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Brexit: Boris Johnson ridiculed by Luxembourg PM after skipping press conference – live news Brexit: Boris Johnson accused of creating 'nightmare' of uncertainty for Europeans by EU PM – live news
(about 1 hour later)
Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee, has said that Boris Johnson has just four days to publish plans for an alternative to the backstop if he is to honour a promise he made to MPs. Benn has written to Johnson asking when the plans will appear. Here is letter.
The contest to replace Ruth Davidson as Scottish Conservative leader has become another casualty of the chaos surrounding Brexit and the uncertainty around the timing of a general election.
Party sources have admitted the Scottish leadership election has been postponed almost certainly until next year, as they won’t have the capacity and time to stage one until both Brexit and the election are resolved.
“It’s genuinely a question of logistics; it’s impossible to run a leadership campaign in the middle of an election campaign,” said one, adding that the uncertainty at Westminster is expected within the Scottish party to drag on into 2020.
That leaves Davidson’s deputy, the former car dealer Jackson Carlaw in charge. He deputised while she was on maternity leave and apparently relishes the task. “He’s a happy warrior; he’s one of those people who does actually enjoy it,” said one party figure, who points at Carlaw’s pedigree as a serial election candidate (he first stood for the party in 1982) and former Scottish party deputy chairman.
Some Scottish Tories moot postponing the leadership contest until after the next Holyrood election in 2021, citing the additional challenge of opposing Nicola Sturgeon’s push for an early Scottish independence vote – a push expected to intensify over coming months.
A delay of that length is highly unlikely. Carlaw offers continuity, is seasoned enough to enjoy the jousts with Sturgeon at first minister’s questions, and is imbued with self-confidence, but unlike Davidson has limited appeal amongst voters and little name recognition.
In 2005 he apologised for making racist jokes at the party’s general election manifesto launch, and has ruled himself out as a future leadership contender. In one recent interview, he described himself as being “at the beginning of the dinosaur end of political life.”
Here are the main points from Xavier Bettel’s extraordinary press conference. (See 3.31pm.) The prime minister of Luxembourg was speaking in English, but it is not his first language, and so occasionally I have tidied up his syntax just so that it reads more clearly.
Bettel accused Boris Johnson of creating a “nightmare” of uncertainty for EU citizens by failing to clarify what he wanted from Brexit. In his opening statement Bettel said:
Our people need to know what is going to happen to them in six weeks’ time. They need clarity, they need certainty and they need stability. You can’t hold their future hostage for party political gains.
At this point, gesturing to the point where Boris Johnson would have been standing if he had joined the press conference, Bettel went on:
Now it’s on Mr Johnson – he holds the future of all UK citizens and every EU citizen living in the UK in his hands. It’s his responsibility. Your people, our people, count on you – but the clock is ticking, use your time wisely.
In this there was an echo of what Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said when the EU granted a Brexit extension in April. “Please do not waste this time,” Tusk said. Many EU leaders think the UK has wasted this time.
At another point, in response to a question about a possible extension to the transition period, Bettel again said EU citizens needed certainty. He said:
The fact is our citizens want to have certainty. As long as they don’t know what is going to happen they don’t know what will be their own future ... This is a nightmare.
People would love to have clarity, they would love to know what is going to happen.
He complained that Johnson had not tabled firm proposals for an alternative to the backstop. “We need more than just words,” he said in his opening statement, referring to the need for a proposal in writing. And then, in the Q&A, he said:
The meeting was longer than planned. We [talked] about the different positions of the UK government. But I repeat – I told him, I hear a lot, but I don’t read a lot. If they want us to be able to discuss anything, we need it on the written side.
He said the only written text on the moment was the existing withdrawal agreement.
He dismissed Johnson’s claim that significant progress has been made in the talks. When asked about this, Bettel replied:
For me, I just have one withdrawal agreement on the table. And it’s the one from last year. There are no changes. There are no concrete proposals for the moment on the table. And I won’t give an agreement to ideas. We need written proposals and the time is ticking. So stop speaking, but act if you want to discuss different proposals, but we won’t accept any agreement [which] goes against the single market [or] the Good Friday agreement.
