Boris Johnson news: DUP dismisses Brexit breakthrough ‘nonsense’ as government braces for humiliating extension request letter

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Countdown to Brexit: How many days left until Britain leaves the EU?

Brexit negotiations are continuing overnight Brussels today in a desperate bid to get a political agreement ready in time for a crucial EU leaders’ summit.

Despite progress, EU officials suggested any deal would still have to be delayed by around two months to “resolve technical issues”.

Boris Johnson’s hopes of an agreement before tomorrow’s summit are fading as new hurdles emerge.

DUP leader Arlene Foster dismissed reports of a breakthrough over the issue of consent on customs arrangements as “nonsense”.

But Nicky Morgan, the UK’s culture secretary, said there was a good chance that Britain and the EU could come to an agreement.

“I think there is a good chance of there being a deal,” she said in an interview with ITV’s Peston show.

“Nothing [has been] agreed or announced yet, and of course there is a chance that actually a deal is not agreed.

“So I think we have to wait.”

If you would like to see how the day’s news unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below.

Key Points

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[16 October 2019 13:40 · Adam Forrest]

Oh well. DUP leader Arlene Foster says Tony Connelly’s claim of breakthrough is “nonsense”.

[16 October 2019 14:04 · Adam Forrest]

A new ComRes poll on Brexit is proving controversial. It shows 54 per cent support sticking by the referendum result and leaving the EU, regardless of how they voted.

It also shows the “preferred outcome” is 50 per cent Leave versus 42 per cent Remain, with 30 per cent of the Leavers saying they would prefer to leave with a deal and 20 per cent saying they would rather without a deal.

But – as many are pointing out – results depend on what questions are asked and how you ask them.

YouGov’s Anthony Wells says asking a straight Leave/Remain question produces different results. “The ComRes poll doing the rounds today is presented as Leave 50 per cent, Remain 42 per cent. This would be a very unusual result, as almost every poll that’s asked a straight Remain/Leave question since mid-2017 has round Remain ahead.”

[16 October 2019 14:13 · Adam Forrest]

Good grief. According to Reuters, the pound has actually been fluctuating as a result of Tony Connelly’s tweet about an apparent breakthrough on a deal, and Arlene Foster’s tweet dismissing the idea as “nonsense”.

[16 October 2019 14:17 · Adam Forrest]

More chat about a potential deal. Tory MP Shailesh Vara, a member of the European Research Group (ERG), said Britain must not sign up to “any deal”.

“The UK must hold its nerve. We must make it clear to the EU that whilst we are happy to have a deal, we want a deal, nevertheless it can’t be any deal and hopefully the EU will see sense,” the former Northern Ireland minister told the BBC.

“Nobody wants no-deal. We all want to walk away with something that is fair.”

Tory MP David Lidington, who was Theresa May’s de facto deputy prime minister, said MPs would have to “compromise” if a deal was to be approved - or else risk the EU losing patience.

“It seems to me the omens are good. It seems they are edging very close indeed to a deal and I really hope with all my heart it succeeds,” the former Europe minister told the BBC.

“I think it is really important for parliamentarians in all parties in Westminster to realise that extensions just postpone the moment of decision.

“Parliament is going to have to take decisions. What I have found incredibly frustrating is that people on different wings of the Brexit debate have shied away from compromising when that is the only way we are going to resolve this matter. Eventually, if we are not careful, the 27 are simply going to run out of patience.”

[16 October 2019 14:23 · Adam Forrest]

Our Europe correspondent Jon Stone says EU officials are very interested in that special Saturday sitting in the Commons.

[16 October 2019 14:33 · Adam Forrest]

BREAKING: The London Assembly has been asked by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to pause its activities in relation to allegations about the Boris Johnson’s relationship with Jennifer Arcuri, during his time as London mayor.

Len Duvall, the chair of the London Assembly Oversight Committee said: “The London Assembly respects the IOPC’s remit and will not in any way interfere with its important work.

“However, the Assembly also has an important role and special powers. We will consider using those powers immediately following the conclusion of the IOPC’s work.

“Subject to that important review by the IOPC, certain people should be on notice that the Assembly may well be knocking on their door sometime soon.”

We’re still expecting culture secretary Nicky Morgan to be asked about Arucri – in particular about a £100,000 grant that her department gave Arcuri’s business – from around 3.30pm at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

[16 October 2019 14:43 · Adam Forrest]

When it comes to the Brexit negotiations, we’ve heard talk of pathways, tunnels and walls in recent days. Irish premier Leo Vardkar has now given us the possibility of “bridge” to a deal.

In his statement to Irish MPs about this week’s EU summit, he said: “I said last week that I thought that there was a pathway to a possible agreement. That is still my view. However, the question is whether the negotiators will be able to bridge the remaining gaps in advance of tomorrow’s council.”

[16 October 2019 14:47 · Adam Forrest]

A good sign? Or merely the obvious time to draw a line under negotiations for now? EU Council president Donald Tusk suggests we’ll know if talks have been successful between 9.30pm and around 10.30pm tonight.

[16 October 2019 15:00 · Adam Forrest]

A reminder that a group of opposition MPs – including Dominic Grieve, Vince Cable and David Lammy – are taking meetings in Brussels today, but with whom we’re still not sure.

Grieve, the influential expelled Tory rebel, was asked by reporters about the possibility the rebel alliance would try to force vote on a second referendum at a special sitting in the Commons this Saturday.

He said: “If the prime minister does get an agreement, parliament must have time to consider that agreement and enact a withdrawal agreement if it wishes too – and to add to it a requirement for a [second Brexit] referendum to take place on it.”

“All those things are democratic necessities and there is an anxiety that the prime minister is trying to bamboozle everyone into the idea this can all be resolved by 31 October. It plainly can’t.”

Hillary Benn was also asked about the idea of a confirmatory referendum on the BBC’s World At One. “If the government brings a deal before the house on Saturday, then it would not surprise me at all if an effort were made to say, okay, but subject to a confirmatory referendum,” he said.

[16 October 2019 15:15 · Adam Forrest]

Therese Coffey, the new work and pensions secretary, has refused to commit to ending the benefits freeze next year despite pressure from MPs to end the controversial policy.

Coffey said she could not give a “definitive outcome” on whether Boris Johnson’s government would renew the freeze during her first appearance at the Work and Pensions Committee.

Lizzy Buchan has all the details.