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Brexit: Boris Johnson dismisses leaked UK border plan rejected by Dublin as outdated - live news Brexit: Boris Johnson dismisses leaked UK border plan rejected by Dublin as outdated - live news
(32 minutes later)
Despite extensive preparations at Dover, the port’s chief executive said that it still expects to see a drop in trade worth £1bn a week should Britain leave the EU without a deal. Addressing a ConservativeHome/Port of Dover fringe event at the conference, transport minister George Freeman confirmed that the government was assuming that disruption would roughly halve - a range of 40-60% - the traffic on Britain’s main trading link for three months.
Doug Bannister, the chief executive of Port of Dover, said that the assumed drop in traffic would cut £1bn a trade every week. He said:
That’s how critical it is. If there’s a no-deal Brexit, it’s not going to be OK. But people are doing all they can to ensure Britain keeps trading.
Freeman said he hoped that goodwill would prevail should a deal not be agreed by October 31. Asked what preparations the government was making for “malign interventions” such as a potential blockade by French fishermen, Freeman said he had seen cabinet papers showing that “the Ministry of Defence are actively looking at it”, raising the potential for alarming escalation.
The Freight Transport Association said that its preparations meant it did not expect “wholesale meltdown” but warned that people could expect to see less fresh produce. James Hookham, deputy chief executive of the FTA, said: “There will be changes to what people can expect to see in the shops undoubtedly.”
He said the FTA was holding 140 training sessions in the next few weeks to educate hauliers about all the potential paperwork needed. But he said questions still remained unanswered, even in an intricate flowchart issued by the Department for Transport to explain customs and border processes. He said
The biggest unknown in our book is what the French and EU will demand in terms of British goods imported into the EU.
With delays of up to five days forecast for hauliers doing return border crossings, Hookham said he had advised additional insurance for cargo, especially perishable goods.
He also said that the full impact of a no-deal Brexit on Dover, Calais and Kent would probably not be seen until at least Monday November 4, due to a long weekend in much of Europe, starting with a public holiday on November 1 (a celebration unrelated to Britain’s departure from the EU).
James Duddridge, the Brexit minister, has just told MPs in the Commons that the EU will get formal proposals from the UK for an alternative to the backstop before the end of the week.
At the Tory conference there is an expectation that the plans will be submitted to the EU tomorrow.
From Channel 4 News’ Jon Snow
Channel 4 News cameraman Neil Corbett grabs a telling moment https://t.co/k26ZiM3LfT
In the Commons James Duddridge, a Brexit minister, is responding to an urgent question about the Irish border and the RTÉ leak about the government’s plans.
He said the RTÉ story was not true. Responding to the UQ, which was tabled by Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee, Duddridge said:
There is no intention to have physical checks at the border. I’m not choosing my words carefully there – there are no plans to do that, I can reassure him.
I do know he was perhaps thinking about the reports in the Northern Ireland press that were suggesting there might be checks near the border? That is not the intention, those reports simply are incorrect.
As my colleague Jennifer Rankin reports, EU sources have confirmed that the RTÉ report did reflect a plan set out in a “non-paper” submitted to the EU by the British.
Boris Johnson has denied that UK proposed checks 5-10 miles away from border.But EU sources say that was gist of customs non paper.EU hopes it will be superseded by "serious proposals", though not banking on them.https://t.co/efVcM3Lcho
The whole point about a “non-paper” is that it allows a government to float an idea in negotiations without that proposal being treated as an official proposal from the body submitting it.
That means it would be accurate for a journalist to describe one of these as a proposition put forward by the government - but also accurate for the government to say this was not an official proposal.
This might help to explain why the government’s attempts to rebut the RTÉ story this morning have been inconsistent. At one point Boris Johnson suggested the report applied to a proposal that was out-of-date. (See 8.09am.) At another point he said the report, or at least its reference to a string of border posts away from the actual border, was just wrong. (See 11.13am.)
Boris Johnson’s hopes of entering into intensive Brexit negotiations next week are likely to be dashed after his backing for a customs border on the island of Ireland was criticised in Berlin as being a green light for the return of a hard border, my colleagues Daniel Boffery and Jennifer Rankin report.Boris Johnson’s hopes of entering into intensive Brexit negotiations next week are likely to be dashed after his backing for a customs border on the island of Ireland was criticised in Berlin as being a green light for the return of a hard border, my colleagues Daniel Boffery and Jennifer Rankin report.
