, whatever the eventual decision, to make sure we are as close as possible economically to our friends and partners in the European Union,” he told MPs. In this alternative reality, he would now be negotiating a very soft Brexit, Norway-style Brexit. Jacob Rees-Mogg would hate it, but the Moggites are in a minority amongst Tory MPs and a Cameron Brexit is closer to what the Commons as a whole wants than the hard Brexit May originally proposed. | If Cameron had tried to remain as PM, we know what he would have done. He said so in the Commons on the Monday after the result. “I think it is in all our interests, whatever the eventual decision, to make sure we are as close as possible economically to our friends and partners in the European Union,” he told MPs. In this alternative reality, he would now be negotiating a very soft Brexit, Norway-style Brexit. Jacob Rees-Mogg would hate it, but the Moggites are in a minority amongst Tory MPs and a Cameron Brexit is closer to what the Commons as a whole wants than the hard Brexit May originally proposed. |
| Could all this ever have happened? We’ll never know, and it still seems a unlikely. But thinking about it now, it seems a lot less impossible than we all thought on the morning of 24 June 2016. I think Dyer’s got a point. | Could all this ever have happened? We’ll never know, and it still seems a unlikely. But thinking about it now, it seems a lot less impossible than we all thought on the morning of 24 June 2016. I think Dyer’s got a point. |
| Danny Dyer on Brexit. pic.twitter.com/lxf8pEDlC6 | Danny Dyer on Brexit. pic.twitter.com/lxf8pEDlC6 |
| Ipsos MORI has published its June 2018 Political Monitor (pdf) today, with a stack of interesting polling, particularly on satisfaction with party leaders. | Ipsos MORI has published its June 2018 Political Monitor (pdf) today, with a stack of interesting polling, particularly on satisfaction with party leaders. |
| But there is also some Brexit polling, and these figures are striking. They suggest that confidence that Theresa May will get a good deal is at its lowest since article 50 was triggered. Those not confident that May will get a good deal outnumber those who are confident about it by more than two to one. | But there is also some Brexit polling, and these figures are striking. They suggest that confidence that Theresa May will get a good deal is at its lowest since article 50 was triggered. Those not confident that May will get a good deal outnumber those who are confident about it by more than two to one. |
| The Tusk/Juncker/Borissov press conference is now over. There were no questions about Brexit, and only a brief mention of it in the opening statements, from Tusk. (See 2.09pm.) | The Tusk/Juncker/Borissov press conference is now over. There were no questions about Brexit, and only a brief mention of it in the opening statements, from Tusk. (See 2.09pm.) |
| Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has also been holding a press conference. Here are some of the highlights. The tweets are from the Economist’s Tom Nuttall and the BBC’s Katya Adler. | Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has also been holding a press conference. Here are some of the highlights. The tweets are from the Economist’s Tom Nuttall and the BBC’s Katya Adler. |
| Merkel: Juncker now has a mandate from the EU to talk trade with Trump in Washington. "We'll do everything we can to prevent a trade war" | Merkel: Juncker now has a mandate from the EU to talk trade with Trump in Washington. "We'll do everything we can to prevent a trade war" |
| Merkel: on migration, the result was "important step in the right direction, but obviously not the end of the road." | Merkel: on migration, the result was "important step in the right direction, but obviously not the end of the road." |
| Merkel keen to emphasise what has been achieved on migration since 2014. Says migrant arrivals down by 95% | Merkel keen to emphasise what has been achieved on migration since 2014. Says migrant arrivals down by 95% |
| Merkel emphasises that all NGO vessels operating in the Med must abide by international law: a key demand for Italy that attracts a lot of sympathy from EU officials. | Merkel emphasises that all NGO vessels operating in the Med must abide by international law: a key demand for Italy that attracts a lot of sympathy from EU officials. |
| Merkel emphasised importance on EU-Turkey migrant deal , also says need to support Morocco to stop flow of migrants to Spain | Merkel emphasised importance on EU-Turkey migrant deal , also says need to support Morocco to stop flow of migrants to Spain |
| Regarding processing centres outside EU - Merkel says ONLY in co-operation with UNHCR and African countries | Regarding processing centres outside EU - Merkel says ONLY in co-operation with UNHCR and African countries |
| On migrant processing centres inside EU Merkel emphasised these are voluntary as central and Eastern Europe refuses to take part | On migrant processing centres inside EU Merkel emphasised these are voluntary as central and Eastern Europe refuses to take part |
