Fury as EU demands more Brexit concessions

Crime, Brexit and singleuse plastic top the list of new policies to be unveiled in today’s Queen’s Speech

BRUSSELS demanded yet more Brexit concessions from Britain last night, prompting warnings that a deal based on further compromise to the EU would never get through Parliament.

Senior Brexiteers insisted that “enough is enough” after Michel Barnier, Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator, told EU ambassadors that “more work needs to be done” as he updated them on the state of the talks.

One diplomat from a major member state insisted the UK “must move quickly” if it wants an agreement signed off at this week’s summit, adding: “The clock is ticking.”

The demand came days after European Council president Donald Tusk welcomed the “promising signals” around Boris Johnson’s fresh proposal for how to solve the Irish border issue.

One Cabinet minister hit out at Brussels for ignoring that the Prime Minister needs to get parliamentary backing for any deal. The minister said: “What the EU needs to understand is all their very clever negotiating tactics don’t mean anything if you can’t get it through the House of Commons.

“This was the whole thing with the backstop. They moved on that because the thing they were trying to protect – no border in Ireland – was actually more likely to happen because the deal kept getting voted down.”

The minister blamed the Benn Act – the law which requires the Prime Minister to request another Brexit delay if a deal cannot be agreed this week – for severely damaging the negotiations, saying: “The Benn Act really is toxic. It disincentivises the kind of flexibility the EU needs to display.”

The impact of the Act seemed to play out in Brussels yesterday, with one EU diplomat saying: “If we end up on Thursday without a deal, we are in extension territory but no one is saying that yet.”

Jean-claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, used an interview in the Austrian press to say that if there was a British request for a Brexit extension, it would be granted.

Former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson was exasperated by the EU’S demand for the UK to give further ground.

He said: “They keep chiselling for more concessions that dilute what appears to be a very generous offer for them. The point comes when you have to say enough is enough.”

Mr Johnson yesterday briefed the Cabinet on the progress of the talks in a 30-minute conference call. He told his colleagues that if MPS who are against no deal now oppose a new deal, they would be exposing their true aim of wanting to stop Brexit altogether.

According to a Downing Street insider, Mr Johnson stressed that there was a long way to go but added “where there’s a Wirral, there is a way” – a reference to the location of his meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar week. A No10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister updated Cabinet, reiterating that a pathway to a deal could be seen but that there’s still significant work to get there, and we must remain prepared to leave on Oct 31.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday seemed to rule out voting for the deal – even if it was to be put to the country in a referendum.

He told Sky News: “I think many in Parliament might be more inclined to support it [if there was a referendum] even if they don’t really agree with the deal. I would caution them on this.”

FOREIGN murderers and rapists will face tougher prison sentences if they try to re-enter Britain, Priti Patel, the Home Secretary has announced.

Under plans to be set out in today’s Queen’s Speech, the maximum penalty will be dramatically increased from the current six months for offenders who return to the UK. “We have been a soft touch on foreign criminals for too long,” Ms Patel said. “Many criminals conclude it’s worth trying to get back in the country when all you get is a slap on the wrist. Deterring them from re-entering, and putting those that do behind bars for longer, will make our country safer.” Police will get powers to arrest criminals wanted abroad faster, by scrapping the need for an arrest warrant after an Interpol Red Notice is issued. In the 22-bill Queen’s Speech, the Government aims to set out a blueprint for Brexit Britain.

Brexit

The flagship legislation will be the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, if Boris Johnson gets a deal with the EU this week. Other plans include faster access to new medicines. Migrants arriving after Brexit will get preferential treatment if they live outside London.

Crime

The Government will repeat its pledge to recruit 20,000 more police officers, as well as giving them tools and powers to get weapons off the streets. Serious assaults on emergency service workers will be punished by up to two years in jail, twice the current maximum. A new domestic abuse bill will be introduced, which will include economic, emotional and coercive control.

Justice

Killers who refuse to reveal the location of victims’ bodies will be denied parole under new legislation called Helen’s Law, after Helen Mccourt, who was murdered in 1988 by Ian Simms, who has refused to reveal the whereabouts of her remains. Serial sex abusers who fail to reveal their victims’ names will serve longer sentences.

Environment

The first clean air law for more than 60 years will be introduced, replacing the 1956 Clean Air Act, introduced after the Great Smog of London in 1952. The Government will also pledge to tackle single-use plastic to make companies cover the cost of collecting and recycling packaging and will bring in national rules to end the postcode lottery on recycling.

Transport

After the Thomas Cook collapse, the Government will announce plans to allow the state to take control of collapsed airlines and use their planes to repatriate stranded citizens.

The Prime Minister plans to scrap Britain’s “broken” rail franchise system and replace it with a model focused on “performance and reliability”. New measures will be based on a report to come from Keith Williams, the former BA chief.

Immigration

The Government will announce an Immigration and Social Coordination Bill to end freedom of movement and bring in a points-based immigration system.

Devolution

Priority will be given to enhanced devolution, with more metropolitan mayors. There are also plans to give existing mayors more powers, including over local budgets.

Foreign issues

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, wants to bring in a “Magnitsky law” to place visa bans and asset freezes on those responsible for severe human rights abuses.

Health

Plans will begin aimed at stopping people having to sell their homes to pay for care. The plans will not be legislated for in the next parliament, but the Government will announce work on it as a priority. It is likely to include a long-term social care insurance scheme and help

for those who need it now. The Health Service Safety Investigations Body for patient safety will be set up with powers enshrined in law. Plans to update the Mental Health Act are also likely to be announced.

Housing

New legislation will force rigorous new safety rules on developers and landlords in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Social

Voters will have to show ID, such as a passport or driving licence, before casting a ballot, to tackle voter fraud. There are also plans for an extra £250million for libraries and museums.