Johnson ‘no second thoughts’ on refusing to request Brexit delay

BORIS JOHNSON has not had second thoughts over refusing to ask for an extension of the Brexit transition period, Downing Street said yesterday.

The deadline for requesting a delay passed last night, which increased the risk of a no-trade-deal exit from the transition period at the end of the year.

“No, he has not [had any second thoughts]. The EU have themselves accepted that there is not going to be any extension to the transition period,” the spokesman said, as negotiators met in Brussels for their first face-to-face talks since the coronavirus pandemic.

Failure to meet the deadline will mean the UK and EU trading on less lucrative WTO terms. The UK and EU have pinpointed October as the last moment to finalise the deal, so there is time for it to be ratified before Dec 31.

EU diplomats criticised David Frost, the UK’S chief negotiator, for accepting a new job as National Security Adviser.

Mr Frost will replace Sir Mark Sedwill in August it emerged before month-long intensified talks with Brussels began. “David has said he will of course remain the chief negotiator while the talks are being concluded, one way or another,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

Michel Barnier, the EU’S chief negotiator, was linked to the job of president of the European Commission last year but ruled himself out.

“Barnier didn’t run for commission president to deliver Brexit but doing that isn’t enough for Frost apparently,” one EU diplomat said, “Is there such a shortage of people in the UK that they had to pick the chief negotiator?”

“From our side at least we are fully concentrated on the negotiations,” a commission spokesman said.