He mocked what was said in London about Johnson’s Brexit strategy, saying that he had “read in the papers a few days ago that it goes from big progress to [Incredible] Hulk to David Cameron proposing a second Brexit”.
Bettel suggested that, if there were a no-deal Brexit, it would take years for the two sides to reach a subsequent agreement on trade.
He said he was not confident that Johnson would be able to get any deal through the House of Commons.
Bettel said any Brexit deal had to protect the EU single market and the Good Friday agreement.
He said the UK alone was to blame for the Brexit crisis. He and other EU leaders would not take responsibility, he said:
Some people would love to give the blame to another. Not being responsible for the situation.
One party, the Conservative party, decided to organise that referendum ...
Now people try to blame the others because we cannot find an agreement.
We did not decide to organise Brexit. It was a unilateral decision of the UK government. We have to accept the result.
But it is not now in a unilateral way that the UK government will decide its next relations with the EU.
We sit around the table. We have a withdrawal agreement. And this withdrawal agreement has been accepted by the UK government. I just want to repeat and remind [you] that Theresa May accepted the withdrawal agreement. So don’t make it that the European Union will be the bad guy, not accepting decisions that the UK proposes ...
These are homemade problems.
He also said that neither he, as a European leader, nor the commission, nor the EU27 as a whole were responsible “for the mess we’re in”.
He said he would only back an extension of article 50 if it were to serve a purpose. He said further delay was not in the interests of EU citizens. He said:
Imagine you are a European citizen in London and you don’t know how your future looks like. Imagine you are a UK citizen living in Europe. You don’t know if tomorrow you will need a special agreement to be able to stay in the country, to be able to send your children to school. People want clarification, and as soon as possible.
So to speak about new delays, just to postpone things, is not in the interests of our citizens.
He said the leave campaign lied during the referendum.
I just remember that, before Brexit, people said to some voters that they will get money back from social insurance, that Brexit will be done in 24 hours and everything will be good. And there were a lot of things where before the referendum no one was able to say: ‘Sorry, this is a lie.’
Bettel did not point out that Johnson led the leave campaign. But he did say there should have been a proper information campaign in the UK at the time of the referendum, so people had the facts.
Bettel expressed disapproval at the hints from Number 10 that Johnson could if necessary break the law to ensure Brexit happens. When asked about that, Bettel just said:
This would not happen in Luxembourg.
Number 10 says the government will obey the law. But Johnson also says he would refuse to request an article 50 extension in any circumstances, even though the Benn act would make that a legal obligation, and Downing Street has not explained how these two apparently contradictory positions might be reconciled.
These are from the New York Times’ Matina Stevis-Gridneff.These are from the New York Times’ Matina Stevis-Gridneff.
A Luxembourg govt official tells me there was no room big enough to transfer the presser indoors. When UK team was told, they suggested selecting a few journos & moving indoors. Lux team said that would be unfair to the rest. Lectern wasn’t removed bc it was wired up. https://t.co/6f37Eoyb8YA Luxembourg govt official tells me there was no room big enough to transfer the presser indoors. When UK team was told, they suggested selecting a few journos & moving indoors. Lux team said that would be unfair to the rest. Lectern wasn’t removed bc it was wired up. https://t.co/6f37Eoyb8Y
Lux govt official rejects idea that this was a deliberate attempt to embarrass Mr Johnson. Says this was not their intention but what’s fair is fair & they didn’t want to choose journos and leave others out. Says concern was raised this afternoon after loud protests began.Lux govt official rejects idea that this was a deliberate attempt to embarrass Mr Johnson. Says this was not their intention but what’s fair is fair & they didn’t want to choose journos and leave others out. Says concern was raised this afternoon after loud protests began.
The Press Association has filed some quotes from what Boris Johnson said when he spoke to journalists in private, after the Xavier Bettel press conference. Here are the key points.The Press Association has filed some quotes from what Boris Johnson said when he spoke to journalists in private, after the Xavier Bettel press conference. Here are the key points.
