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Brexit: DUP says it cannot support customs terms in Boris Johnson's deal – live news
Brexit: Boris Johnson says he has secured deal with EU but DUP says position remains same – live news
(about 3 hours later)
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Nadeem Badshah.
Q: The UK authorities will be able to apply their own tariffs, as long as there is no risk of goods entering the single market. How will that be established?
Here is the full text of the DUP statement issued earlier. It was sent out as a statement from Arlene Foster, the party leader, and Nigel Dodds, her deputy. They said:
Barnier says there is a possibility that goods arriving from GB, or from a third country via GB, might not stay in the customs territory of NI. That risk exists. That is why both sides have come up with a mechanism to assess this risk. The assessment will be based on a number of criteria, overseen by a joint committee. What is the destination of the goods? Are they consumer goods or industrial goods? What is the value of the goods? What is the risk of an infringement?
We have been involved in ongoing discussions with the government.
Q: What was key turning point in the last week?
As things stand, we could not support what is being suggested on customs and consent issues and there is a lack of clarity on VAT.
Barnier says the taoiseach had a special responsibility. The Irish government is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday agreement. He met Boris Johnson in Liverpool. And after that meeting the UK and the EU were able to make headway. They agreed there would be no customs checks in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
We will continue to work with the government to try and get a sensible deal that works for Northern Ireland and protects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom.
He says this new solution must be sustainable.
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said we knew the negotiations were going to be difficult and would go down to the line, but the government is “working very intensively... to try and secure a deal.”
Q: If this does not get through parliament, is this as far as the EU goes?
Asked whether the prime minister would meet with the DUP today, Jenrick told BBC Breakfast:
Barnier says that is a hypothetical question.
I don’t know the exact arrangements for the next few hours, but be assured the prime minister and his team are in intensive negotiations with all parties, including with the DUP.
He says Boris Johnson thinks it will pass.
We want to provide sufficient comfort for the DUP and unionists in Northern Ireland to feel that the arrangements we would put in place with this deal are sufficient to give them comfort to support it.
He says he has always avoided talking on the basis of emotion and passion. He works on the basis of fact and objectivity. He has looked for practical solutions to the problems posed by Brexit.
We know there are clearly concerns on the part of the DUP and we want to try and work through these productively in the hours to come.
He says in Northern Ireland a joint committee will have a mandate.
All sides in this do want to secure an orderly exit from the EU, and I think one is in sight, although there is clearly very significant issues to be hammered out.
This is a balanced agreement, he says. He says it is “the best possible one”.
Let’s wait and see.
The backstop has been replaced with a new approach.
More from Tom the painter in Athens
This justifies the consent procedure, he says.
“In the beginning there was Boris, then there was God. Gen II”: Not long after Greece’s own euro zone drama, graffitti appears in Athens, in the Plaka district beneath the Acropolis, immortalising the man who might save Britain from Brexit - described as a one-way street in the second picture.
He says this is a dynamic compromise between the UK and the EU.
Greece, which adopted punishing austerity to remain in the euro zone (and by extension the EU) has been watching the Brexit drama with thinly-veiled dismay. The Guardian’s Greek correspondent Helena Smith can reveal that Tom, the painter of these works of art, is an Irishman who has long lived in the Plaka district.
Q: Did you get an assurance that Johnson would get a majority for this?
The DUP’s statement makes clear the party cannot support the deal as it stands, but it is not closing the door completely so could be read as a final prod to Michel Barnier to compromise on the customs arrangements, consent and give more clarity on the very tricky issue of VAT.
Barnier says, when Boris Johnson spoke to Jean-Claude Juncker this morning, he presumes Johnson had faith in his ability to get a majority. He has said he has confidence in his ability to win the vote.
Three routes open up from this:
Boris Johnson has said he is confident he can get his deal through parliament, says Barnier.
1. Boris Johnson compromises more. However with three meetings in three days in Downing Street, it is unclear whether Downing Street can cede any more and ruins the prospect of a deal.
Q: MPs have voted against a deal three times. Has Boris Johnson assured you he can get this through?
2. The EU yields to the DUP’s demands. Given the EU’s deep concern about how it can protect the single market from rogue goods on a border, with no border checks, it is difficult to see the EU cede further on customs.
Barnier says he has some experience here. That is why is is being “cautious”.
3. The DUP folds at the last minute. Note its statement: “We will continue to work with the government to try and get a sensible deal that works for Northern Ireland and protects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom”. This is leaving the door open to further changes today.
The House of Commons will have to take its decision.
It is worth remembering that the DUP is the party that says no. “No surrender” was its slogan in its heyday when it was led by its bombastic founder, the now deceased Ian Paisley.
Barnier says he was an MP. He knows what it means to be a parliamentarian.
It is also worth remembering that it did not support the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. And we know what happened there.
He says the agreement is “fair and reasonable”, to use Boris Johnson’s words. (See 10.36am.)
