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| Brexit: EU would refuse trade talks with UK after no-deal unless backstop addressed, says Barnier - live news | Brexit: EU would refuse trade talks with UK after no-deal unless backstop addressed, says Barnier - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have been addressing the issue of European Parliament elections, claiming that thee party’s candidate selection process is “well underway”. Its Brexit spokesman, Tom Brake, said: | |
| The Tories have made an absolute dog’s dinner of Brexit and, instead of working to give people the final say, Corbyn seems to have joined the Tories at the table. | |
| We have been fighting tooth and nail not just to keep the UK in the EU, but for the UK to be a leader in the EU. Just imagine what we could achieve if Brexit was stopped, not least using the billions earmarked for Brexit to instead regenerate the towns, cities and communities in the greatest need. | |
| Our candidates will soon be selected and we are raring to go to the polls with a clear offer; every Liberal Democrat elected is another voice fighting for our country’s place in the European Union. | |
| The Cabinet Office has confirmed that the government has taken the necessary legal step for EU elections to be held in the UK. In the language of the Commons, it has laid a statutory instrument called a Day of Poll Order. A spokeswoman says: | |
| It remains the government’s intention to leave the EU with a deal and pass the necessary legislation before 22 May, so that we do not need to participate in European Parliamentary elections. | |
| As a responsible government, today we have taken the necessary steps required by law should we have to participate. | |
| The Day of Poll Order provides returning officers with a date to hold potential European parliamentary elections but it does not make these elections inevitable as leaving the EU before the date of election automatically removes our obligation to take part. | |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has released a more detailed statement on this evening’s Brexit talks with the government, in which he reiterates that Labour wants to see the prime minister adopt its five key points in order to reach a cross-party deal: | |
| Today, I held a meeting of our shadow cabinet to discuss the Brexit talks with the government. The exchanges with the government have been serious but our shadow cabinet expressed frustration that the prime minister has not yet moved off her red lines so we can reach a compromise. | |
| The key issues that we must see real movement on to secure an agreement are a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer standards. | |
| Theresa May had been keen to avoid doing so but it appears that the Conservative party is now resigned to having to contest the EU elections. | Theresa May had been keen to avoid doing so but it appears that the Conservative party is now resigned to having to contest the EU elections. |
| Tory party appears to concede it will be fighting EU elections. Here’s the email to potential candidates. pic.twitter.com/HzmkMgMR9g | Tory party appears to concede it will be fighting EU elections. Here’s the email to potential candidates. pic.twitter.com/HzmkMgMR9g |
| The move could spell a great deal of trouble for the prime minister, who was warned at the weekend that she faced calls for her removal if she was to take the country into such elections. | The move could spell a great deal of trouble for the prime minister, who was warned at the weekend that she faced calls for her removal if she was to take the country into such elections. |
| Brexit: furious Tories will try to oust May if UK fights Euro elections | Brexit: furious Tories will try to oust May if UK fights Euro elections |
| While she is immune from a no-confidence vote by her own MPs until December, the prime minister could find herself under intolerable pressure if enough of her party turned against her. | While she is immune from a no-confidence vote by her own MPs until December, the prime minister could find herself under intolerable pressure if enough of her party turned against her. |
| Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, spoke to ITV as he was leaving Downing Street after a meeting between the committee’s executive and the prime minister. | Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, spoke to ITV as he was leaving Downing Street after a meeting between the committee’s executive and the prime minister. |
| He wasn’t excessively forthcoming, but he said he and his colleagues had had an update on the talks with Labour. When he was asked about the “deal” with Labour, he replied: | He wasn’t excessively forthcoming, but he said he and his colleagues had had an update on the talks with Labour. When he was asked about the “deal” with Labour, he replied: |
| There is, at the moment, no deal with Labour. | There is, at the moment, no deal with Labour. |
| Brady was more reluctant to discuss Mark Francois’s call for a new no confidence vote in Theresa May (see 1.05pm), but eventually he said that the 1922 executive had discussed this last week and that it had “no intention of proceeding”. | Brady was more reluctant to discuss Mark Francois’s call for a new no confidence vote in Theresa May (see 1.05pm), but eventually he said that the 1922 executive had discussed this last week and that it had “no intention of proceeding”. |
