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| Brexit: Boris Johnson accused of creating 'nightmare' of uncertainty for Europeans – as it happened | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| There’s all from us this evening. Here’s a summary of the day’s main events: | |
| Boris Johnson was left humiliated after he was represented at a press conference with Luxembourg’s prime minister by an empty lectern. Johnson pulled out of the event shortly before it was due to go ahead, saying protests going on nearby were too loud. | |
| Xavier Bettel, appearing alone, warned Johnson not to waste the time that remained. Bettel said Brexit was an internal UK issue that was being exported to Europe and that it was up to the UK to propose a solution. | |
| Johnson claimed the UK and the EU have “just the right amount of time” to get a deal done. But, asked repeatedly what he was proposing, he was unable to give a clear answer. | |
| The former prime minister David Cameron, ruled out a return to frontline politics. In another interview to promote his book, Cameron said he should have pushed his government’s austerity measures further, earlier. | |
| If you’d like to read more, my colleague Daniel Boffey has the main story: | |
| Johnson humiliated by Luxembourg PM at 'empty chair' press conference | |
| And that wraps up the interview. Once again, the latest posts should be read alongside the more comprehensive summary posted earlier this afternoon. | And that wraps up the interview. Once again, the latest posts should be read alongside the more comprehensive summary posted earlier this afternoon. |
| Referring to the man he considered a friend, Michael Gove, Cameron says: | Referring to the man he considered a friend, Michael Gove, Cameron says: |
| To be fair to Michael, he was a very long standing Eurosceptic. He seemed in two minds about it and I thought: ‘If he’s in two minds surely stick with the team and the programme and the government and the work that we’re doing together’. | To be fair to Michael, he was a very long standing Eurosceptic. He seemed in two minds about it and I thought: ‘If he’s in two minds surely stick with the team and the programme and the government and the work that we’re doing together’. |
| Asked if he felt betrayed by Gove, Cameron adds: | Asked if he felt betrayed by Gove, Cameron adds: |
| He said to me at the time: ‘If I come out for Brexit, I’ll make one speech and that’s it’. And, look, I believed that. Now maybe that was naive; maybe that was wrong but I mean, I start from the proposition that if someone you’ve known for 20 years tells you something it’s probably true. | He said to me at the time: ‘If I come out for Brexit, I’ll make one speech and that’s it’. And, look, I believed that. Now maybe that was naive; maybe that was wrong but I mean, I start from the proposition that if someone you’ve known for 20 years tells you something it’s probably true. |
| [During the campaign,] he went from this liberal, modern, compassionate Conservative to something quite different. | [During the campaign,] he went from this liberal, modern, compassionate Conservative to something quite different. |
| Asked about his reference to Gove and the prime minister, Boris Johnson, as “ambassadors for the post-truth age”, Cameron says: | Asked about his reference to Gove and the prime minister, Boris Johnson, as “ambassadors for the post-truth age”, Cameron says: |
| There was some things that happened in the campaign and things that Michael and Boris signed up to that I found deeply depressing because I didn’t think it was who they were. | There was some things that happened in the campaign and things that Michael and Boris signed up to that I found deeply depressing because I didn’t think it was who they were. |
| Cameron is discussing the use of chemical weapons in Syria. ITV’s Tom Bradby shows him a television news report of such an attack and asks him to discuss his reaction, as well as those of other world leaders. Cameron tells him: | Cameron is discussing the use of chemical weapons in Syria. ITV’s Tom Bradby shows him a television news report of such an attack and asks him to discuss his reaction, as well as those of other world leaders. Cameron tells him: |
| I watched it on the television and the sight of the children laid out in rows made me think of Ivan and everything that had happened to me and I thought it was just so appalling. I felt we’ve got to act. President Obama and I had discussed the red line, I think at the G8 in Northern Ireland of the use of chemical weapons and so I immediately thought; well we must, you know, get together and act. | I watched it on the television and the sight of the children laid out in rows made me think of Ivan and everything that had happened to me and I thought it was just so appalling. I felt we’ve got to act. President Obama and I had discussed the red line, I think at the G8 in Northern Ireland of the use of chemical weapons and so I immediately thought; well we must, you know, get together and act. |
