Boris Johnson news – live: Tusk accuses PM of 'stupid blame game', after disastrous Merkel call leaves Brexit talks on brink of collapse
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Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal appears on the verge of collapse after German chancellor Angela Merkel told him over the phone this morning than an agreement is “overwhelmingly unlikely”, according to Downing Street.
Asked if talks with the EU were close to breaking down, a No 10 source told The Independent: “That is what the prime minister told Merkel. They aren’t negotiating or engaging in Brussels.”
A No 10 source has also claimed there were ways to “scupper” the Brexit delay required by the Benn Act. Amber Rudd said Downing Street sounds “angry and desperate”, while EU Council president Donald Tusk accused the prime minister of playing a “stupid blame game”.
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A new Brexit readiness document will be published today subject to the Speaker John Bercow approving a statement by Michael Gove, the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
The no-deal document will look at the preparations which have been made in advance of the 31 October 31 departure date.
The paper is intended to provide more detail on no-deal planning, and to satisfy an appetite in parliament for more information.
The PM’s spokesman said it should not be viewed as a shift towards a no-deal scenario, adding: “The publication is long planned and is the result of extensive work.
“Talks with the EU are ongoing and it remains our strong desire to leave with a deal.”
Amber Rudd has called the No 10 memo “angry and desperate”. According to Sky News’ Lewis Goodall, an EU official thinks it’s “desperate” stuff too.
A reminder that Boris Johnson must respond today to a summons from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and provide all correspondence related to his relationship Jennifer Arcuri – the woman who was allowed to join trade missions and received large grants.
Asked yesterday if he would agree to appear before its elected members in the days ahead, Johnson replied: “I’ve said everything I’m going to say on that particular subject.”
In her interview this morning, Amber Rudd indicated said she was ready to back a second, Final Say referendum on Brexit to end the deepening crisis.
Insisting a deal was still possible, with further compromise, Rudd said: “Yes, [it] may indeed have to have a confirmatory referendum at some stage, on a deal, to get it through.”
Heidi Allen, the former Tory MP who has announced she is joining the Lib Dems, has been talking about how a second referendum may play out.
Today’s big hearing at the Court of Session is under way.
Aiden O’Neill – the QC who argued successfully against the government in the propogation case in the Supreme Court – is putting campaigners’ case for a nobile officium or “nob off”, which could see the court sign the Brexit extension letter if the PM refuses to do so.
He is arguing that Downing Street officials continue to suggest they will frustrate the Benn Act – and mentions that bombshell memo sent to The Spectator last night vowing to “scupper” a Brexit delay.
Michael Gove’s statement relates to a new Brexit readiness document set to be published today: a paper intended to provide more detail on no-deal planning to satisfy an appetite in parliament for more information.
And then, of course, we’re expecting parliament to be prorogued for the second time in a month.
Labour MP Tracy Brabin, a member of Jeremy Corbyn’s front bench, has said there is “an element of misogyny” in efforts by grassroots activists to unseat four of the party’s female MPs.
She called on the party to support MPs facing deselection after speaking out about antisemitism. Emma Lewell-Buck last night became the fourth Labour MP to lose a “trigger ballot” of local party branches.
All the details here.
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, spoke to Boris Johnson this morning and told him a Brexit deal is “overwhelmingly unlikely”, a No 10 source has told the BBC.
The Downing Street source also said that Brexit negotiations in Brussels “are close to breaking down”.
“Merkel said that if Germany wanted to leave the EU they could do it no problem, but the UK cannot leave without leaving Northern Ireland behind in a customs union and in full alignment forever,” claimed the No 10 official, in remarks reported by Sky News.
“She said that Ireland is the government’s special problem and Ireland must at least have a veto on Northern Ireland leaving.
“Merkel said that the prime minister should tell Northern Ireland that it must stay in full alignment forever, but that even this would not eliminate customs issues.
“It was a very useful clarifying moment in all sorts of ways.”
ITV’s Robert Peston said: “Johnson will now go full steam ahead to a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. I would expect him to make a statement about all this later today.”
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