Johnson claimed that “a lot of work” had been done on possible alternatives to the backstop. That work would now accelerate, he said:Johnson claimed that “a lot of work” had been done on possible alternatives to the backstop. That work would now accelerate, he said:
Over the last couple of weeks there’s been a lot of work, papers have been shared but we are now in the stage where we have to start really accelerating the work. That was the agreement today.Over the last couple of weeks there’s been a lot of work, papers have been shared but we are now in the stage where we have to start really accelerating the work. That was the agreement today.
He said he still thought there was “a good chance” of the UK and the EU agreeing a Brexit deal. He said:He said he still thought there was “a good chance” of the UK and the EU agreeing a Brexit deal. He said:
Yes, we’ve got a good chance of a deal. Yes, I can see the shape of it. Everybody could see roughly what could be done.Yes, we’ve got a good chance of a deal. Yes, I can see the shape of it. Everybody could see roughly what could be done.
But it will require movement. And it will require the system in which the EU can control the UK after we leave - the so-called backstop - to go from that treaty. And that needs to happen. That’s a big change that we need to get done. But if we can get that done, as I’ve said before, then we’re at the races.But it will require movement. And it will require the system in which the EU can control the UK after we leave - the so-called backstop - to go from that treaty. And that needs to happen. That’s a big change that we need to get done. But if we can get that done, as I’ve said before, then we’re at the races.
He said there was “just the right amount of time” available to do a deal.He said there was “just the right amount of time” available to do a deal.
I think we’ve got actually just the right amount of time to do a deal between now and October 17-18. But if we can’t do it by then we will make sure we can come out on October 31 - deal or no deal.I think we’ve got actually just the right amount of time to do a deal between now and October 17-18. But if we can’t do it by then we will make sure we can come out on October 31 - deal or no deal.
He implied that a no-deal Brexit could go ahead on 31 October - even though parliament has passed a law intended to stop that happening. (See above.)He implied that a no-deal Brexit could go ahead on 31 October - even though parliament has passed a law intended to stop that happening. (See above.)
He rejected claims that the UK attempt to renegotiate Brexit was a shame. When this was put to him some EU leaders thought he wanted a no-deal Brexit, he replied:He rejected claims that the UK attempt to renegotiate Brexit was a shame. When this was put to him some EU leaders thought he wanted a no-deal Brexit, he replied:
I don’t know who you’ve been talking to but that’s not what our interlocutors at EU heads of government level think at all. They know that we’re all working very hard to get a deal.I don’t know who you’ve been talking to but that’s not what our interlocutors at EU heads of government level think at all. They know that we’re all working very hard to get a deal.
This is a difficult moment because clearly we’re very, very keen to do it but I don’t want people to think it’s necessarily in the bag.This is a difficult moment because clearly we’re very, very keen to do it but I don’t want people to think it’s necessarily in the bag.
It isn’t necessarily in the bag, there will be hard work to be done.It isn’t necessarily in the bag, there will be hard work to be done.
He said that he had pulled out of the joint press conference with Bettel because of the noise. Asked what happened, he said:He said that he had pulled out of the joint press conference with Bettel because of the noise. Asked what happened, he said:
I don’t think it would’ve been fair to the prime minister of Luxembourg.I don’t think it would’ve been fair to the prime minister of Luxembourg.
I think there was clearly going to be a lot of noise.I think there was clearly going to be a lot of noise.
And I think our points might’ve been drowned out.And I think our points might’ve been drowned out.
From the BBC’s Laura KuenssbergFrom the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
Source says No 10 asked for press conference inside so that the two leaders could be heard over the small but very noisy protest, but request was rejected and insisted on having it outside with the 2 podiumsSource says No 10 asked for press conference inside so that the two leaders could be heard over the small but very noisy protest, but request was rejected and insisted on having it outside with the 2 podiums
I’ve added a correction to an earlier post because it wrongly said Luxembourg was the smallest country in the EU. In fact Malta is smaller, both geographically and in terms of population. (See 3.31pm.)I’ve added a correction to an earlier post because it wrongly said Luxembourg was the smallest country in the EU. In fact Malta is smaller, both geographically and in terms of population. (See 3.31pm.)
Boris Johnson has recorded a clip for broadcasters. Sky News is playing it now.Boris Johnson has recorded a clip for broadcasters. Sky News is playing it now.