| Bradby asks Cameron: “At this point, it takes [Obama] four days, you know — four whole days— to even return your telephone calls. Cameron responds: | Bradby asks Cameron: “At this point, it takes [Obama] four days, you know — four whole days— to even return your telephone calls. Cameron responds: |
| I think a more automatic response would have been better. As it was; it took four days to speak; we then agreed a plan. | I think a more automatic response would have been better. As it was; it took four days to speak; we then agreed a plan. |
| Referring to the vote on intervention against Assad in Syria, Cameron adds: | Referring to the vote on intervention against Assad in Syria, Cameron adds: |
| I lost that vote; the first time a prime minister had lost a vote in the House of Commons on a major issue of foreign policy. I blame the people who voted against me, obviously, but I also blame myself. | I lost that vote; the first time a prime minister had lost a vote in the House of Commons on a major issue of foreign policy. I blame the people who voted against me, obviously, but I also blame myself. |
| I misread the situation but I think we should have acted. I’m not sure — I’m not saying it would have solved the Syrian crisis but it was a red line crossed, it was an appalling thing to happen. I made a passionate argument in parliament, but I lost that. I lost that vote. | I misread the situation but I think we should have acted. I’m not sure — I’m not saying it would have solved the Syrian crisis but it was a red line crossed, it was an appalling thing to happen. I made a passionate argument in parliament, but I lost that. I lost that vote. |
| ITV are broadcasting their interview with David Cameron now. It was heavily trailed and we published a fairly comprehensive summary here but we’ll bring you any other new lines as they emerge. | ITV are broadcasting their interview with David Cameron now. It was heavily trailed and we published a fairly comprehensive summary here but we’ll bring you any other new lines as they emerge. |
| Labour have called on Liz Truss to resign as international trade secretary after she admitted her department allowed the sale of arms and military equipment that could be used by the Saudi regime in the conflict in Yemen. | Labour have called on Liz Truss to resign as international trade secretary after she admitted her department allowed the sale of arms and military equipment that could be used by the Saudi regime in the conflict in Yemen. |
| In June, the court of appeal ruled that British arms sales to the kingdom were unlawful and the government undertook not to grant any new licences for equipment that “might be used in the conflict in Yemen”. | In June, the court of appeal ruled that British arms sales to the kingdom were unlawful and the government undertook not to grant any new licences for equipment that “might be used in the conflict in Yemen”. |
| In a letter to the chair of the Commons committees on arms export controls, Liz Truss has admitted to a series of breaches. | In a letter to the chair of the Commons committees on arms export controls, Liz Truss has admitted to a series of breaches. |
| In response, the shadow trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, has said: | In response, the shadow trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, has said: |
| Yet again, it appears there is one law for Conservative ministers and another for everyone else. The Tories have repeatedly claimed that we have the most robust licensing regime in the world. Now, it is clear that they cannot even abide by the rulings of the court of appeal. The department has failed to conduct proper assessments and essential information is not being relayed between government departments. | Yet again, it appears there is one law for Conservative ministers and another for everyone else. The Tories have repeatedly claimed that we have the most robust licensing regime in the world. Now, it is clear that they cannot even abide by the rulings of the court of appeal. The department has failed to conduct proper assessments and essential information is not being relayed between government departments. |
| The people of the United Kingdom do not want to be complicit in fuelling the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the secretary of state must immediately suspend all arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people have been killed in this war and it is staggering that the trade secretary thinks an apology will get her off the hook. | The people of the United Kingdom do not want to be complicit in fuelling the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the secretary of state must immediately suspend all arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Thousands of people have been killed in this war and it is staggering that the trade secretary thinks an apology will get her off the hook. |
| Liz Truss must provide a full account of why her department failed so miserably. If she cannot control her department, obey the law and do what is morally right, she should resign. | Liz Truss must provide a full account of why her department failed so miserably. If she cannot control her department, obey the law and do what is morally right, she should resign. |
