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Johnson to meet Macron as French president downplays backstop hopes Brexit: Macron tells PM renegotiating deal 'not an option'
(about 7 hours later)
Boris Johnson is to meet Emmanuel Macron later, hours after the French president seemed to downplay hopes of solving the Irish backstop problem. Boris Johnson is to meet Emmanuel Macron later, hours after the French president insisted reopening negotiations is "not an option".
On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested a solution to the backstop - a key Brexit sticking point - might be achievable within 30 days. Mr Macron said: "We have to help the British deal with this internal democratic crisis but we mustn't be hostage to it nor export it."
The PM said he was "more than happy" with that "blistering timetable". On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the onus was on the UK to find a workable plan.
But later on Wednesday, Mr Macron insisted reopening negotiations on the issue was "not an option". Mr Johnson said a deal could be achieved with "sufficient patience".
Mr Johnson has said that the backstop - which aims to prevent a hard Irish border after Brexit - must be ditched if a no-deal exit from the EU is to be avoided. The UK prime minister has said that the backstop - which aims to prevent a hard Irish border after Brexit - must be ditched if a no-deal exit from the EU is to be avoided.
If implemented, the backstop would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market, should the UK and the EU not agree a trade deal after Brexit.
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 until both the EU and UK agreed they were no longer necessary. Brexit supporters fear this could leave the UK tied to the EU indefinitely.
The EU has repeatedly said the withdrawal deal negotiated by former PM Theresa May, which includes the backstop, cannot be renegotiated.The EU has repeatedly said the withdrawal deal negotiated by former PM Theresa May, which includes the backstop, cannot be renegotiated.
But at a news conference in Berlin with Mr Johnson on Wednesday, Mrs Merkel indicated that an alternative might be possible, stressing that the onus was on the UK to find a workable plan. However, it has previously said it would be willing to "improve" the political declaration - the document that sets out the UK's future relationship with the EU.
"It was said we will probably find a solution in two years," she said. "But we could also find one in the next 30 days, why not?" Mrs Merkel has argued that, the withdrawal agreement does not need to be reopened, if a practical solution to the backstop can be found
A Downing Street spokesman described the meeting of the two leaders as "constructive". At a news conference in Berlin with Mr Johnson on Wednesday, she indicated that a solution to the backstop - a key Brexit sticking point - might be achievable within 30 days.
However, hours later, Mr Macron appeared to downplay the prospects of a breakthrough, telling reporters in Paris: "Renegotiation of the terms currently proposed by the British is not an option that exists, and that has always been made clear by [EU] President Tusk." Mr Johnson said: "I think that if we approach this with sufficient patience and optimism we can get this done and it is in the final furlong generally when the horses change places and the winning deal appears."
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said Mr Johnson was likely to get a "chillier reception" from Mr Macron, who sees Brexit as "contaminating the whole European project" and wants it over and done with. Later, Mr Macron said "Renegotiation of the terms currently proposed by the British is not an option that exists, and that has always been made clear by [EU] President Tusk."
For weeks, EU leaders have said Boris Johnson's demand for the Brexit deal to be reopened is a non-starter and not up for discussion. Has Angela Merkel changed her tune?
But after dinner with Chancellor Merkel, a Downing Street source said there was a glimmer of light where there wasn't a day before. Analysis by political correspondent Iain Watson
But for three years the EU has been unpersuaded that any technical solutions currently available would eliminate the need for a backstop to be in the withdrawal agreement. There will probably be a frosty reception in Paris today. The mood music was a lot brighter in Berlin yesterday.
Boris Johnson wants the UK out of the single market and the customs union, so there will be different tariff and regulatory systems on each side of the border. But the question is: has Angela Merkel changed her tune?
And - while Chancellor Merkel sounded conciliatory - Mr Johnson could find a chillier reception in Paris. Behind the scenes Downing Street is pretty downbeat.
President Macron is clearly losing patience with the Brexit crisis and has bluntly said the deal is closed. On the surface their meeting was very convivial, apparently they had a lovely dinner.
She said perhaps we can find a solution in 30 days but, the question is what is she going to do.
It seems that what Mrs Merkel was suggesting was talks about the political declaration, the legally non-binding document about the future relationship between the UK and EU, as opposed to the withdrawal agreement.
She was saying to the UK "come up with solutions" but she was not committing herself to reopening that crucial document.
The French president also said a trade deal with the US would not make up for the "cost" of what he called a "hard Brexit".The French president also said a trade deal with the US would not make up for the "cost" of what he called a "hard Brexit".
President Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, has previously said the US supported a no-deal Brexit, adding that Washington would propose an accelerated series of trade deals with the UK.President Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, has previously said the US supported a no-deal Brexit, adding that Washington would propose an accelerated series of trade deals with the UK.
But Mr Macron said: "Can the cost for Britain of a hard Brexit - because Britain will be the main victim - be offset by the United States of America? No.But Mr Macron said: "Can the cost for Britain of a hard Brexit - because Britain will be the main victim - be offset by the United States of America? No.
"And even if it were a strategic choice it would be at the cost of a historic vassalisation of Britain."And even if it were a strategic choice it would be at the cost of a historic vassalisation of Britain.
"I don't think this is what Boris Johnson wants. I don't think it is what the British people want.""I don't think this is what Boris Johnson wants. I don't think it is what the British people want."
Mr Macron added that "the British are attached to being a great power" but after Brexit could become merely a "junior partner" of the US.Mr Macron added that "the British are attached to being a great power" but after Brexit could become merely a "junior partner" of the US.
Earlier on Wednesday, an official in Mr Macron's office said France now saw a no-deal Brexit as the most likely scenario.Earlier on Wednesday, an official in Mr Macron's office said France now saw a no-deal Brexit as the most likely scenario.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October, with no deal being the default option.The UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October, with no deal being the default option.
Mr Macron said he saw no reason to grant a further delay to Brexit unless there was a significant political change in the UK, such as an election or a new referendum.Mr Macron said he saw no reason to grant a further delay to Brexit unless there was a significant political change in the UK, such as an election or a new referendum.
French officials said if the UK requested an extension in order to hold a new election, the EU would probably grant it.French officials said if the UK requested an extension in order to hold a new election, the EU would probably grant it.
After meeting Mr Macron on Thursday, Mr Johnson will attend the G7 summit on Saturday alongside other leaders including US President Donald Trump.After meeting Mr Macron on Thursday, Mr Johnson will attend the G7 summit on Saturday alongside other leaders including US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has cancelled a trip to Ghana later this week, urging opposition MPs to meet urgently to discuss ways to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Meanwhile, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has cancelled a trip to Ghana later this week, urging opposition MPs to meet to discuss ways to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Corbyn has proposed that in order to prevent a no-deal exit, opposition MPs should help him defeat the government in a no-confidence motion and install him as a caretaker PM.Mr Corbyn has proposed that in order to prevent a no-deal exit, opposition MPs should help him defeat the government in a no-confidence motion and install him as a caretaker PM.
If he wins the vote, he plans to delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum.If he wins the vote, he plans to delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum.
However the Liberal Democrats, and some potential Tory allies opposed to a no-deal exit, have indicated they will not back a plan that leads to Mr Corbyn in No 10.However the Liberal Democrats, and some potential Tory allies opposed to a no-deal exit, have indicated they will not back a plan that leads to Mr Corbyn in No 10.