| Brady says at the moment there is no government deal with Labour over Brexit. | Brady says at the moment there is no government deal with Labour over Brexit. |
| 1922 Committee has ruled out call for a fresh no confidence vote in May, says Brady. | 1922 Committee has ruled out call for a fresh no confidence vote in May, says Brady. |
| NEW: After a meeting at Downing St, Sir Graham Brady says No 10 updated them on talks but "There is, at the moment, no deal with Labour". He confirms 1922 executive has already discussed Mark Francois' call for indicative vote of confidence in PM but "no intention of proceeding." pic.twitter.com/cwJieTCUld | NEW: After a meeting at Downing St, Sir Graham Brady says No 10 updated them on talks but "There is, at the moment, no deal with Labour". He confirms 1922 executive has already discussed Mark Francois' call for indicative vote of confidence in PM but "no intention of proceeding." pic.twitter.com/cwJieTCUld |
| That’s all from me for tonight. | That’s all from me for tonight. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. |
| In the House of Lords peers have had their first vote today on the Yvette Cooper bill. An attempt by Lord Blencathra, the former Conservative minister David Maclean, to remove clause 2 of the bill has been defeated by 280 votes to 46 - a majority of 234. | In the House of Lords peers have had their first vote today on the Yvette Cooper bill. An attempt by Lord Blencathra, the former Conservative minister David Maclean, to remove clause 2 of the bill has been defeated by 280 votes to 46 - a majority of 234. |
| Clause 2 would make it easier for ministers to amend the exit date in the EU Withdrawal Act if a request to extend article 50 were successful. | Clause 2 would make it easier for ministers to amend the exit date in the EU Withdrawal Act if a request to extend article 50 were successful. |
| And here is the Labour party statement about the cross-party talks. (See 5.04pm.) A spokesperson said: | And here is the Labour party statement about the cross-party talks. (See 5.04pm.) A spokesperson said: |
| Following further communication between the Brexit negotiating teams over the last 48 hours, Labour party and government officials are meeting this evening. | Following further communication between the Brexit negotiating teams over the last 48 hours, Labour party and government officials are meeting this evening. |
| Here are the main points from the Michel Barnier and Leo Varadkar’s joint appearance before the press. It was not actually a press conference because they did not take questions. | Here are the main points from the Michel Barnier and Leo Varadkar’s joint appearance before the press. It was not actually a press conference because they did not take questions. |
| Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the EU would refuse trade talks with the UK in the event of no-deal unless the UK agreed to address the backstop and the other issues in the withdrawal agreement. (See 4.27pm.) | Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the EU would refuse trade talks with the UK in the event of no-deal unless the UK agreed to address the backstop and the other issues in the withdrawal agreement. (See 4.27pm.) |
| He indicated that the EU would be happy to offer the UK a customs union if that were the outcome of the cross-party talks in London. He said: | He indicated that the EU would be happy to offer the UK a customs union if that were the outcome of the cross-party talks in London. He said: |
| We must and want to respect the UK’s parliamentary debate. The House of Commons is trying to decide how it sees its future relationship with the EU. | We must and want to respect the UK’s parliamentary debate. The House of Commons is trying to decide how it sees its future relationship with the EU. |
| We all hope that these talks will produce a positive outcome. | We all hope that these talks will produce a positive outcome. |
| I’ve said many times before that we can be much more ambitious in our future relationship with the UK. | I’ve said many times before that we can be much more ambitious in our future relationship with the UK. |
| The political declaration provides for a range of outcomes including a customs union. We are ready to make this clearer if this helps and this work can be done this extremely quickly. | The political declaration provides for a range of outcomes including a customs union. We are ready to make this clearer if this helps and this work can be done this extremely quickly. |
| He said the EU would stand “fully behind” Ireland whatever happened. | He said the EU would stand “fully behind” Ireland whatever happened. |
| He said he was confident that the EU and Ireland could find “operational solutions” to the border issue in the event of a no-deal Brexit. He said: | He said he was confident that the EU and Ireland could find “operational solutions” to the border issue in the event of a no-deal Brexit. He said: |
| Our discussions also focussed what would happen in Ireland in a possible no-deal scenario ... | Our discussions also focussed what would happen in Ireland in a possible no-deal scenario ... |
| There have been intensive discussions between our teams in the past few weeks. | There have been intensive discussions between our teams in the past few weeks. |
