Boris Johnson risks Brexiteer fury with customs union hint, after EU gives green light to secret negotiations

Donald Tusk concedes there are ‘promising signals’ on reaching a deal

Michel Barnier says Brexit 'like climbing a mountain' as positive deal talks continue

Brexit negotiations will now enter the “tunnel” phase of intensive and secretive talks in a boost for Boris Johnson’s prospects of brokering a fresh deal.

Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, held what he called a “constructive” meeting with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels, raising hopes of a breakthrough on a withdrawal deal.

As the EU27 ambassadors approved talks moving into the “tunnel” phase, EU Council president Donald Tusk said the UK had still not delivered anything workable, but conceded there were “promising signals”.

Mr Johnson hinted at a major concession to rescue a deal by refusing to rule out Northern Ireland staying in the EU’s customs union.

It came as details of private Tory polling emerged showing Mr Johnson cannot get a Commons majority unless he delivers Brexit by 31 October.

Many MPs believe that, if he cannot get a deal, Mr Johnson will use an emergency Saturday sitting of Parliament on October 19 to push for a “people versus Parliament” general election as early as next month.

But if a deal is forthcoming he would need the backing of the DUP and hardline Brexit-backing Tories to give it any chance of getting it through without opposition support.

See below for what was our live coverage.

[11 October 2019 09:49 · Adam Forrest]

In other news this morning, The Independent has been told that Labour MPs are blitzing the leadership with calls demanding Jeremy Corbyn throws his weight behind a fresh Brexit referendum before agreeing to a general election.

The whips’ office has received “dozens of phone calls” from backbenchers worried about going to the polls before Brexit is resolved.

[11 October 2019 09:55 · Adam Forrest]

Labour MP Peter Kyle, leading supporter of a People’s Vote campaign, has said there are “reasons to be sceptical” Boris Johnson is serious about getting a deal.

Speaking in advance of a briefing he and Phil Wilson MP are giving at the Foreign Press Association today, Kyle said: “There are still reasons to be sceptical that Boris Johnson is serious about trying to get a Brexit deal.

“There are even better reasons to be worried about any deal Boris Johnson agrees. That’s because the Brexit he wants to force on Britain will open the door to an attack on workers’ rights, on health and safety and on environmental protection

“That is why, if Europe’s leaders cut a deal with Johnson, they must build in time for such a deal to be approved in a confirmatory referendum by all the people of the UK.

“Understandably, they do not want to interfere in our domestic politics. But a prime minister who has yet to win a single vote in the House of Commons cannot be allowed to get away with presenting the choice as leaving with his shoddy deal on 31 October or crashing out with No Deal on that date.”

[11 October 2019 09:59 · Adam Forrest]

Boris Johnson has put out a feisty video claiming people are getting “fed up” with Brexit. There’s a strange moment where he blames “politicians … us”, pointing to himself, before turning his attention to parliament.

[11 October 2019 10:05 · Adam Forrest]

Well. The talks have finished, according to our Europe correspondent. We may hear soon if both sides are heading for the “tunnel” of intense negotiations ahead of next week’s EU leaders’ summit.

[11 October 2019 10:11 · Adam Forrest]

Oh dear. EU Council president Donald Tusk has tweeted. And it’s not great. Despite “promising signals”, he says the UK has still not come up with anything workable

[11 October 2019 10:36 · Adam Forrest]

Donald Tusk has had more to say this morning. Speaking in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, he said: “Unfortunately we are still in a situation in which the UK has not come forward with a workable, realistic proposal.

“A week ago I told prime minister Johnson that if there was no such proposal by today I would announce publicly there are no more chances, because of objective reasons, for a deal during the coming EU Council.

“However yesterday when the Irish Taoiseach and the UK PM met they both saw for the first time a pathway to a deal. I have received promising signals from the Taoiseach that a deal is still possible.

“Technical talks are taking place in Brussels as we speak. Of course there's no guarantee of success and the time is practically up but even the slightest chance must be used. A no-deal Brexit will never be the choice of the EU.”

EU Council chief Donald Tusk speaks in Cyprus (Reuters) 

[11 October 2019 10:44 · Adam Forrest]

Ireland’s finance minister Paschal Donohoe said he was hopeful talks between the chief Brexit negotiators of the European Union and Britain would yield a positive outcome on Friday.

“What happened yesterday was a positive discussion but the real detail discussion will begin now and that will be in Brussels,” Donohoe told Ireland’s Newstalk station, referring to Thursday’s meeting between the leaders of Britain and Ireland.

“Hopefully the meeting and the process today will be positive.”

[11 October 2019 11:09 · Adam Forrest]

Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt shared the image of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s daughter Gabriella being reunited with her father, adding that the government must “redouble efforts to bring Nazanin home”.

[11 October 2019 11:14 · Adam Forrest]

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to brief the “EU27” group of ambassadors on his discussions with Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay at around 11.30am.

There’s usually always leaks coming out of that meeting, so we might get a sense very soon whether the UK and EU are headed for the “tunnel” of intense negotiations – or whether there’s nothing workable to negotiate.

[11 October 2019 11:25 · Adam Forrest]

Michel Barnier has spoken to reporters and has compared the task of finding a Brexit deal to climbing a mountain.

Speaking in Brussels, the EU negotiator said: “We have had a constructive meeting with Steve Barclay and the British team and now I am ready to debrief the 27 ambassadors and the Brexit steering group of the parliament.

“But as already said, Brexit is like climbing a mountain. We need vigilance, determination and patience.”

European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told a Brussels press briefing: “What I can say from our side is that Michel Barnier had a constructive meeting this morning with Steve Barclay.

“And now he will debrief the EU27 ambassadors... and also inform the Brexit steering group accordingly.”

Michel Barnier after meeting with Stephen Barclay (Reuters)