Boris Johnson to tell EU leaders ‘let’s finish this off’ and agree Brexit deal on Monday
2 min read
Boris Johnson is to tell EU leaders “let’s finish this off” and deliver a new Brexit deal on Monday or agree to let the UK leave on October 31 with no agreement in place.
The Prime Minister will speak to German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker to build on his talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
The Sunday Times is reporting that Mr Johnson wants them to press the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to sign off the outline of a deal ahead of next week’s crucial European summit.
A source close to the negotiations told the paper: “He’ll be talking to Merkel, Macron and Juncker by the end of Monday to see if there’s agreement on a ‘landing zone’ for Northern Ireland and customs.
“The message is: ‘Let’s finish this off.’ The alternative is to agree a friendly version of no deal and finish it that way.”
The current proposals would see Northern Ireland remain legally in Britain’s customs union, but with some of the benefits of remaining in the EU customs union.
But the DUP’s Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said the solution “cannot work”.
He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: “Northern Ireland must remain fully part of the UK customs union. And Boris Johnson knows it very well.”
However Number 10 dismissed this criticism with a source saying: “Northern Ireland will definitely leave the EU customs union and be legally in the UK customs union.
“Varadkar and the commission now accept this. So it’s about the details.”
And Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg today has urged his fellow Brexiteers to tone down their red lines and back a deal, warning that "compromise will inevitably be needed".
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, the Commons leader said "as a Leaver Boris can be trusted".
Mr Rees-Mogg adds: "His charisma and intellect are undoubted, and his electoral appeal has been tested and proved in London.
"In the final stages of the Brexit negotiation, compromise will inevitably be needed, something even the staunchest Leavers recognise albeit unwillingly - but as a Leaver Boris can be trusted.
“He wants to take back control and has dedicated his political career to this noble cause.
"If he thinks the ship of state is worth an extra ha’porth of tar he deserves support."
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