‘Brexit plan will fail unless UK shifts on its red lines’
EU warning at start of critical week of negotiations with Brussels
of the EU’s customs union. In order to get a deal, the source said it would require further concessions from the UK and this could only be done at the “highest political level”.
However, they admitted the UK had made a major concession by offering to follow EU rules for all products in Northern Ireland, instead of just farming and food products.
Under the new plan, the Northern Ireland Assembly will be able vote every four years on whether to remain aligned to EU regulations or to follow the rest of Britain.
Concerns were raised that the mechanism could effectively hand the DUP a veto on post-Brexit arrangements.
Meanwhile, Government ministers struck an optimistic tone with Health Secretary Matt Hancock stating that there was a “good chance” of a deal as Downing Street embarked on a week of last-ditch diplomacy.
He told talkRADIO: “We’ve made some significant compromises. It’s time for the EU to do the same. Let’s get it done. We’ve made compromises, it’s time for the EU to move.”
Mr Frost was due to have discussions with the EU today while Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay was visiting EU capitals.
In a phone call yesterd a y, F r e n c h leader Emmanuel Macron told the PM that the EU will decide at the end of the week whether a Brexit deal is possible, in advance of the European Council summit on October 17 and 18
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn was meeting the leaders of other opposition parties to scrutinise the Government’s new proposals. He was set to meet the SNP’s Ian Blackford, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and the Greens’ Caroline Lucas — as well as Anna Soubry of the Independent Group for Change and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts.
He said: “The cross-party meeting will decide what next steps we can take together to hold the Government to account, and to ensure the Prime Minister adheres to the law in seeking an extension if no deal is reached by October 19. It’s already clear that Johnson’s proposal would slash food safety and standards.”
Shadow cabinet ministers John McDonnell, Valerie Vaz and Shami Chakrabarti will also be in attendance, along with the Lib Dems’s Brexit spokesman Tom Brake. A senior Number 10 source said: “This is the chance to get a deal done. The UK has made a big, important offer but i t ’s time for the Commission to show a willingness to compromise too. If not the UK will leave with no deal.”