| The SNP are not the only ones accusing Boris Johnson of seeking to avoid scrutiny this afternoon. Guy Verhofstadt is the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator. | The SNP are not the only ones accusing Boris Johnson of seeking to avoid scrutiny this afternoon. Guy Verhofstadt is the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator. |
| From Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk pic.twitter.com/15x1Kd9FX7 | From Incredible Hulk to Incredible Sulk pic.twitter.com/15x1Kd9FX7 |
| Sir Nicholas Soames, who had the Tory whip withdrawn after voting against the government earlier this month, has criticised Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, for going ahead with the empty lectern press conference in the first place: | Sir Nicholas Soames, who had the Tory whip withdrawn after voting against the government earlier this month, has criticised Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, for going ahead with the empty lectern press conference in the first place: |
| Very poor behaviour by Luxembourg #showoff @BorisJohnson quite right not to be made a fool of #franklyunhelpfulgrandstanding | Very poor behaviour by Luxembourg #showoff @BorisJohnson quite right not to be made a fool of #franklyunhelpfulgrandstanding |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has spoken to his Saudi Arabian and German counterparts about the attack on the Aramco oil facility in Saudi Arabia. | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has spoken to his Saudi Arabian and German counterparts about the attack on the Aramco oil facility in Saudi Arabia. |
| Everything you need to know about the Saudi Arabia oil attacks | Everything you need to know about the Saudi Arabia oil attacks |
| He is scheduled to speak to the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, later today, as well as the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Foreign and Commonwealth office said the UK “condemns the attack and is working closely with our international partners on the most effective response”. | He is scheduled to speak to the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, later today, as well as the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Foreign and Commonwealth office said the UK “condemns the attack and is working closely with our international partners on the most effective response”. |
| Boris Johnson is guilty of “dealing in fiction”, not in facts, the SNP’s Westminster leader claims. Ian Blackford challenged the prime minister to publish any serious proposals he had put forward in the attempt to secure a new Brexit deal. | Boris Johnson is guilty of “dealing in fiction”, not in facts, the SNP’s Westminster leader claims. Ian Blackford challenged the prime minister to publish any serious proposals he had put forward in the attempt to secure a new Brexit deal. |
| In barely 24 hours, Boris Johnson has gone from being the Incredible Hulk to the Incredible Sulk. It is a humiliating indictment of Boris Johnson’s leadership that he turned on his heel and scurried away rather than face questions today. | In barely 24 hours, Boris Johnson has gone from being the Incredible Hulk to the Incredible Sulk. It is a humiliating indictment of Boris Johnson’s leadership that he turned on his heel and scurried away rather than face questions today. |
| The empty podium beside Luxembourg’s PM was a damning symbol of this Tory government’s incompetence and lack of vision when it comes to Brexit, which is their only policy. This is a government in headlong retreat and on its last legs. | The empty podium beside Luxembourg’s PM was a damning symbol of this Tory government’s incompetence and lack of vision when it comes to Brexit, which is their only policy. This is a government in headlong retreat and on its last legs. |
| The meeting between Boris Johnson and EU President Juncker has confirmed that the UK government has failed to bring forward a single proposal to end the Brexit mess. Boris Johnson must stop dealing in fiction and start addressing the facts. | The meeting between Boris Johnson and EU President Juncker has confirmed that the UK government has failed to bring forward a single proposal to end the Brexit mess. Boris Johnson must stop dealing in fiction and start addressing the facts. |
| Last month, Angela Merkel gave Boris Johnson 30 days to bring forward meaningful and workable plans. We are 25 days in and, instead, not a single proposal has come forward and, instead, we have witnessed an unelected Tory leader shutting down parliament, purging his party and losing every single parliamentary vote. | Last month, Angela Merkel gave Boris Johnson 30 days to bring forward meaningful and workable plans. We are 25 days in and, instead, not a single proposal has come forward and, instead, we have witnessed an unelected Tory leader shutting down parliament, purging his party and losing every single parliamentary vote. |