Boris Johnson's plans for Irish border checks threaten Brexit talksBoris Johnson's plans for Irish border checks threaten Brexit talks
This morning Boris Johnson criticised his Labour successor as London mayor, Sadiq Khan, for spending too much money on press officers. But, according to the Mirror, Johnson’s own spending on PR was higher.This morning Boris Johnson criticised his Labour successor as London mayor, Sadiq Khan, for spending too much money on press officers. But, according to the Mirror, Johnson’s own spending on PR was higher.
Turns out Boris Johnson's PR spending at City Hall was actually *higher* than Sadiq Khan's. Awkward. https://t.co/Se9DT4N4biTurns out Boris Johnson's PR spending at City Hall was actually *higher* than Sadiq Khan's. Awkward. https://t.co/Se9DT4N4bi
Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt has written a good blogpost about Boris Johnson’s plans for an alternative to the backstop. He is not optimistic about a deal. Here’s an extract.Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt has written a good blogpost about Boris Johnson’s plans for an alternative to the backstop. He is not optimistic about a deal. Here’s an extract.
EU sources are withering about the UK proposals. One told me: “Their [the UK] idea for customs land checks are no different from what would happen in no deal.”EU sources are withering about the UK proposals. One told me: “Their [the UK] idea for customs land checks are no different from what would happen in no deal.”
The source sees little chance of a deal on the basis of the proposals floated by Mr Johnson’s most senior EU adviser, David Frost.The source sees little chance of a deal on the basis of the proposals floated by Mr Johnson’s most senior EU adviser, David Frost.
“We have been told by people we take seriously that Boris Johnson wants a deal,” the source told me. “But we do not see how a deal can be done.”“We have been told by people we take seriously that Boris Johnson wants a deal,” the source told me. “But we do not see how a deal can be done.”
Sajid Javid, the chancellor, has been taking Treasury questions in parliament this morning. The Commons is sitting, of course, because the normal conference recess was cancelled after the government lost a vote last week.Sajid Javid, the chancellor, has been taking Treasury questions in parliament this morning. The Commons is sitting, of course, because the normal conference recess was cancelled after the government lost a vote last week.
In response to a question from the Tory MP Philip Hollobone, Javid said the UK would no longer owe the EU £39bn if it left without a deal. Hollobone asked for an assurance that the UK would be able to keep the money in a no-deal situation. And Javid replied:In response to a question from the Tory MP Philip Hollobone, Javid said the UK would no longer owe the EU £39bn if it left without a deal. Hollobone asked for an assurance that the UK would be able to keep the money in a no-deal situation. And Javid replied:
The £39bn is based on a deal. If there is no deal and we end up leaving with no deal that 39bn number is no longer relevant.The £39bn is based on a deal. If there is no deal and we end up leaving with no deal that 39bn number is no longer relevant.
Javid may be right to say the exact £39bn figure (a UK government assessment of how much it would pay under the complicated formula in the withdrawal agreement) would not be relevant under a no-deal Brexit. But government officials believe much or most of this money would still have to be paid, because the financial obligations would still be outstanding.Javid may be right to say the exact £39bn figure (a UK government assessment of how much it would pay under the complicated formula in the withdrawal agreement) would not be relevant under a no-deal Brexit. But government officials believe much or most of this money would still have to be paid, because the financial obligations would still be outstanding.
The Labour MP Helen Hayes asked Javid if he was confident that hedge funds shorting the pound, “some of which have donated to the prime minister’s leadership campaign and to the Conservative party, have no inside information about the planning or timing of a no-deal Brexit”.The Labour MP Helen Hayes asked Javid if he was confident that hedge funds shorting the pound, “some of which have donated to the prime minister’s leadership campaign and to the Conservative party, have no inside information about the planning or timing of a no-deal Brexit”.
