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Taxing times for Brexit as talks go down to the wire

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attends the weekly EU College of Commissioners meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels as frantic talks to reach a deal continued Picture by Francisco Seco/AP
EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attends the weekly EU College of Commissioners meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels as frantic talks to reach a deal continued Picture by Francisco Seco/AP EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attends the weekly EU College of Commissioners meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels as frantic talks to reach a deal continued Picture by Francisco Seco/AP

THE chances of a Brexit deal breakthrough received a setback as it became clear that an agreement would not be announced last night.

After a day of political drama when it appeared a deal was close to being struck, British government sources said that an agreement was not imminent but that talks would continue.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is heading to a crunch summit of EU leaders in Brussels today.

Mr Johnson needs to get a deal approved by the EU at the gathering to avert a major political row over asking Brussels to delay Brexit beyond the scheduled October 31 deadline.

DUP leader Arlene Foster moved to reject a suggestion that her party had accepted the latest proposals in the agreement regarding Northern Ireland consent issues.

She tweeted: “Discussions continue. Needs to be a sensible deal which unionists and nationalists can support.”

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In a day of sharp political twists and turns yesterday, Mr Johnson could take some comfort from the stance of arch-Brexiteer Conservative MP Steve Baker.

After a meeting in Downing Street, the chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) told Sky News: “We have made great progress in our discussions with Number 10.

“We know there will be compromises, but we will be looking at this deal in minute detail, with a view to supporting it. But until we get that text, we can’t say.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman said Mr Johnson had yesterday afternoon updated his Cabinet, which gave its “full support” to get a deal ahead of the summit after a “positive discussion”.

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“He said there was a chance of securing a good deal but we are not there yet and there remain outstanding issues,” the spokesman added.

During a brief address to the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Mr Johnson compared the situation to climbing Mount Everest, according to MPs who attended.

Referring to Mr Johnson, leading Brexiteer Mark Francois said: “He said, ‘We are not quite at the summit, we are at the Hillary Step. The summit is not far but at the moment there is still cloud around the summit’.”

Before the chances of an agreement being secured last night faded, French president Emmanuel Macron said that he wants “to believe that a deal is being finalised”.

Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay said that Mr Johnson will write a letter asking for an Article 50 extension if no deal is in place by Saturday, something the prime minister has repeatedly ruled out.

Saturday is a key date for Mr Johnson, with the Benn Act passed by MPs trying to prevent a no-deal Brexit stating he must write to Brussels asking for a delay if parliament does not agree to a deal by then.

Mr Barclay was questioned by the legislation’s namesake, Labour’s Hilary Benn, when appearing at the Exiting the European Union Committee of MPs.

The Brexit secretary reiterated that Mr Johnson would write to Brussels asking for an Article 50 extension, as previously revealed in documents submitted during a Scottish court challenge.

“I can confirm, as the prime minister has repeatedly set out, that firstly the government will comply with the law, and secondly it will comply with undertakings given to the court in respect of the law,” he said.

Mr Barclay confirmed that the government “will abide by” what is set out in that letter, following fears Mr Johnson could try to scupper an extension with a second contradictory letter or request to a member state to block an extension. The Cabinet minister reiterated the government’s commitment to leaving the EU on the current

October 31 deadline, despite the Act demanding a delay to the end of January if MPs do not approve a deal by Saturday.

If Mr Johnson succeeded in bringing a deal home to the UK, he would then face a battle to do what Theresa May failed to do three times and get it approved by parliament.

A legal text needs to be published ahead of the summit if the EU27 are to consider ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement at the two-day event.

Their approval would allow Mr Johnson to put the deal to MPs in a proposed extraordinary sitting of parliament on Saturday, between 9.30am and 2pm.

During the weekend session, MPs would be able to back or reject any deal presented to them, or discuss what to do next in the Brexit saga.