| The prime minister cannot continue to bluff his way around Europe. If he has proposals he should publish them now. | The prime minister cannot continue to bluff his way around Europe. If he has proposals he should publish them now. |
| With a general election looming, the SNP will be putting Scotland’s opposition to Brexit and our right to choose our own future as an independent country at the heart of that contest. | With a general election looming, the SNP will be putting Scotland’s opposition to Brexit and our right to choose our own future as an independent country at the heart of that contest. |
| Scotland’s voice has been completely ignored throughout this Brexit process and it’s clear that the people of Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than the Brexit chaos being imposed on us by a broken and bleak Westminster system. | Scotland’s voice has been completely ignored throughout this Brexit process and it’s clear that the people of Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than the Brexit chaos being imposed on us by a broken and bleak Westminster system. |
| Johnson also insisted he wouldn’t delay the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October, should no deal be struck by then, while also promising to abide by the law requiring him to request a delay in those same circumstances. | Johnson also insisted he wouldn’t delay the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October, should no deal be struck by then, while also promising to abide by the law requiring him to request a delay in those same circumstances. |
| He failed to explain how he intended to align these apparently contradictory positions. Here’s a portion of that exchange: | He failed to explain how he intended to align these apparently contradictory positions. Here’s a portion of that exchange: |
| Kuenssberg asked Johnson how he intended to “get round” that law, noting that he has said he will not delay Brexit. He replied: | Kuenssberg asked Johnson how he intended to “get round” that law, noting that he has said he will not delay Brexit. He replied: |
| I won’t. Here’s, here’s what I want. I will uphold the constitution I will obey the law but we will come out on October 31st. | I won’t. Here’s, here’s what I want. I will uphold the constitution I will obey the law but we will come out on October 31st. |
| Kuenssberg again asked the prime minister: “But how, if MPs have changed the law to stop you doing that?” He responded: | Kuenssberg again asked the prime minister: “But how, if MPs have changed the law to stop you doing that?” He responded: |
| We’re going to come out on October 31st and it’s vital that people understand that the UK will not extend. We won’t go on remaining in the EU beyond October. What on earth is the point? Do you know how much it costs? | We’re going to come out on October 31st and it’s vital that people understand that the UK will not extend. We won’t go on remaining in the EU beyond October. What on earth is the point? Do you know how much it costs? |
| Once again, Kuenssberg asked Johnson: “But how will you do that if MPs have changed the law to stop you? Are you looking for a way round the law. Because that’s what it sounds like?” The prime minister again replied: | Once again, Kuenssberg asked Johnson: “But how will you do that if MPs have changed the law to stop you? Are you looking for a way round the law. Because that’s what it sounds like?” The prime minister again replied: |
| We will obey the law but we will come out and we will come out, I should say, on October 31st. | We will obey the law but we will come out and we will come out, I should say, on October 31st. |
| Kuenssberg tried yet again, asking: “But that means you are looking for a way round the law. I mean to be really clear about this, Parliament has changed the law to make it almost impossible to take us out of the EU without a deal at the end of October. But you say that you will not do it. That means that you must be looking for a way around the law?” Johnson replied: | Kuenssberg tried yet again, asking: “But that means you are looking for a way round the law. I mean to be really clear about this, Parliament has changed the law to make it almost impossible to take us out of the EU without a deal at the end of October. But you say that you will not do it. That means that you must be looking for a way around the law?” Johnson replied: |
| Well you know those are your words. What we’re going to do is come out on October 31st deal or no deal. | Well you know those are your words. What we’re going to do is come out on October 31st deal or no deal. |
| Kuenssberg pointed out to Johnson that the European commission has said it is “yet to see proposals that they think are viable and workable”. Johnson responded: | Kuenssberg pointed out to Johnson that the European commission has said it is “yet to see proposals that they think are viable and workable”. Johnson responded: |