He says he thinks there is still time for a deal to be done.He says he thinks there is still time for a deal to be done.
He says he thinks the UK and the EU have got “just the right amount of time” to get a deal done by the end of October.He says he thinks the UK and the EU have got “just the right amount of time” to get a deal done by the end of October.
If that is not possible, the UK will leave by 31 October.If that is not possible, the UK will leave by 31 October.
Johnson says UK and EU have “just the right amount of time” to get a deal done by the end of October.Johnson says UK and EU have “just the right amount of time” to get a deal done by the end of October.
That was extraordinary. Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, has just been humiliated by the leader of almost the smallest country in the European Union.That was extraordinary. Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, has just been humiliated by the leader of almost the smallest country in the European Union.
We were expecting a joint, open-air press conference but, with a large crowd of anti-Brexit campaigners threatening to drown out Johnson, it was announced that the British PM was not going to take part (presumably because of the demonstration, although that has not officially been confirmed yet). Normally in these circumstances the polite thing to do is to rearrange. But instead Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, went ahead anyway, effectively “empty chairing” his guest. At one point he even gestured at the space where Johnson was supposed to be.We were expecting a joint, open-air press conference but, with a large crowd of anti-Brexit campaigners threatening to drown out Johnson, it was announced that the British PM was not going to take part (presumably because of the demonstration, although that has not officially been confirmed yet). Normally in these circumstances the polite thing to do is to rearrange. But instead Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, went ahead anyway, effectively “empty chairing” his guest. At one point he even gestured at the space where Johnson was supposed to be.
Then Bettel just let rip. People often wonder what EU leaders say or think about Johnson in private. Well, now we know. The leave campaign was a pack of lies, Johnson’s talk of progress in the Brexit negotiations is unfounded, the UK still has not come up with any ideas about an alternative to the backstop. On and on he went, with particular emphasis on the point that the UK, not the EU, was to blame for the crisis. It was a “nightmare” for EU citizens, said Bettel. At several points he was loudly applauded by the protesters, because they felt he was articulating their anger.Then Bettel just let rip. People often wonder what EU leaders say or think about Johnson in private. Well, now we know. The leave campaign was a pack of lies, Johnson’s talk of progress in the Brexit negotiations is unfounded, the UK still has not come up with any ideas about an alternative to the backstop. On and on he went, with particular emphasis on the point that the UK, not the EU, was to blame for the crisis. It was a “nightmare” for EU citizens, said Bettel. At several points he was loudly applauded by the protesters, because they felt he was articulating their anger.
Yesterday, Johnson depicted himself as the Incredible Hulk. As the Telegraph’s Michael Deacon suggests, the reality could not be more different.Yesterday, Johnson depicted himself as the Incredible Hulk. As the Telegraph’s Michael Deacon suggests, the reality could not be more different.
My favourite episode of The Incredible Hulk is the one where a small group of people shouted too loudly so he ran awayMy favourite episode of The Incredible Hulk is the one where a small group of people shouted too loudly so he ran away
UPDATE: I’ve corrected the post above because originally it said Luxembourg was the smallest country in the EU. In fact Malta is smaller, both geographically and in terms of population.UPDATE: I’ve corrected the post above because originally it said Luxembourg was the smallest country in the EU. In fact Malta is smaller, both geographically and in terms of population.
Bettel says one party decided to organise the referendum.Bettel says one party decided to organise the referendum.
He says there was no clear information campaign in the UK explaining what Brexit would mean.He says there was no clear information campaign in the UK explaining what Brexit would mean.
He says Brexit was not the EU’s decision.He says Brexit was not the EU’s decision.
And he says Theresa May accepted the withdrawal agreement.And he says Theresa May accepted the withdrawal agreement.
These are “homemade problems”, he says.These are “homemade problems”, he says.
He says he will not accept that EU leaders, or the European commission, are to blame for what happened.He says he will not accept that EU leaders, or the European commission, are to blame for what happened.
And that’s it. The protesters cheer as Bettel leaves.And that’s it. The protesters cheer as Bettel leaves.
I will post a summary and a verdict soon.I will post a summary and a verdict soon.