The pound fell 0.5 per cent against the dollar and the euro within minutes of the announcement by the DUP just before 7am that the party cannot support the Brexit deal as it currently stands.
He says has never wanted to give a commentary on British political debate.
A pound was worth 1.2759 dollars and 1.1525 euros.
Q: Can the deal be ratified at this summit? Or will there need to be another one?
If you are wondering what exactly is in the deal, our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin got a briefing last night.
Barnier says there will be “no ratification at the council” today.
The other big constraint is time. Several EU ambassadors are very unhappy there is no legal text they can share with their capitals. Not enough time to prepare the summit. Not enough time until 31 October. But tonight there was no talk of extension.To be continued...12.
The council will be able to give a favourable opinion on the recommendation, and on the draft agreement. It is a draft, he stresses.
There is a potentially pivotal day ahead with the EU summit ahead of Saturday’s deadline to prevent a delay to Brexit.
He says the council has to formally agree the agreement after the European parliament has ratified it.
Boris Johnson is on his way to Brussels this morning.
He says there should be “no surprises” here.
Our Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll on the DUP’s decision.
He says he has done what he has done to ensure member states are well informed.
Useful today to remember something about the DUP. It also said no and did not support the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. And we know what happened there. This is something Arlene Foster herself has referred to recently pointing out that they still work with the BGFA
He says he believes it can be ratified by 31 October.
Good morning everyone. More reaction to the DUP’s statement.
Barnier says the text of the agreement is now available.
Hmmm....oh dear..... https://t.co/lvsLD0RTqH
It is here (pdf) - all 64 pages of it. These are the revisions to the withdrawal agreement. The rest of the agreement as negotiated by Theresa May still stands.
That’s it from me, I’m handing over to my colleague Nadeem Badshah.
Barnier switches to speaking in English (he was speaking in French) and turns to the one aspect of the agreement the UK wanted to reopen – the backstop.
Brexit talks seem to have foundered - because as I mentioned yesterday - DUP cannot accept VAT proposals for Northern Ireland. No legal text for EU leaders to agree today therefore pic.twitter.com/1pvWqrl1fV
He says the EU wanted to keep the border open, preserve the all-island economy and protect the integrity of the single market.
The DUP has issued a statement fromArlene Foster and Nigel Dodds saying that “as things stand, we could not support what is being suggested on customs and consent issues and there is a lack of clarity on VAT.
And it was important for Boris Johnson to keep NI in the UK customs territory.
“We will continue to work with the Government to try and get a sensible deal that works for Northern Ireland and protects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom.”
He says the talks have “at times been difficult”.
⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zpReVsavVu
But they have a deal, with four parts.
For those of you who missed this, late last night Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, announced she was leaving the Labour Party because she could “no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM”.
First, EU regulations will apply to all goods in Northern Ireland. This means checks at the border.
Dame Louise, 73, who is Jewish, said she had been “deeply troubled” by the “growth of anti-Semitism” in Labour in recent years.
Second, NI will remain in the UK’s customs territory. It will therefore benefit from UK trade policy. But it will remain an entry point into the single market. So UK authorities will apply UK tariffs to countries coming from third countries as long as goods entering NI are not at risk of entering the single market. If they are at risk of entering the single market, EU tariffs will apply.
She told the Times newspaper that if he became prime minister “I believe that Jeremy Corbyn would be a danger to the country, a danger to the Jewish community as well, but a danger to the country too”.
Third, on VAT, the plan will maintain the integrity of the single market, while respecting the UK’s digital wishes.
I have made the truly agonising decision to leave the Labour Party after 55 years. I can no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM. I will continue to serve the people of Liverpool Riverside as I have had the honour to do since 1997. pic.twitter.com/3BTzUacZvo
And, fourth, there will be a consent mechanism. Four years after the arrangements starts, the Northern Ireland assembly will decide by a simple majority if these arrangements stay.
Lord Adonis is up and tweeting early, as he often does. He is reiterating his view that Johnson will end up being forced to ask the EU for an extension beyond 31 October.
Barnier confirms that the DUP will lose its veto on whether the new arrangements come into force. Under the plan proposed by Boris Johnson earlier this month, the new plan for NI would only have taken affect subject to a vote in the assembly – which the DUP would have been able to veto.
Obviously Parliament cannot vote tomorrow on a deal which has not been agreed, let alone published, as a legal text. So he will still have to apply for an extension, which is the key operative fact today
Barnier says the transition will last until the end of 2020. But it could last another year or two years, if there is joint agreement.
Brexit first on agenda which suggests EU council reckons there is deal to be done... might yet depend on the mood the DUP wakes up in or what assurances they got from No 10 last night or in the next few hours https://t.co/G7r5PpGK7r
Barnier says citizens have always been, and will remain, the EU’s priority.
How the papers covered it
Uncertainty for them has been going on for too long, he says.
A photograph of Boris Johnson walking behind a metal fence, which gives the unfortunate impression that the prime minster was behind bars, provided a visual metaphor too good for most publications to pass up and it is the lead image on most of the front pages.
