EU to spell out plans for potentially years more Brexit talks on day after general election, leak shows

Boris Johnson had pledged to 'get Brexit done'

EU leaders will spell out their plans for potentially years more Brexit talks on the day after the general election, a leaked internal documents seen by The Independent shows.

Far from "getting Brexit done", as Boris Johnson's campaign slogan would have it, the leaders are set to warn of a new ticking clock with a fresh round of negotiations strongly resembling the last three years.

In a striking deja vu, the leak shows the leaders are to confirm that Michel Barnier will reprise his role as chief negotiator, that there would be no side deals with individual member states, and that the issue would come to a head at a string of make-or-break EU summits.

A new no-deal cliff edge would also see the UK potentially leave without a trade agreement to replace the EU's single market at the end of 2020 – with possible extensions, as now.

The EU's 27 presidents and prime ministers will meet in Brussels for a summit on election day, when they will formally confirm the plans, which have already been drawn up by diplomats and officials behind the scenes. If previous summits are a guide, the final version is likely to be published either late on December 12 after the close of polls in the UK, or the next day, December 13. Downing Street has already confirmed Mr Johnson will not attend the meeting to focus on the election.

The leaked draft European Council conclusions seen by The Independent, which are marked as classified information level "LIMITE" or restricted, say that "negotiations should be organised in a way that makes the best possible use of the limited time available for negotiation and ratification by the end of the transition".

The transition period is set to end next December but is extendable for years beyond that with the consent of the EU. The Government says it will not extend the transition, but has also said this prior to every extension of Brexit negotiations and always extended them.

They also add: "The European Council welcomes the Commission's decision to reappoint Michel Barnier for the negotiations on the future relationship. The negotiations will continue to take place in a coherent manner and in a spirit of unity and transparency with all Member States. The negotiations will be conducted in continuous coordination and permanent dialogue with the Council and its preparatory bodies.

"The European Council will follow negotiations closely and agree further general political directions as necessary. Between European Council meetings, the General Affairs Council and Coreper, assisted by a dedicated Working Party, will ensure that the negotiations are conducted in line with the overall positions and principles agreed by the European Council as well as the Council's negotiating mandate, and provide further guidance as necessary."

Michel Barnier will continue talks as now (AP)

The plans contradict the claim that Brexit would be "done" in January if the government can pass its withdrawal agreement – with potentially years of further talks ahead.

Mr Johnson however stuck to his campaign slogan on Wednesday, telling a press conference: "We have a deal that will enable us as a Conservative government to get Brexit done by the end of January and that will allow us to get on with the things that we really care about ... there is a fantastic future ahead of us if we can get Brexit done and move forward!"

He said not electing a Tory government would lead to a "groundhog day of more paralysis and chaos".

Luisa Porritt, a Liberal Democrat MEP, told The Independent: "This leak proves the Tory pledge to 'get Brexit done' is a fallacy. Within 24 hours of a Johnson victory, we will be locked into a panicked negotiation about our economic future with 27 of our largest trading partners, with the clock ticking down.

"Mr Johnson has not been honest about the horrors that lie ahead of us if his botched Brexit deal is allowed to proceed. The only way to get Brexit done is to stop Johnson from getting a majority and put the decision about Britain's membership of the EU back to the people for a final say."

Labour's election coordinator Andrew Gwynne said: "Boris Johnson simply can’t be trusted on Brexit. There’s no chance Johnson will be able to negotiate a trade deal with the EU in a year, especially when he will be trying to sell-off the NHS in a toxic trade deal with Trump at the same time.

"His empty Brexit slogans are designed to hide the truth that under another Tory government we should be braced for more failed talks and extensions, the selling-out of our workers’ rights and environmental protections and, ultimately, a cliff-edge No Deal Brexit. There’s only one way through this mess: a Labour government that will negotiate a sensible Brexit deal and then let the people have the final say on that deal, or remaining in the EU."