Javid replied:Javid replied:
That really is such a ridiculous suggestion and it doesn’t deserve an answer.That really is such a ridiculous suggestion and it doesn’t deserve an answer.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has said that some of the 21 Tories who lost the whip after rebelling over Brexit last month could be readmitted to the parliamentary party. In an interview for Moggcast, his ConservativeHome podcast, he said:Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has said that some of the 21 Tories who lost the whip after rebelling over Brexit last month could be readmitted to the parliamentary party. In an interview for Moggcast, his ConservativeHome podcast, he said:
I always believe in politics in being as generous as you possibly can be. But you cannot have a situation where people are trying to put Jeremy Corbyn in charge of the order paper.I always believe in politics in being as generous as you possibly can be. But you cannot have a situation where people are trying to put Jeremy Corbyn in charge of the order paper.
So, look, if they are willing to show that they are willing to support a Conservative government deliver a Conservative programme, and pull back from what they did before, I think generosity is in the nature of conservatism, and the Conservative party is a broad church and needs to remain a broad church ...So, look, if they are willing to show that they are willing to support a Conservative government deliver a Conservative programme, and pull back from what they did before, I think generosity is in the nature of conservatism, and the Conservative party is a broad church and needs to remain a broad church ...
So how do we get on from here? Well, let’s see if there are any other votes which give them the chance to come back, but I think a number of them are retiring and have no interest in coming back, so it won’t be everybody.So how do we get on from here? Well, let’s see if there are any other votes which give them the chance to come back, but I think a number of them are retiring and have no interest in coming back, so it won’t be everybody.
He also said there was no obvious way in which the government would be able to get around the Benn Act, which is designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. Asked about potential flaws in the legislation, he replied:He also said there was no obvious way in which the government would be able to get around the Benn Act, which is designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. Asked about potential flaws in the legislation, he replied:
The law is the law as it is. There is the very important question of how it interacts with EU law, but there is no easy and obvious loophole that I can sit here and tell you we can use, because if there is I haven’t spotted it.The law is the law as it is. There is the very important question of how it interacts with EU law, but there is no easy and obvious loophole that I can sit here and tell you we can use, because if there is I haven’t spotted it.
This morning’s conference business - including a session on communities, with contributions from Tory metro mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen, and Iain Dale in conversation with Lord Dobbs - has not been much of a crowd puller.This morning’s conference business - including a session on communities, with contributions from Tory metro mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen, and Iain Dale in conversation with Lord Dobbs - has not been much of a crowd puller.
A man has been detained by police after pouring a flammable liquid over himself near the Houses of Parliament, the Press Association reports. The incident unfolded at around 10.45am and the Metropolitan police said the man was being assessed. The London Ambulance Service also attended.A man has been detained by police after pouring a flammable liquid over himself near the Houses of Parliament, the Press Association reports. The incident unfolded at around 10.45am and the Metropolitan police said the man was being assessed. The London Ambulance Service also attended.
The Tory MP Huw Merriman posted this on Twitter.The Tory MP Huw Merriman posted this on Twitter.
Man next to me at Parliament’s carriage gates appears to have poured (what smells like) petrol on himself. Incredibly brave response from police, who are now helping him.Man next to me at Parliament’s carriage gates appears to have poured (what smells like) petrol on himself. Incredibly brave response from police, who are now helping him.
Ian Blackford, the Scottish National party’s leader at Westminster, has said the leaked border plans show Boris Johnson is not serious about getting a Brexit deal. In a statement he said:Ian Blackford, the Scottish National party’s leader at Westminster, has said the leaked border plans show Boris Johnson is not serious about getting a Brexit deal. In a statement he said:
Boris Johnson’s leaked proposals show the Tory leader is not serious about getting a deal - and is aiming to take Scotland and the UK off a no-deal Brexit cliff.Boris Johnson’s leaked proposals show the Tory leader is not serious about getting a deal - and is aiming to take Scotland and the UK off a no-deal Brexit cliff.
For all the bluster, the proposals just aren’t credible. By fixating on its extreme Brexit obsession, the Tory government is recklessly putting the Good Friday agreement at risk - and would inflict lasting harm on jobs, living standards, public services and the economy across the UK.For all the bluster, the proposals just aren’t credible. By fixating on its extreme Brexit obsession, the Tory government is recklessly putting the Good Friday agreement at risk - and would inflict lasting harm on jobs, living standards, public services and the economy across the UK.