There is also certainty for groups getting funding from the EU budget. That is because financial commitments made by the EU28 will be honoured by the EU28.
The Telegraph really pushes the image, its slightly baffling headline is: “Brexit is like the Shawshank Redemption... but now we can see the light”. The Daily Express has: “Against all odds, Boris closes in on Brexit deal”, the Times reports: “Brexit deal on knife edge as DUP blocks Johnson”, the Mail says: “In sight of the summit”, the Guardian has: “Johnson in last-minute scramble for DUP backing”, the Mirror goes with: “Brexit on a knife-edge”, the i’s splash is: “Deadlock on Brexit deal ahead of summit”.
He says there is more certainty for businesses.
The front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph: ‘Brexit is like the Shawshank Redemption … but now we can see the light’ #TomorrowsPaperToday pic.twitter.com/TiLav6n4nJ
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, is holding a press conference now.
Tomorrow's front page: Brexit on a knife-edge #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/vQa6epnG11 pic.twitter.com/lwhGTkjz8C
He says the EU has built its position together.
MAIL UPDATED: In sight of the Summit #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4vokpDO1VZ
The agreement has been agreed. Boris Johnson will present it to the EU27 later at the summit.
FT: Hargreaves Lansdown under fire as Woodford collapse traps clients #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/g1BLHRZUS3
He says the text should provide “legal certainty”, especially for citizens.
Guardian front page, Thursday 17 October 2019: Johnson in last-minute scramble for DUP backing pic.twitter.com/ePEaDPnZlA
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has issued this statement about the UK-EU Brexit deal. He said:
EXPRESS: Against all odds #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3S69r2sXWo
From what we know, it seems the prime minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May’s, which was overwhelmingly rejected.
TGE TIMES: Brexit deal on knife edge as DUP blocks Johnson / Culture Secretary opens door to making BBC subscription service #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xlxf8Pt242
These proposals risk triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers’ rights, and opening up our NHS to a takeover by US private corporations.
Boris Johnson is in a race against time to secure the Democratic Unionist party’s backing for his newly negotiated Brexit deal as EU leaders said they were ready to approve the agreement on Thursday if the prime minister succeeds.
This sell-out deal won’t bring the country together and should be rejected. The best way to get Brexit sorted is to give the people the final say in a public vote.
Plans to publish a full legal text ahead of the leaders’ summit had to be put on hold to the frustration of EU officials after the DUP raised a series of objections to the tentative agreement.
This is from my colleague Jennifer Rankin in Brussels.
With time short, Johnson told a meeting of Conservative MPs he was hopeful of a deal but it felt like he was on the Hillary Step of Mount Everest while the summit was “shrouded in mist”.
The last compromise: *EU law on VAT will apply in Northern Ireland. *UK shall be responsible for collecting VAT and excise. *Special treatment for some goods - UK could choose to apply Ireland's VAT reduced rates and exemptions in NI. *Regular review by Joint Committee
The prime minister appeared to have the party’s hardline Eurosceptics onboard, including Steve Baker, who said Johnson had briefed them that the whole of the UK was leaving the customs union. But they also added a note of caution that they could not vote for any Brexit deal without seeing a legal text. The 21 former Tory MPs who have recently lost their whip could also rebel.
From ITV’s Robert Peston
An issue over VAT was said by Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, to be a last-minute obstacle in the negotiations when he briefed European ambassadors on Wednesday night. But the British objection was described by EU diplomats as a “British smokescreen” to give Downing Street more time to win over the DUP’s leader, Arlene Foster.
Attached is how a Downing Street source is selling the deal struck by @BorisJohnson. But we don’t have the legal text yet. And I don’t have to tell you what that means! pic.twitter.com/veRDPMAYj9
Johnson seeks DUP backing in race against time over Brexit deal
From the Times’ Steven Swinford
Good (very early!) morning to everyone.
Looks like DUP has lost its vetoNew deal suggests consent will only be sought four years *after* the customs arrangements come into forceIt can then be extended for *another* four years with a simple majority vote in NI Assembly
We’re up with the sparrows because there is talk that Boris Johnson might make an early-morning dash to Brussels to get his Brexit deal done.
From Sky’s Beth Rigby
This would require the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, who have raised serious concerns with the deal. But, if the DUP come around and agree to support the deal, Johnson can then take it back to EU leaders who are meeting in Brussels today, who have said they will give political agreement to it during their summit. They will still need to have the text scrutinised before giving formal approval and it also remains to be seen whether the UK parliament will agree to the deal on Saturday, when they are sitting to vote on the potential deal.
BREAK: Johnson has left Downing Street
No one knows what will happen and we’ve all been round the Brexit deal merry-go-round more times we care to remember, but there’s a sense that today could be a BIG MOMENT in this journey.
I will be shepherding us all through the Brexit news for the first few hours before I hand over to my colleagues, who will take you through the rest of the day.
Thanks for reading along, especially at such an outrageously early hour, please get in touch via Twitter or email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).