| Our goal is to protect the Good Friday agreement, peace on this island and the integrity of the single market. It is not an easy task. | Our goal is to protect the Good Friday agreement, peace on this island and the integrity of the single market. It is not an easy task. |
| But I am confident we will find operational solutions. | But I am confident we will find operational solutions. |
| One thing is certain, whatever happens the EU will stand fully behind Ireland. The EU will stand fully behind Ireland. | One thing is certain, whatever happens the EU will stand fully behind Ireland. The EU will stand fully behind Ireland. |
| Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said Ireland was “open” to extending article 50 at the emergency EU summit on Wednesday. | Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said Ireland was “open” to extending article 50 at the emergency EU summit on Wednesday. |
| Downing Street has issued a statement about the talks with Labour. A spokesperson said: | Downing Street has issued a statement about the talks with Labour. A spokesperson said: |
| We have been in touch with the opposition today and technical talks between officials will take place this evening. | We have been in touch with the opposition today and technical talks between officials will take place this evening. |
| Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, tweeted these after his meeting with Michel Barnier in Dublin earlier. | Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, tweeted these after his meeting with Michel Barnier in Dublin earlier. |
| .@MichelBarnier & I discussed developments in the UK incl the cross party talks underway. Ireland is open to a further extension to allow these talks to come to a conclusion. However due to the ongoing uncertainty, we also continue to intensify our No deal #Brexit preparations pic.twitter.com/qpw3H98sre | .@MichelBarnier & I discussed developments in the UK incl the cross party talks underway. Ireland is open to a further extension to allow these talks to come to a conclusion. However due to the ongoing uncertainty, we also continue to intensify our No deal #Brexit preparations pic.twitter.com/qpw3H98sre |
| We also discussed the length of a possible extension & I look forward to discussing this further with my EU counterparts on Wednesday. There will of course be different views but I am confident we will reach agreement #Brexit | We also discussed the length of a possible extension & I look forward to discussing this further with my EU counterparts on Wednesday. There will of course be different views but I am confident we will reach agreement #Brexit |
| The Press Association says the meeting between Theresa May and the executive of the Conservative 1922 Committee taking place this afternoon is one of their regular meetings. | The Press Association says the meeting between Theresa May and the executive of the Conservative 1922 Committee taking place this afternoon is one of their regular meetings. |
| Speaking in Dublin, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, also said that, if the UK were to leave without a deal, the EU would refuse to open trade talks until it got assurances on the Irish border, on citizens’ rights and money. | Speaking in Dublin, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, also said that, if the UK were to leave without a deal, the EU would refuse to open trade talks until it got assurances on the Irish border, on citizens’ rights and money. |
| I have said before the backstop is currently the only solution we have found to maintain the status quo on the island of Ireland. | I have said before the backstop is currently the only solution we have found to maintain the status quo on the island of Ireland. |
| If the UK were to leave the EU without a deal, let me be very, very clear. We would not discuss anything with the UK until there is an agreement for Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as for citizens’ rights and the financial settlement. | If the UK were to leave the EU without a deal, let me be very, very clear. We would not discuss anything with the UK until there is an agreement for Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as for citizens’ rights and the financial settlement. |
| These are the three issues covered by the withdrawal agreement. So, in other words, Barnier is saying that even if the UK were to leave without signing the withdrawal agreement, it would have to accepted the pledges in that agreement, including on the backstop, if it ever wanted a trade deal with the EU. | These are the three issues covered by the withdrawal agreement. So, in other words, Barnier is saying that even if the UK were to leave without signing the withdrawal agreement, it would have to accepted the pledges in that agreement, including on the backstop, if it ever wanted a trade deal with the EU. |
| Barnier and his fellow EU leaders have made this point before, but perhaps not as bluntly as Barnier did just now. | Barnier and his fellow EU leaders have made this point before, but perhaps not as bluntly as Barnier did just now. |
