UK
Key points:
- Sunday’s Brexit summit will go ahead after Spain got enough reassurances over Gibraltar
- Madrid had threatened to derail the summit
- May to meet top Brussels officials and EU27 set to back her withdrawal agreement and political declaration
- DUP leader Arlene Foster says Brexit backstop plans not in national interest
- Her deputy Nigel Dodds tells Sky News the Government should be trying to negotiate a better deal.
She said: “On the one hand, we’re told the backstop would be the best of both worlds and on the other hand we’re told we’re not going to need the backstop. Therein lies one of the many contradictions at the heart of his draft withdrawal agreement.
“In such circumstances, Northern Ireland alone would be aligned to numerous EU single market regulations while Great Britain would not. Such a scenario in the medium term would inevitably lead to barriers to trade within the UK internal market. That is not in the national interest.”
The former foreign secretary has called for the appointment of a minister to take charge of preparations for a “no deal” exit from the EU.
He said: “It is very important that we show we are negotiating with confidence and conviction and have a new secretary of state with powers across Whitehall to make things happen and get this country ready if we have to go out on WTO terms.”
“No one has reasons to be happy. But at least at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity.”
🔴 Tomorrow’s historic European Council summit is confirmed. #Brexithttps://t.co/SNNJKmfCcL
This is the letter from the UK’s Permanent Representative to the EU Sir Tim Barrow to the Secretary-General of the European Council with attached annex – a clarified interpretation of Article 184 of the #Brexit Withdrawal Agreement to bring Spain on board. https://t.co/j5N4O7Mp0a
NEW: UK ambassador to EU publishes letter clarifying that Withdrawal Agreement Article 184 “imposes no obligations regarding territorial scope” – ie doesn’t prejudge Gibraltar requiring separate bilateral UK-Spain discussion https://t.co/ZkBRQwUAHL
Sunday’s special #brexit summit is GO!
NEW – Suing for peace: #Gibraltar rift between UK and Spain looks set to be settled for now. UK publishes this letter, accompanied by statement from Gibraltar first minister. Spanish PM due to talk imminently bit.ly/2r3ON5n
Spain has reached a deal with the EU on Gibraltar, clearing the way for a Brussels summit on Sunday to approve a Brexit deal with Theresa May, a diplomatic source has told Reuters.
“Negotiations went on through the night with Spain and Britain. In a telephone conversation just now (European Council President Donald) Tusk and (Spanish Prime Minister Pedro) Sanchez reached an agreement on Gibraltar,” the source said.
“The summit will go ahead.”
The Gibraltar problem is solved….? We still await Spanish PM statement in 10 mins #brexit https://t.co/7r8zApcQ0F
Boris Johnson says he is at the DUP conference to support the party’s policy of a strong union between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Reuters is quoting an EU diplomat as saying the summit will go ahead as planned on Sunday.
EU summit chairman Donald Tusk says a Brexit summit on Sunday which was in doubt over Spanish concerns on Gibraltar was now closer to going ahead after he spoke to Spain’s PM.
“After the phone call between (European Council President Tusk) and (Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez) a few minutes ago, we are closer to tomorrow’s (European Council),” Mr Tusk’s spokesman said on Twitter.
What Boris Johnson wants
The ex-foreign secretary (pictured with Arlene Foster) says: “Best thing is to junk the backstop and get both sides to agree there’s no need for a hard border in Ireland. And take that discussion out of the withdrawal agreement and put it for the negotiations that are going to take place in the next couple of years.
“We also need to get ready as a country for no deal. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think we’re going to get a very good deal but it’s important to show we’re negotiating with confidence.”
Positive noises that #Brexit summit will go ahead tomorrow after #Gibraltar rift
NEW: @eucopresident spokesman confirms a phone call had taken place between him and Spanish PM Sanchez which has moved things in the right direction…
Back on:
Brexit: Irish border dispute explained
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds: “Gibraltar is British and we will use our voices and our votes in parliament to stand with British Gibraltar.”
The party has pledged to use its 10 votes in parliament to support the cause of Gibraltar if necessary.
The EU is trying to broker a compromise between Spain and UK over the future of the British territory as Madrid threatens to derail May’s Brexit plans.
.@eucopresident yet to send out letter of invitation to 28 leaders of EU countries. Usually, letter is sent out 48hrs or so ahead of time. This time, with #Gibraltar issue still outstanding, the letter still not sent. But EU sources tell me they’re confident summit will go ahead.
Boris Johnson has arrived in Belfast to address the DUP’s annual conference. #Brexit https://t.co/5tt4jfn6Xk
#Brexit summit update – “formal invitations have not been sent to leaders” h/t @aqbyrne Still serious ? over whether tomorrow’s summit will happen because of Spain’s intervention on #Gibraltar. There is still time to overcome this hurdle but not much
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds: “Not a deal at any price. Bin the backstop.”
He tells party’s conference: “It’s not too late for PM to change course. The DUP wants a deal with EU. We understand that businesses, families and communities want certainty. But not this deal. It’s not a deal at any price. PM used to say that. We still say that. Bin the backstop.”
Any questions for any of our guests? Let me know…. 📝
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds: “Working with the Tories is in the national interest.”
A knighthood for Tory eurosceptic John Hayes (pictured in blue jacket) has sparked criticism from fellow Brexiteers, including Mark Francois who has sent him a sarcastic letter.
In it, Mr Francois – who has called for a confidence vote in Mrs May – suggested his coat of arms should be an “utter c**k rampant on one side and a big chicken on the other”.
He also claimed Sir John could write down his political principles “on the back of an old postage stamp”.
An extremely relaxed @DUPleader has arrived at #DUP18. She’ll use her speech to call on Theresa May to ditch the backstop #brexithttps://t.co/n5LjbEAFxx
“Predictable drama at the end” says one EU source to me on the only issue now holding up the rubberstamping of the #Brexit agreement in Brussels this weekend. Talks continue on Gibraltar. All other concerns have now been addressed.