■ GOVE WARNS CHANCES OF BREXIT DEAL LESS THAN 50%
GOVE DOWNPLAYS TALK OF AGREEMENT AS EU INSISTS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE
MICHAEL GOVE dampened growing hopes of a Brexit trade deal – putting the chances of the UK and EU reaching an agreement at ‘less than 50 per cent’.
The Cabinet Office minister, who is in charge of no-deal planning, said ‘significant differences remain’ – hours after EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier gave his most upbeat report yet, saying negotiators had made ‘good progress’.
And Mr Gove insisted No.10 has no interest in extending talks past the December 31 deadline. ‘There would still be contact between the UK and the EU, but we would not be seeking to negotiate a new deal,’ he told MPs. ‘We will make sure we have an agreement or, if there’s not time for that, we must accept there won’t be one.’ While there were ‘fewer areas of difference now than in October’, he said those that remain ‘go to the very heart of the mandate which the country gave the government in 2016’.
‘Regrettably, the chances are more likely that we won’t secure an agreement – at the moment, less than 50 per cent,’ he added. EU sources said the issue of access to UK fishing waters is the toughest one to tackle.
And Mr Barnier tweeted: ‘We will only sign a deal protecting EU interests and principles.’
He also downplayed a warning from Dacian Ciolos – president of the Renew Europe group in Brussels – that the EU would end negotiations this weekend.
MEP Mr Ciolos tweeted: ‘ We give until Sunday to Boris Johnson to make a decision. The uncertainty hanging over citizens and businesses as a result of UK choices becomes intolerable.’
But Mr Barnier said EU leaders could ratify any deal without MEPs if time was running out. And Mr Gove said he could recall MPs at 48 hours’ notice to agree any deal over the festive period.