| Some Brexiters think that it would be acceptable for the UK to trade permanently with the EU on WTO terms. But, in the event of a no-deal scenario, most Brexiters would want to UK and the EU to strike a free trade deal, which is why the Barnier threat is significant. | Some Brexiters think that it would be acceptable for the UK to trade permanently with the EU on WTO terms. But, in the event of a no-deal scenario, most Brexiters would want to UK and the EU to strike a free trade deal, which is why the Barnier threat is significant. |
| In Dublin Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, says he hopes the government/Labour talks will produce a positive outcome. | In Dublin Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, says he hopes the government/Labour talks will produce a positive outcome. |
| He says the political declaration can accommodate a range of outcomes, including a customs union. | He says the political declaration can accommodate a range of outcomes, including a customs union. |
| It could be changed to make this explicit very quickly, he says. | It could be changed to make this explicit very quickly, he says. |
| Barnier says EU happy to offer UK a customs union. | Barnier says EU happy to offer UK a customs union. |
| He says he has had a good discussion with Leo Varadkar, the Irish PM, about what might happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. | He says he has had a good discussion with Leo Varadkar, the Irish PM, about what might happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. |
| He says the priority would be to protect the single market. | He says the priority would be to protect the single market. |
| It would not be easy, but he says he is confidence that operational solutions to the border situation can be found. | It would not be easy, but he says he is confidence that operational solutions to the border situation can be found. |
| He says, if the UK were to leave the EU with no deal, the EU would not discuss any future trade relationship without taking into account the Irish border issue and citizen’s rights. | He says, if the UK were to leave the EU with no deal, the EU would not discuss any future trade relationship without taking into account the Irish border issue and citizen’s rights. |
| This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. | This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. |
| NEW: Told the Exec of the 1922 are due to go to No 10 imminently to meet with PM. | NEW: Told the Exec of the 1922 are due to go to No 10 imminently to meet with PM. |
| These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. | These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. |
| 1. Labour has received an updated offer from govt as part of ongoing Brexit negotiations - at this stage, it is not a clear offer of moving to a customs union, sources say - but ministers have offered a guarantee of putting the offer into law, a so called 'lock' | 1. Labour has received an updated offer from govt as part of ongoing Brexit negotiations - at this stage, it is not a clear offer of moving to a customs union, sources say - but ministers have offered a guarantee of putting the offer into law, a so called 'lock' |
| 2. But anxiety on Labour side as even primary legislation could still be unpicked by next Tory leader - so even if 2 sides can reach agreement on customs not clear they'll be able to deliver a deal politically, especially given strong desire in big chunk of PLP for another ref | 2. But anxiety on Labour side as even primary legislation could still be unpicked by next Tory leader - so even if 2 sides can reach agreement on customs not clear they'll be able to deliver a deal politically, especially given strong desire in big chunk of PLP for another ref |
| Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, says he has spoken to Theresa May today. He says he wants to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but he also says the EU wants more assurances from the UK about an article 50 extension, including a promise relating to “sincere cooperation”. (That means the EU wants to know that May won’t follow Jacob Rees-Mogg’s advice and do her best to wreck the union from within if the UK is allowed to stay beyond Friday.) | Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, says he has spoken to Theresa May today. He says he wants to avoid a no-deal Brexit, but he also says the EU wants more assurances from the UK about an article 50 extension, including a promise relating to “sincere cooperation”. (That means the EU wants to know that May won’t follow Jacob Rees-Mogg’s advice and do her best to wreck the union from within if the UK is allowed to stay beyond Friday.) |
| Spoke to @theresa_may. At #EUCO we will discuss UK request for further extension Brexit-day. Crucial to know when and on what basis UK will ratify the Withdrawal Agreement. A positive decision hinges also on assurances from UK on sincere cooperation. | Spoke to @theresa_may. At #EUCO we will discuss UK request for further extension Brexit-day. Crucial to know when and on what basis UK will ratify the Withdrawal Agreement. A positive decision hinges also on assurances from UK on sincere cooperation. |
| It is in all our interest to have an orderly Brexit. We have agreed to speak again on Wednesday morning prior to the #EUCO | It is in all our interest to have an orderly Brexit. We have agreed to speak again on Wednesday morning prior to the #EUCO |