| Well, it’s certainly the case that the commission is still officially sticking on their position that the backstop has got to be there. But, clearly, if they think that we can come up with alternatives, then I think they’re in the mark. I think the big picture is that the commission would like to do a deal. | Well, it’s certainly the case that the commission is still officially sticking on their position that the backstop has got to be there. But, clearly, if they think that we can come up with alternatives, then I think they’re in the mark. I think the big picture is that the commission would like to do a deal. |
| The prime minister has again failed to provide a clear picture of how he intends to strike a deal with the EU, despite again claiming to be optimistic he can do so. Boris Johnson was asked repeatedly by the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, to outline the details of the proposals he has made to the European Union. Johnson said: | The prime minister has again failed to provide a clear picture of how he intends to strike a deal with the EU, despite again claiming to be optimistic he can do so. Boris Johnson was asked repeatedly by the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, to outline the details of the proposals he has made to the European Union. Johnson said: |
| I mean, there is a negotiation going on, has been for a long time now, about how to do this. So there’s a limit to how much the details benefit from publicity before we’ve actually done the deal. | I mean, there is a negotiation going on, has been for a long time now, about how to do this. So there’s a limit to how much the details benefit from publicity before we’ve actually done the deal. |
| Kuenssberg asked him if he intended to “slice and dice the backstop”. Johnson replied: | Kuenssberg asked him if he intended to “slice and dice the backstop”. Johnson replied: |
| The shape of it is all about who decides. Fundamentally, the problem with the backstop ... is that it’s a device by which the EU can continue after we’ve left to control our trade laws, control our tariffs, control huge chunks of our regulation and we have to keep accepting laws from Brussels long after we’ve left with no say on those laws. Now that just doesn’t work. It doesn’t work for the whole of the UK and it doesn’t work for Northern Ireland. So we have to find a way to avoid that situation. | The shape of it is all about who decides. Fundamentally, the problem with the backstop ... is that it’s a device by which the EU can continue after we’ve left to control our trade laws, control our tariffs, control huge chunks of our regulation and we have to keep accepting laws from Brussels long after we’ve left with no say on those laws. Now that just doesn’t work. It doesn’t work for the whole of the UK and it doesn’t work for Northern Ireland. So we have to find a way to avoid that situation. |
| Kuenssberg tried again, suggesting that Johnson was “just articulating the problem that’s been articulated for ever about the backstop”. She asked him: “Can you foresee a solution, for example, where – in some areas – Northern Ireland would follow EU rules and the rest of the UK would not?” Johnson replied: | Kuenssberg tried again, suggesting that Johnson was “just articulating the problem that’s been articulated for ever about the backstop”. She asked him: “Can you foresee a solution, for example, where – in some areas – Northern Ireland would follow EU rules and the rest of the UK would not?” Johnson replied: |
| What we want to see is a solution where the decision is taken by the UK and clearly that’s the problem with the backstop; it basically leaves the decision-making up to Brussels and that’s no good. | What we want to see is a solution where the decision is taken by the UK and clearly that’s the problem with the backstop; it basically leaves the decision-making up to Brussels and that’s no good. |
| Kuenssberg tried yet again, asking the prime minister: “What’s the actual solution that you’re proposing? Is it giving more power to Stormont, for example, that’s being talked about a lot; that the Northern Irish assembly might be given a lock on opting out or opting in on EU regulation?” Johnson replied: | Kuenssberg tried yet again, asking the prime minister: “What’s the actual solution that you’re proposing? Is it giving more power to Stormont, for example, that’s being talked about a lot; that the Northern Irish assembly might be given a lock on opting out or opting in on EU regulation?” Johnson replied: |
| These are certainly some of the ideas that are being talked about and as are the ideas that you’re familiar with to do with maximum facilitations, to do with checks away from the border all sorts of ways in which you can avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland. This is all doable. It’s all doable with energy and goodwill. | These are certainly some of the ideas that are being talked about and as are the ideas that you’re familiar with to do with maximum facilitations, to do with checks away from the border all sorts of ways in which you can avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland. This is all doable. It’s all doable with energy and goodwill. |