The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Time is fast running out for PM to agree a deal
Boris Johnston likely to have to request extension beyond October 31
The chances of a Brexit deal breakthrough received a setback last night as it became clear UK and EU differences were likely to prevent any agreement being announced.
Government sources said a deal did not feel imminent, but talks would continue.
The move comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads for a crunch summit of EU leaders in Brussels today.
Mr Johnson needs to get a deal approved by the EU at the gathering to avert a major political row over asking Brussels to delay Brexit beyond the scheduled October 31 deadline.
In a day of sharp political twists and turns, the PM could take some comfort from the stance of arch-Brexiteer Conservative MP Steve Baker.
After a meeting in Downing Street, the chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) told Sky News: “We have made great progress in our discussions with Number 10.
“We know there will be compromises, but we will be looking at this deal in minute detail, with a view to supporting it. But until we get that text, we can’t say.”
The prime minister’s official spokesman said Mr Johnson had updated his Cabinet, which gave its “full support” to get a deal ahead of the summit after a “positive discussion”.
“He said there was a chance of securing a good deal but we are not there yet and there remain outstanding issues,” the spokesman added.
During a brief address to the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Mr Johnson compared the situation to climbing Mount Everest, according to MPs who attended.
Referring to the prime minister, leading Brexiteer Mark Francois said: “He said, ‘We are not quite at the summit, we are at the Hillary Step’.
“‘The summit is not far but at the moment there is still cloud around it’.”
Before the chances of an agreement being secured yesterday faded, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he wants “to believe that a deal is being finalised”.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay confirmed that Mr Johnson will write a letter asking for an Article 50 extension if no deal is in place by Saturday, something the prime minister has repeatedly ruled out.
DUP leader Arlene Foster moved to reject a suggestion that her party had accepted the latest proposals in the deal regarding Northern Ireland consent issues.
She tweeted: “Discussions continue. Needs to be a sensible deal which unionists and nationalists can support.”
Saturday is a key date for the prime minister, with the Benn Act passed by MPs trying to prevent a no-deal Brexit stating he must write to Brussels asking for a delay if Parliament does not agree to a deal by then.
Appearing in front of the Exiting the European Union Committee of MPs, and answering a question from the proponent of the act, Hilary Benn, the Brexit secretary reiterated that the prime minister would write to Brussels asking for an Article 50 extension, as previously revealed in documents submitted during a Court of Session challenge.
“I can confirm, as the prime minister has repeatedly set out, that firstly the government will comply with the law, and secondly it will comply with undertakings given to the court in respect of the law,” Mr Barclay said.
Mr Barclay confirmed that the government “will abide by” what is set out in that letter, following fears the prime minister could try to scupper an extension with a second contradictory letter or request to a member state to block an extension.
The Cabinet minister reiterated the government’s commitment to leaving the EU on the current October 31 deadline, despite the Act demanding a delay to the end of January if MPs do not approve a deal by Saturday.
If Mr Johnson succeeded in bringing a deal home to the UK, he would then face a battle to do what Theresa May failed to do three times and get it approved by Parliament.
Pressure to sign off on a draft agreement is peaking.
A legal text needs to be published ahead of the summit if the EU27 are to consider ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement at the two-day event.
Their approval would allow Mr Johnson to put the deal to MPs in a proposed extraordinary sitting of Parliament on Saturday.
The sitting will be the first on a Saturday for 37 years.
During the session, MPs would be able to back or reject any deal presented to them, or discuss what to do next.