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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson: Brexit opponents 'collaborating' with EU | Boris Johnson: Brexit opponents 'collaborating' with EU |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boris Johnson has accused MPs "who think they can block Brexit" of a "terrible collaboration" with the European Union. | Boris Johnson has accused MPs "who think they can block Brexit" of a "terrible collaboration" with the European Union. |
| The prime minister said the EU had become less willing to compromise on a new deal with the UK because of the opposition to leaving in Parliament. | The prime minister said the EU had become less willing to compromise on a new deal with the UK because of the opposition to leaving in Parliament. |
| He said this increased the likelihood of the UK being "forced to leave with a no-deal" in October. | He said this increased the likelihood of the UK being "forced to leave with a no-deal" in October. |
| The EU has said the agreement struck by Theresa May is the only deal possible. | The EU has said the agreement struck by Theresa May is the only deal possible. |
| Speaking during a Facebook event hosted at Downing Street, Mr Johnson said he wanted to leave with a deal but "we need our European friends to compromise". | Speaking during a Facebook event hosted at Downing Street, Mr Johnson said he wanted to leave with a deal but "we need our European friends to compromise". |
| "There's a terrible kind of collaboration as it were, going on between people who think they can block Brexit in Parliament and our European friends," he added. | "There's a terrible kind of collaboration as it were, going on between people who think they can block Brexit in Parliament and our European friends," he added. |
| "The more they think there's a chance that Brexit can be blocked in Parliament, the more adamant they are in sticking to their position." | "The more they think there's a chance that Brexit can be blocked in Parliament, the more adamant they are in sticking to their position." |
| His comments come after former Chancellor Philip Hammond said the PM's negotiating stance increased the chance of a no-deal before the latest Brexit deadline of 31 October. | His comments come after former Chancellor Philip Hammond said the PM's negotiating stance increased the chance of a no-deal before the latest Brexit deadline of 31 October. |
| Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a no-deal exit would be "just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all". | Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a no-deal exit would be "just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all". |
| 'Big deflection exercise' | |
| A No 10 source accused Mr Hammond of undermining the UK's negotiating stance, and said he "did everything he could" to block preparations for leaving whilst he was in office. | |
| The former chancellor rejected this suggestion in a tweet, saying he wanted to deliver Brexit "and voted to do so three times". | The former chancellor rejected this suggestion in a tweet, saying he wanted to deliver Brexit "and voted to do so three times". |
| Labour MP Mary Creagh said Mr Johnson's accusation that MPs were collaborating with the European Union was a "wicked lie". | |
| "MPs trying to stop his catastrophic no-deal Brexit are true patriots," she tweeted. | |
| Liberal Democrat MP Chuka Umunna said Mr Johnson's claim was a "big deflection exercise to divert attention from the damage his Brexit policy is already doing". | |
| He said: "This is fatuous nonsense from a prime minister flailing about trying to find people to blame for the almighty mess he and his Vote Leave government has created." | |
| Opposition to backstop | Opposition to backstop |
| Mr Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU with a deal, but the UK must leave "do or die" by the end of October. | Mr Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU with a deal, but the UK must leave "do or die" by the end of October. |
| He wants the EU to ditch the Irish border backstop plan from the deal negotiated by Mrs May, which was rejected three times by Parliament. | He wants the EU to ditch the Irish border backstop plan from the deal negotiated by Mrs May, which was rejected three times by Parliament. |
| But the EU has continued to insist the policy - intended to guarantee there will not be a hard Irish border after Brexit - must remain and cannot be changed. | But the EU has continued to insist the policy - intended to guarantee there will not be a hard Irish border after Brexit - must remain and cannot be changed. |
| Many of those who voted against the deal had concerns over the backstop, which if implemented, would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market. | Many of those who voted against the deal had concerns over the backstop, which if implemented, would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market. |
| It would also see the UK stay in a single customs territory with the EU, and align with current and future EU rules on competition and state aid. | It would also see the UK stay in a single customs territory with the EU, and align with current and future EU rules on competition and state aid. |
| These arrangements would apply unless and until both the EU and UK agreed they were no longer necessary. | These arrangements would apply unless and until both the EU and UK agreed they were no longer necessary. |
| Mr Hammond said the prime minister's demand for the backstop to be entirely removed from the deal meant a no-deal was inevitable on the current deadline. | Mr Hammond said the prime minister's demand for the backstop to be entirely removed from the deal meant a no-deal was inevitable on the current deadline. |
| He said that agreeing to changes now would "fragment" the EU, adding: "they are not going to take that risk". | He said that agreeing to changes now would "fragment" the EU, adding: "they are not going to take that risk". |
| "Pivoting to say the backstop has to go in its entirety - a huge chunk of the withdrawal agreement just scrapped - is effectively a wrecking tactic," he told Today. | "Pivoting to say the backstop has to go in its entirety - a huge chunk of the withdrawal agreement just scrapped - is effectively a wrecking tactic," he told Today. |
| On Thursday Downing Street said it expects a group of MPs to try to block a no-deal Brexit by attempting to pass legislation when Parliament returns next month. | On Thursday Downing Street said it expects a group of MPs to try to block a no-deal Brexit by attempting to pass legislation when Parliament returns next month. |
| A No 10 source said they expected the challenge to come in the second week of September, when MPs are are due to debate a report on Northern Ireland. | A No 10 source said they expected the challenge to come in the second week of September, when MPs are are due to debate a report on Northern Ireland. |
| The source assumes the EU will wait until after that date before engaging in further negotiations. | The source assumes the EU will wait until after that date before engaging in further negotiations. |