Here is more on exactly what Boris Johnson said this morning about potential customs arrangements in Northern Ireland. (See 9.52am.)Here is more on exactly what Boris Johnson said this morning about potential customs arrangements in Northern Ireland. (See 9.52am.)
On the Today programme Nick Robinson said the RTÉ leak suggested there would be a string of border posts, not on the Irish border, but not far away. Asked if that was untrue, Johnson replied:On the Today programme Nick Robinson said the RTÉ leak suggested there would be a string of border posts, not on the Irish border, but not far away. Asked if that was untrue, Johnson replied:
Yes. That’s not what we are proposing at all.Yes. That’s not what we are proposing at all.
Johnson said he did not want to discuss his proposals until they had been shared properly with the EU. But he said he was not talking about a “hard border” just a few miles away from the actual border. He said:Johnson said he did not want to discuss his proposals until they had been shared properly with the EU. But he said he was not talking about a “hard border” just a few miles away from the actual border. He said:
There are very good reasons why that would not be a good idea. I think everybody familiar with the situation in Ireland can understand why, both for practical reasons and for reasons of sentiment that we totally, totally understand.There are very good reasons why that would not be a good idea. I think everybody familiar with the situation in Ireland can understand why, both for practical reasons and for reasons of sentiment that we totally, totally understand.
Robinson said that some in Ireland, like Sinn Féin (see 10.29am), thought there should be no checks at all on the island of Ireland. But other people argued that there would have to be checks somewhere if the UK was going to be in a separate economic arrangement. What did Johnson think? He replied:Robinson said that some in Ireland, like Sinn Féin (see 10.29am), thought there should be no checks at all on the island of Ireland. But other people argued that there would have to be checks somewhere if the UK was going to be in a separate economic arrangement. What did Johnson think? He replied:
Well, I’m with the second group because that’s just the reality. And I think what we are coming up to now is, as it were, the critical moment of choice for us as friends and partners about how we proceed. Because in the end a sovereign, united country must have a single customs territory. And when the UK withdraws from the EU that must be the state of affairs that we have. But there are plenty of ways we can facilitate north/south trade, plenty of ways in which we can address the problem.Well, I’m with the second group because that’s just the reality. And I think what we are coming up to now is, as it were, the critical moment of choice for us as friends and partners about how we proceed. Because in the end a sovereign, united country must have a single customs territory. And when the UK withdraws from the EU that must be the state of affairs that we have. But there are plenty of ways we can facilitate north/south trade, plenty of ways in which we can address the problem.
Here are tweets from three Brussels experts on the leaked UK plan for customs sites away from the border in Northern Ireland revealed by RTÉ last night. Of course, Boris Johnson has dismissed the report – although he has said it is a “reality” that some customs checks will be needed. (See 9.52am.)Here are tweets from three Brussels experts on the leaked UK plan for customs sites away from the border in Northern Ireland revealed by RTÉ last night. Of course, Boris Johnson has dismissed the report – although he has said it is a “reality” that some customs checks will be needed. (See 9.52am.)
From Raoul Ruparel, a former adviser on EU policy to Theresa MayFrom Raoul Ruparel, a former adviser on EU policy to Theresa May
I've been on Govt committees looking at 'AAs' for past 3yrs. Initial view:1. Do not meet Joint Report pledges, not clear why Irish/EU would agree2. No SME exemption, not workable for daily trade3. Even 'Max Fac' didn't include such physical infrastructure - regression on 2017 https://t.co/nImFFW8Q8CI've been on Govt committees looking at 'AAs' for past 3yrs. Initial view:1. Do not meet Joint Report pledges, not clear why Irish/EU would agree2. No SME exemption, not workable for daily trade3. Even 'Max Fac' didn't include such physical infrastructure - regression on 2017 https://t.co/nImFFW8Q8C
Peter Foster, the Telegraph’s Europe editor, has posted a Twitter thread starting here.Peter Foster, the Telegraph’s Europe editor, has posted a Twitter thread starting here.
