Hopes for new Brexit deal as May holds key summit with Juncker
THERESA May will hold crunch talks with top Eurocrat JeanClaude Juncker in Brussels tonight amid growing expectations of a breakthrough in her push for a revamped Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister and the European Commission president are expected to thrash out the framework for a legally binding declaration, saying that the UK cannot be indefinitely trapped into an EU customs union.
Whitehall sources said she could present a revamped deal for Commons approval in a fresh “meaningful vote” as early as next week.
Mrs May last night held talks with the Tory MPs behind the Malthouse Compromise, a proposal based on dumping the “backstop” clause – that ensures there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – in favour of a longer transition out of the EU.
Reassure
She sought to reassure the group, including senior backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Brexit minister Steve Baker, that their plan for “alternative arrangements” to replace the so-called “backstop” clause in the EU Withdrawal Agreement was still on the table.
After the talks, a statement from Mr Rees-Mogg and Mr Baker said: “The Malthouse Comprise is alive and kicking. We look forward to further developments.”
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday predicted a revamped deal could be agreed by the EU and UK negotiating teams “in the next few days”.
He also claimed there was “an end in sight” in the battle to get a Commons majority for a changed deal. He will today warn that a “heavy responsibility” lies on both sides in the negotiations to avoid a “damaging” no-deal Brexit.
In a speech to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung think-tank in Berlin, the Foreign Secretary will say: “None of us should have any doubt that failing to secure a ratified Withdrawal Agreement would be deeply damaging, economically and politically.
“In the vital weeks ahead, standing back and hoping that Brexit solves itself will not be enough. The stakes are just too high.
“We must all do what we can to ensure such a deal is reached.
“At this momentous time, a heavy responsibility falls upon all of us.” Mr Hunt is due to meet senior German politicians including Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to
PLEDGE TO FARMERS
BRITISH farmers will not be undercut by cheap foreign imports after Brexit, Michael Gove vowed yesterday.
The Environment Secretary said tariffs could be imposed on imported food to protect the UK’s agriculture sector.
He also reiterated his promise that there would be no lowering of environmental, animal welfare standards in pursuit of Brexit trade deals.
However, he told farmers at the NFU conference: “If we leave without a deal there will be significant costs to our economy, in particular the farming industry.”
He also said dairy farmers should be protected from disruptive vegan activists.
discuss Brexit on his Berlin visit. However, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas yesterday repeated the bloc’s refusal to redraft the Withdrawal Agreement. He said: “The EU will not reopen the Withdrawal Agreement. We cannot accept a time limit to the backstop or a unilateral exit clause.
“We are listening and working with the UK Government to see how we can work for an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on March 29. That is where we are.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The EU wants the UK to leave with a deal because it is in the interests of the EU.
“The deal on the table has been rejected by 230 votes. So the EU needs to work with us to give Parliament the assurances it needs.”