The Prime Minister’snew withdrawal plan contains compromises from the UK on finding new alternative arrangements to the Irish backstop . Senior diplomats said Mr Johnson’s proposals were “better than expected”, sources claimed. But even if theEUhas doubts, the BBC’s Katya Adler believes Mr Johnson has the back up of his “tough” Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay.
Ms Adler said a senior EU source told her: “All eyes will now be on [Brexit Secretary] Steve Barclay.
“He’s the one who talks to the European Commission and he’s the tough one.”
Some diplomats are even said to believe Boris Johnson and Mr Barclay have a “good cop, bad cop thing going” when it comes to EU negotiations.
Meanwhile, Mr Barclay said the EU’s Chief Negotiator Mr Barnier recognized the new plan has “serious proposals”.
He said: “I spoke to Michel Barnier yesterday and he recognized that these were serious proposals.
The EU may be shocked by the UK’s “tough” secret Brexit weapon( Image: GETTY)
“They could see we were being creative and flexible … and they asked for time so they could take them away and consider them which is what they are going to do.”
When asked about how the Brexit proposals solve the border issue, Mr Barclay told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Well actually, today there’s a border, there’s a border in terms of currency and there’s a border in terms of tax, but in terms of putting no infrastructure at the border, in terms of ensuring that we are consistent with the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, then it does do that, that’s exactly what these proposals do.
“ The proposals, in terms of having a regulatory zone, clearly reduce significantly the need for checks.
“In terms of then on customs, coming out of a customs union inevitably requires there to be some customs checks.
“And those will be done at premises, and we’ve set out in the paper all the detail as to how that would work. ”
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10. 30 am update: Speaker has lost his voice
John Bercow is known for his bellowing of “Order!” while overseeing matters in the chamber.
But MPs expressed concern for him during digital, culture, media and sport questions.
After his raspy voice introduced the session, Mr Bercow noted: “It won’t last long, don’t worry.”
Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “I hope your voice is fully recovered very soon.”
Conservative former minister Tim Loughton added: “I have Strepsils.”
10. 14 am update: Verhofstadt will NEVER accept Brexit and will demand ‘total surrender’
Guy Verhofstadt said his initial reaction the Prime Minister’s plans was “not positive” and suggested Mr Johnson was possibly trying to ensure Brussels took the blame in the event of a no deal departure.
But Mr Verhofstadt’s sparked outrage among hardliners on this side of the Channel.
Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe said: “These people will simply never be satisfied.
“The only solution they’d find acceptable is total surrender or us remaining in the EU.
“ Time to go full steam ahead for a clean break on 31 / 10.
“Make yourself a Brexit hero Boris and get it done.”
9. 58 am update:EXPRESS.CO.UKPOLL: What do you prefer, Boris Johnson’s deal or no deal? VOTE HERE
Boris Johnson unveiled his Brexit masterplan during his keynote speech at the Tory conference yesterday and has since sent the proposals to Brussels.
Express.co.ukis asking what would you prefer, the Prime Minister’s deal or a no deal Brexit?
Vote in our poll below.
9. 44 am update: BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg warns Boris Johnson is NOT ‘taking back control’ from the EU
Laura Kuenssberghas warned securing a deal will not be easy, as he requires the support of two key players.
She said: “Rather than taking back control, Mr Johnson must wait for the judgement of others.”
Firstly the EU must sign off on the plan and the early signs from Brussels are not overly optimistic.
If they approve the deal, it must then be approved by Parliament.
9. 30 am update: EU official says Boris’s Brexit offer ‘can’t fly’
Boris Johnson’s last ditch Brexit proposal “can’t fly” because it an unworkable move backwards that leaves the UK and the EU far apart, a senior European Union official has said.
A European Parliament Brexit group believes that Mr Johnson’s proposals “do not represent a basis for an agreement”, according to the draft of a statement seen by Reuters ahead of release
A senior EU official also said Johnson’s proposal “can’t fly”, largely because it did not offer a solution for the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland once the UK province has left the EU’s customs union.
The offical said: “It does not contain any decent solution for customs. And it erects a hard border on the island of Ireland.
“It would have to be fundamentally reworked,” an EU diplomat said, before adding that time was short before the bloc’s leaders meet in Brussels in two weeks for a make-or-break Brexit summit on October 17 to
The UK is scheduled to leave the EU in less than a month(Image: EXPRESS)
9. 16 am update:Boris Johnson has a way to Leave in 28 days – but won’t tell anyone
Brexiteer Steve Baker has said he has been told by ministers the Government has a “ way through ”which will enable Boris Johnson to take the UK out of the bloc by October 31 without breaking the law – but stressed: “I don’t want to know what it is. ”
Mr Johnson yesterday unveiled his proposals for an alternative to the backstop for the Irish border, which involves keeping Northern Ireland in the European single market for goods but leaving the EU’s customs union.
However, it remains unclear what will happen if the bloc rejects Mr Johnson’s plan – the Prime Minister has vowed to deliver Brexit “do or die ”by the end of the month, but the Benn Act which received Royal Assent on September 9 requires him to seek an extension to Article 50 if no withdrawal agreement has been agreed by October 19.
Speaking on BBC 2’s flagship current affairs program Newsnight, European Research Group chairman Mr Baker told Emma Barnett: “I’ve had a number of conversations with a number of ministers.
9am update: DUP feeling positive about Boris’s new proposals
DUP deputy Nigel Dodds has said Mr Johnson’s proposals “remove the trap of the backstop”.
But it seems not every Norther Irish party shares this enthusiasm, as Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said the DUP’s decision to back a plan that included a border in the Irish Sea “represents a road to Damascus conversion”.
TUV leader Jim Allister said the DUP’s red line is “not just blurred, it’s gone”.
Sinn Fein also rejected the plans, as they claimed they give the DUP a Stormont veto.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay is said to the “tough one” in Brexit negotiations(Image: GETTY)
8. 47 am update: Boris to face MPs for grilling on Brexit proposals
Boris Johnson is expected to defend his Brexit proposals to MPs as he appeals to EU leaders to back his new blueprint.
The Prime Minister will give a statement to the House of Commons at around 11. 30 am this morning, a Downing Street source has said.
The statement will come after he updates his Cabinet at Number 10 on his proposals and before calls to EU leaders.
Mr Johnson has said he wants to get a deal in place for the EU summit on October 17 so the UK can leave with an agreement at the end of the month.
But so far European leaders have reacted coolly to the plan to resolve the issue of the backstop, which the PM set out in a letter to European Commission president Jean-Claude Jun cker on Wednesday.
8. 41 am update: Brexit proposals on border are basis for talks – Irish minister
Boris Johnson’s last-ditch Brexit offer concerning the Irish border is the basis for discussions but not of an agreement, a junior Irish minister said on Thursday.
Patrick O’Donovan told RTE radio: “From our perspective it is not the basis of a deal, but it is certainly the basis for further discussions .
“There are some things that we would welcome, but some things we would have issue with,” specifically the prospect of customs checks, he said.
8. 05 am update: UK tells EU to be “creative and flexible t oo ”on Brexit
The UK has called on the EU to be “creative and flexible too” on Brexit after Prime Minister Boris Johnson made handed over his new proposals on the Irish border.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said: “It is now for the EU to respond and also show they can be
creative and flexible.
“We don’t want an extension and we do believe there is enough time” to get Brexit done on October 31.
“Let’s get Brexit done.”
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