Boris Johnsonhas been desperately trying to piece together aBrexitdeal that will get the approval of EU leaders, following unsuccessful talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday. But it appears the Prime Minister has now come up with an alternative to the Irish backstop that he plans to present to Brussels, according to ITV’s Robert Peston. Mr Johnson is proposing a new four-part plan, which requires the approval of Ireland’s Leo Varadkar.
The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal seeks a unified single market for agriculture between Northern Ireland and the Republic, to ensure that cross border flows of livestock and food is not hindered.
It also proposes that customs and limited unobtrusive goods standards checks take place on the island, but away from the border itself.
Thirdly, Mr Johnson proposes no customs union with the EU for the UK or Northern Ireland alone.
The final requirement asks for a “Stormont lock”, allowing the people of Northern Ireland to terminate the deal.
This proposal is likely to become a sticking point for EU leaders, as it would enable the citizens of Northern Ireland to unilaterally end the arrangement.
Mr Peston says the final part “is a must” for Mr Johnson.
The Prime Minister’s new Brexit deal hinges on the approval of Dublin, and there is no guarantee that Mr Varadkar would accept the new plan.
But even if the Irish Taoiseach does back the proposal , the EU still have to sign off to it.
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Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal has now been revealed(Image: Getty)
Verhofstadt rules out Boris Johnson’s new Brexit deal(Image: European Parliament)
9. 20 am update: Nigel Farage brands Bettel a “pipsqueak prime minister “
Nigel Farage branded Xavier Bettel a” pipsqueak prime minister “for publicly mocking Boris Johnson on Monday.
He said that receent events across Europe this week do not indicate the EU is willing to negotiate in good faith.
The Brexit Party leader said: “I am of course referring to the pipsqueak Prime Minister of Luxembourg who set out to richly humiliate a British Prime Minister in the most humiliating way only to be greeted like a hero by President Macronon the step of the Champs Elyses yesterday
9. 12 am update: Brexit Party MEPs continue to heckle
Brexit Party MEPS continue to shout and heckle those speaking in the chamber.
9. 06 am update: No deal Brexit is ‘entirely the responsibility of the UK’
Pedro Silva Pereira, a Portuguese MEP, said if Mr Johnson was willing to negotiate a deal with the EU he would have put forward alternative proposals to the Irish backstop.
He said: “If Mr Johnson was really serious about the willingness of reaching an agreement in the next few days he would have done by now a very simple gesture.
“He would have put forward a written proposal on workable and legally operative alternative arrangements .
“He failed to do so and so we failed to get evidence that he is serious of the willingness of avoiding a no deal.
He said if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it would be “entirely the responsibility of the UK Government no one else”.
The MEP suggested that to avoid a no deal scenari o the Brexit deadline should be extended.
9am update:Brexiteer erupt in boos as Weber mocks Britain
Manfred Weber was heckled and shouted down by Brexiteers after claiming businesses would be decimated and jobs would be lost after Britain leaves the European Union.
Cries of “shame on you” rained down on the European People’s Party chief during this morning’s Brexit debate in the EU Parliament.
Mr Weber claimed businesses were already fleeing the UK because of the Brexit vote. His comments sparked furore in the Brexit Party benches, with the British representatives clearly enraged.
8. 57 am update: Tory MP says Britain ‘must leave’ on October 31
Geoffrey Van Orden , Tory MP, tells the Parliament Britain will not change its mind on Brexit and the UK must leave at the end of next month.
He said: “We must leave on the 31 st October, we should have left on the 29 h Marhc, then on the 12 th April now on the 31 st October.
What’s the point of further delay.
“ Some of you may think that if we drag this out a little bit more then there will be a change of regime in Britain, a change of heart and I believe this is total delusion. ”
Tory MP tells the European Parliament UK ‘must leave’ on October 31(Image: European Parliament)
8. 48 am update: Verhofstadt tears apart Johnson’s new Brexit deal
Verhofstadt says MR Johnson’s plans to limit the backstop to agriculture is “not enough ”As it accounts for around 30 percent.
“The backstop as well cannot be unilaterally ended by Stormont as that is not a safety net that will be a perma nent instrument for blackmail during the negotiations.
“A safety net needs to be a safety net in the hands of both parties.”
8. 44 am update: Verhofstadt says Johnson is more a nanny than the Hulk
Verhofstadt discussed Boris Johnson’s recent comparison to himself as the Incredible Hulk.
He said:“Mr Johnson likes to compare himself with movie characters … I think he should compare himself to a different character, the caring nanny of the film Mrs Doubtfire. “
8. 40 am update: Guy Verhofstadt mocks UK’s prorogation
Guy Verhofstadt mocked the UK’s suspension of Parliament in Brussels this morning.
) He said: “The British Parliament may be shut down but we are clear ly showing today with this debate the European Union is not what is the case in Britain. ”
He added:“ I can tell you that Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk can do a lot of things but at least they cannot close the doors of our house. “
The Belgian politician also mocked Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party MEPs for their loud outbursts.
He said they haven’t even been elected in Westminster.
Jean-claude Juncker warned of a no deal Brexit(Image: European Parliament)
8. 29 am update:Juncker issues Brexit warning to MEPs
Speaking to the European Parliament this morning, Jean-Claude Juncker said the risk of no deal is “palpable”, which sparked cheers from the Brexit Party MEPs.
The Commission chief promised he would work with the Prime Minister to secure a deal.
But he warned that Mr Johnson’s ambition to quit the bloc “wi th or without a deal “on October 31 left a hard split a real possibility.
Mr Juncker insisted that a no-deal Brexit would never be the preferred choice of the EU and the UK would be to blame for any chaos.
8. 22 am update: Brexit Party MEP accuses mainstream media over lack of Brexit coverage (really?!)
Greetings to Belinda de Lucy, Brexit Parry MEP for the South East, who last night tweeted frantically (and slightly bizarrely) that the mainstream media won’t be reporting on today’s massive events in the European Parliament.
Calm down Belinda, we have our Europe editor Joe Barnes in Brussels and a team of reporters poised to ensure not even the tiniest nugget of Brexit news slips through the net.
As we do every day. Do try and keep up dear.
Belinda thinks there has been a lack of media coverage ahead of the debate and tweeted: “DAY of TRUTH- Tomorrow Brexit is being debated in EU Parliament. MSM [mainstream media] won’t report on THIS !!! ”
Wonder if the Great British Public thinks there has been a lack of Brexit coverage in the mainstream media?
8. 10 am update: Boris Johnson fears Brexit plan will be leaked
Downing Street hit back at claims by senior EU figures that the Prime Minister has yet to explain the changes to the Irish backstop.
Government sources said EU negotiators were being “shown pieces of paper” giving the outline of the Prime Minister’s plans.
But sources acknowledged that Mr Johnson’s full blueprint may not be published until next month because of fears EU members would leak it and risk a row at the Conservative Party conference.
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