| Need new partnership with Africa -says Merkel- to increase investment and education etc - They also need means to stop illegal people smuggling | Need new partnership with Africa -says Merkel- to increase investment and education etc - They also need means to stop illegal people smuggling |
| Merkel says FRONTEX - EU border forces need to be beefed up | Merkel says FRONTEX - EU border forces need to be beefed up |
| Merkel says secondary migration - when asylum seekers move from the country they arrive in to an EU country of choice - threatens Schengen | Merkel says secondary migration - when asylum seekers move from the country they arrive in to an EU country of choice - threatens Schengen |
| Merkel says Spain and Greece have agreed to take back migrabtvfrom Germany who were originally processed by their authorities | Merkel says Spain and Greece have agreed to take back migrabtvfrom Germany who were originally processed by their authorities |
| Merkel: Germany reached agreements with a number of neighbouring countries to expedite returns under Dublin. Interior ministers must now conclude administrative deals. | Merkel: Germany reached agreements with a number of neighbouring countries to expedite returns under Dublin. Interior ministers must now conclude administrative deals. |
| Merkel says German asylum law should be changed to allow the speedier return of migrants who have no right to stay | Merkel says German asylum law should be changed to allow the speedier return of migrants who have no right to stay |
| Merkel: Italy has entered no obligation to host "controlled centres". | Merkel: Italy has entered no obligation to host "controlled centres". |
| Merkel says Germany took migrants from Greece and Italy - helping those countries - now Germsny asking for help to prevent “illegal secondary migration” | Merkel says Germany took migrants from Greece and Italy - helping those countries - now Germsny asking for help to prevent “illegal secondary migration” |
| Asked if Seehofer will be satisfied, Merkel says: our European partners acknowledge the tense situation in Germany, it spurs them to a more comprehensive approach. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so speedy otherwise. | Asked if Seehofer will be satisfied, Merkel says: our European partners acknowledge the tense situation in Germany, it spurs them to a more comprehensive approach. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so speedy otherwise. |
| Merkel offers to send German border police to help EU countries with external borders, mentions Slovenia and Bulgaria. | Merkel offers to send German border police to help EU countries with external borders, mentions Slovenia and Bulgaria. |
| Merkel admits she’s received no agreement from Italy to take back migrants who first registered in Italy She says: Italy preoccupied with primary migration right now | Merkel admits she’s received no agreement from Italy to take back migrants who first registered in Italy She says: Italy preoccupied with primary migration right now |
| Merkel on Brexit: "we have no real solution for the Irish border" yet. | Merkel on Brexit: "we have no real solution for the Irish border" yet. |
| A tired-but-relieved-looking Angela Merkel gives her final #EUCO press conference pic.twitter.com/8dsBsPRgB6 | A tired-but-relieved-looking Angela Merkel gives her final #EUCO press conference pic.twitter.com/8dsBsPRgB6 |
| Asked about relations with President Trump, Juncker says he is going to Washington soon. He mentions his “friend Donald”. But he says he does not like Trump’s attempts to divide Europe. | Asked about relations with President Trump, Juncker says he is going to Washington soon. He mentions his “friend Donald”. But he says he does not like Trump’s attempts to divide Europe. |
| There is fresh evidence of that in the Washington Post today. | There is fresh evidence of that in the Washington Post today. |
| This is quite extraordinary (via @dmarusic) https://t.co/8iivlzbjPu pic.twitter.com/r4XnGpWHw3 | This is quite extraordinary (via @dmarusic) https://t.co/8iivlzbjPu pic.twitter.com/r4XnGpWHw3 |
| Tusk says he does not want to “spoil the good atmosphere” by saying any more. | Tusk says he does not want to “spoil the good atmosphere” by saying any more. |
| The opening statements are over. Tusk, Juncker and Boyko Borissov, the Bulgarian prime minister (who is also on the panel - the Bulgarians have the presidency of the EU) are now taking questions. | The opening statements are over. Tusk, Juncker and Boyko Borissov, the Bulgarian prime minister (who is also on the panel - the Bulgarians have the presidency of the EU) are now taking questions. |
| The first question is about the achievements of the Bulgarian presidency. Juncker says what was good about them was that they accepted the commission’s proposals. | The first question is about the achievements of the Bulgarian presidency. Juncker says what was good about them was that they accepted the commission’s proposals. |