SO. Can confirm, per source, that this plan reported by @tconnellyRTE IS indeed in the UK #Brexit backstop proposal that Boris Johnson will start to brief to EU Leaders tomorrow, per @Telegraph - utterly extraordinary /1https://t.co/x4Jo7mTUgX https://t.co/3PxxSLo9TXSO. Can confirm, per source, that this plan reported by @tconnellyRTE IS indeed in the UK #Brexit backstop proposal that Boris Johnson will start to brief to EU Leaders tomorrow, per @Telegraph - utterly extraordinary /1https://t.co/x4Jo7mTUgX https://t.co/3PxxSLo9TX
And it ends with this.And it ends with this.
You would have had to live in a hole the last three years to think this has any propsect of being accepted by the EU side or the Irish government. This could not be seen as a serious attempt to get a (negotiable) deal, given EU positions. 8/ENDSYou would have had to live in a hole the last three years to think this has any propsect of being accepted by the EU side or the Irish government. This could not be seen as a serious attempt to get a (negotiable) deal, given EU positions. 8/ENDS
From Mujtaba Rahman, a former European commission official and the Brexit specialist for the Eurasia consultancyFrom Mujtaba Rahman, a former European commission official and the Brexit specialist for the Eurasia consultancy
So I hear from senior Irish sources that UK non paper is mirror image of Irish Govt no deal plans to protect Single Market. Think about that. UK plans for deal = Irish Govt plans for no deal. Obviously no way these plans can be sold domestically other than in no deal scenario 1/4So I hear from senior Irish sources that UK non paper is mirror image of Irish Govt no deal plans to protect Single Market. Think about that. UK plans for deal = Irish Govt plans for no deal. Obviously no way these plans can be sold domestically other than in no deal scenario 1/4
Downing St officials at party Conf are defensive. Suspect malicious leak from Bxl. Argue leaks are misrepresentation of UK proposals focusing on one item from non-paper drawn up few weeks ago. No checks at border is absolute commitment. Not proposing a string of customs posts 2/4Downing St officials at party Conf are defensive. Suspect malicious leak from Bxl. Argue leaks are misrepresentation of UK proposals focusing on one item from non-paper drawn up few weeks ago. No checks at border is absolute commitment. Not proposing a string of customs posts 2/4
BJ likely to say something about UK offer in his closing speech to Tory conference Weds. Full detail expected at end of week & talk of "tunnel" between two sides as I flagged earlier in week. But EU sceptical. Senior official on #Brexit tells me: "Customs part is unworkable 3/4BJ likely to say something about UK offer in his closing speech to Tory conference Weds. Full detail expected at end of week & talk of "tunnel" between two sides as I flagged earlier in week. But EU sceptical. Senior official on #Brexit tells me: "Customs part is unworkable 3/4
...Either he shifts to the backstop model for that part (and we are in business) or not (and then it’s no deal)." Things are about to get very hairy indeed. I'm back to Bxl tomorrow. ENDS...Either he shifts to the backstop model for that part (and we are in business) or not (and then it’s no deal)." Things are about to get very hairy indeed. I'm back to Bxl tomorrow. ENDS
Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin president, told the BBC this morning that the plans for customs sites away from the border - leaked to RTÉ but subsequently dismissed by Boris Johnson as not reflecting the government’s current thinking - would amount to a return of a hard border. She said a plan like this would be unacceptable to Sinn Féin. She explained:Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin president, told the BBC this morning that the plans for customs sites away from the border - leaked to RTÉ but subsequently dismissed by Boris Johnson as not reflecting the government’s current thinking - would amount to a return of a hard border. She said a plan like this would be unacceptable to Sinn Féin. She explained:
What has been described in this document is essentially a hard border on the island of Ireland. Anything that causes there to be customs, tariffs, checks anywhere represents a hardening of the border ...What has been described in this document is essentially a hard border on the island of Ireland. Anything that causes there to be customs, tariffs, checks anywhere represents a hardening of the border ...
Boris Johnson voted for the backstop because in a moment of perhaps rare lucidity he recognised that was the bottom line to protect the island of Ireland. I only hope he returns to that position.Boris Johnson voted for the backstop because in a moment of perhaps rare lucidity he recognised that was the bottom line to protect the island of Ireland. I only hope he returns to that position.