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| DUP says it cannot support Boris Johnson's Brexit deal | DUP says it cannot support Boris Johnson's Brexit deal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The Democratic Unionist party is threatening to scupper the Brexit deal that Boris Johnson is on the brink of agreeing with the EU. | |
| On the morning of a crucial EU summit in Brussels, a joint statement from the DUP’s leader, Arlene Foster, and her deputy, Nigel Dodds, explicitly says the party cannot support the deal that is close to being finalised. | |
| The pound fell 0.5% against the dollar and the euro within minutes of the announcement. | The pound fell 0.5% against the dollar and the euro within minutes of the announcement. |
| The DUP statement said: “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.” | The DUP statement said: “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.” |
| ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zpReVsavVu | ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zpReVsavVu |
| The statement will come as blow to the prime minister, who hopes to bring back a deal from the Brussels meeting and then secure the backing of parliament in a rare Commons vote pencilled in for Saturday. | The statement will come as blow to the prime minister, who hopes to bring back a deal from the Brussels meeting and then secure the backing of parliament in a rare Commons vote pencilled in for Saturday. |
| The backing of the 10 DUP MPs is crucial for the success of that vote because many Conservative Brexiters have indicated they will not back a deal that is opposed by unionists. | |
| Steve Baker, the chair of the hard Brexit European Research Group, said he was optimistic the group would back a deal. But he also suggested the ERG could not support it if Johnson failed to secure the backing of the DUP. | Steve Baker, the chair of the hard Brexit European Research Group, said he was optimistic the group would back a deal. But he also suggested the ERG could not support it if Johnson failed to secure the backing of the DUP. |
| “If the DUP are happy, it’s not for us to gainsay” @SteveBakerHW confirms that the ERG will take their lead from the DUP on Northern Ireland. #Peston pic.twitter.com/RpQri2fY24 | “If the DUP are happy, it’s not for us to gainsay” @SteveBakerHW confirms that the ERG will take their lead from the DUP on Northern Ireland. #Peston pic.twitter.com/RpQri2fY24 |
| The DUP statement added: “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.” | The DUP statement added: “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.” |
| Johnson has met Foster and Dodds three times in the last three days as he tried to shore up their support before Saturday’s deadline to prevent a delay to Brexit. | Johnson has met Foster and Dodds three times in the last three days as he tried to shore up their support before Saturday’s deadline to prevent a delay to Brexit. |
| Housing minister Robert Jenrick said on BBC Breakfast: “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. | |
| “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. Let’s wait and see.” | |
| He said he expected Johnson to go to Brussels to meet with members of the European council. | |
| Under the so-called Benn act, if Johnson cannot get a deal passed by Saturday he will be forced to seek an extension to the 31 October deadline for the UK to leave the European Union. | Under the so-called Benn act, if Johnson cannot get a deal passed by Saturday he will be forced to seek an extension to the 31 October deadline for the UK to leave the European Union. |
| The DUP is digging in over the prospect of a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as the issues of consent regarding the suspended Stormont assembly. | The DUP is digging in over the prospect of a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, as well as the issues of consent regarding the suspended Stormont assembly. |
| Another significant issue is whether EU VAT rates would apply in Northern Ireland. Amid fears that there is not enough time for a legal text to be hammered out, a compromise could prompt EU leaders to back a political agreement and schedule a second summit. | |
| Johnson told the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers a day before the summit that his situation was like climbing Mount Everest, according to MPs in attendance. | Johnson told the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers a day before the summit that his situation was like climbing Mount Everest, according to MPs in attendance. |
| Mark Francois, a prominent Brexiter, said: “He said: ‘We are not quite at the summit, we are at the Hillary Step.’ The Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, has confirmed that the PM will write a letter asking for an article 50 extension if no deal is in place by Saturday. | |
| This is despite Johnson repeatedly ruling out asking for a further delay under his “do or die” commitment to leave the EU by the current Halloween deadline. | This is despite Johnson repeatedly ruling out asking for a further delay under his “do or die” commitment to leave the EU by the current Halloween deadline. |
| Democratic Unionist party (DUP) | Democratic Unionist party (DUP) |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| European Union | European Union |
| Europe | Europe |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| news | news |
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