Q: Did Johnson say he would obey the law? He has implied he would not.Q: Did Johnson say he would obey the law? He has implied he would not.
Bettel replies:Bettel replies:
This would not happen in Luxembourg.This would not happen in Luxembourg.
Bettel says before Brexit people said to voters in the UK that they would get money back, that Brexit would happen in 24 hours, and that it would all be fine.Bettel says before Brexit people said to voters in the UK that they would get money back, that Brexit would happen in 24 hours, and that it would all be fine.
No one called out the lies, he says.No one called out the lies, he says.
That is because people in the EU were not strong enough to say that lies were being told.That is because people in the EU were not strong enough to say that lies were being told.
Bettel accuses leave campaigners of lying during the referendum.Bettel accuses leave campaigners of lying during the referendum.
Q: What do you think of the proposal from Stephen Barclay for the transition period to be extended?Q: What do you think of the proposal from Stephen Barclay for the transition period to be extended?
Bettel says his citizens want certainty.Bettel says his citizens want certainty.
This is a nightmare ...This is a nightmare ...
Imagine you are a European citizen in London, and you don’t know what the future will look like.Imagine you are a European citizen in London, and you don’t know what the future will look like.
He says speaking about new delays is not in the interests of EU citizens.He says speaking about new delays is not in the interests of EU citizens.
Q: Do you think Brexit will actually happen?Q: Do you think Brexit will actually happen?
Bettel says Johnson told him there would not be a second referendum.Bettel says Johnson told him there would not be a second referendum.
He says his own preference is for a deal.He says his own preference is for a deal.
He says he cannot guarantee whether or not Johnson can get a deal through parliament.He says he cannot guarantee whether or not Johnson can get a deal through parliament.
Bettel says his meeting with Johnson took longer than planned. He says he told Johnson: “I hear a lot, but I don’t read a lot.”Bettel says his meeting with Johnson took longer than planned. He says he told Johnson: “I hear a lot, but I don’t read a lot.”
He says he needs to see proposals in writing.He says he needs to see proposals in writing.
He says the UK cannot blame the EU because they do not know how to get out of a situation they created.He says the UK cannot blame the EU because they do not know how to get out of a situation they created.
Bettel says he was not here to negotiate. The negotiator is Michel Barnier.Bettel says he was not here to negotiate. The negotiator is Michel Barnier.
Q: Did you hear any new proposals from Johnson? Do you think you are making good progress?Q: Did you hear any new proposals from Johnson? Do you think you are making good progress?
Bettel says the only proposal on the table is the withdrawal agreement. He says the clock is ticking. The EU will not accept any proposal that undermines the Good Friday agreement. The Irish are part of the EU family, he says.Bettel says the only proposal on the table is the withdrawal agreement. He says the clock is ticking. The EU will not accept any proposal that undermines the Good Friday agreement. The Irish are part of the EU family, he says.
Bettel says Luxembourg’s priority is to protect the single market.Bettel says Luxembourg’s priority is to protect the single market.
He says the EU needs firm proposals.He says the EU needs firm proposals.
He says the EU will not grant another extension to the UK just for the sake of it.He says the EU will not grant another extension to the UK just for the sake of it.
The UK has always been a close friend of Luxembourg’s, he says. That will not change because of Brexit.The UK has always been a close friend of Luxembourg’s, he says. That will not change because of Brexit.
But people need clarity and certainty. You cannot hold a country hostage for party political reasons.But people need clarity and certainty. You cannot hold a country hostage for party political reasons.
Gesturing towards the empty podium, he says the clock is ticking. Johnson needs to use his time wisely.Gesturing towards the empty podium, he says the clock is ticking. Johnson needs to use his time wisely.
Boris Johnson and Xavier Bettel have just left the PM’s office.Boris Johnson and Xavier Bettel have just left the PM’s office.
Bettel is speaking to the press alone.Bettel is speaking to the press alone.
He says demonstrating is a right in a democracy.He says demonstrating is a right in a democracy.
He says he wants to thank Boris Johnson. It was important to listen to Johnson, and to hear concrete proposals from him.He says he wants to thank Boris Johnson. It was important to listen to Johnson, and to hear concrete proposals from him.