Michael Gove and Philip Hammond have clashed again over no deal, it was claimed today.
With just 36 days to go the Environment Secretary is said to have accused the Chancellor of failing to properly prepare Britain for no deal.
Mr Hammond insisted today the Government had taken the necessary precautions but was still committed to leaving the EU with a deal.
Reports of the clash emerged the morning after Theresa May's latest round of talks in Brussels with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
They discussed plans for an 'appropriate legal assurance' about the backstop to reassure MPs and in a joint statement said they were aware 'of the tight timescale'.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox are due back in Brussels today for further talks while Mrs May will continue her diplomatic efforts at a summit in Egypt this weekend.
Michael Gove (right) and Philip Hammond (left) have clashed again over no deal, it was claimed today
Theresa May flew into Brussels for a showdown with Jean-Claude Juncker last night (pictured) warning she still needs 'legally binding concessions' to get her deal agreed
Two sources told The Telegraph that there had been a 'heated' row between Mr Hammond and Mr Gove.
Mr Gove is said to have raised concerns about whether there will be enough ferry capacity to transport food and medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The argument is said to have happened during a Cabinet committee discussions yesterday.
In an interview with the Today programme this morning, the Chancellor admitted it was 'uncomfortable we are so close to the wire' but said it was the nature of political negotiations.
He described Brexit as 'a large black cloud' hanging over the UK economy, which is distracting the Government from its domestic priorities.
In an interview with BBC One's Breakfast, the Chancellor was repeatedly asked whether he would quit the Cabinet if Theresa May went for a no-deal Brexit.
He replied: 'I will always do what I believe is in the best interests of the country.'
Asked if a no-deal Brexit would be in the UK's best interests, Mr Hammond said: 'No, definitely not. My job is to make sure that the Government gets us a solution which does not take us to that no-deal precipice.
'I have been crystal-clear on this for the last two-and-a-half years. That is what I am working for all day, every day, and, so long as I believe I am able to influence that outcome and help to get us to a good outcome here, which will protect British jobs and British prosperity, that's what I will go on doing.'
Speaking last night in Brussels, Mrs May said: 'I've underlined the need for us to see legally binding changes to the backstop which ensure it cannot be indefinite, that's what is required if a deal is going to pass the House of Commons.
'We've agreed that work to find a solution will continue at pace, time is of the essence and it's in both our interests that when the UK leaves the EU it does so in an orderly way.
'And so we've made progress and the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and the Attorney General will be in Brussels tomorrow for further talks.'
A joint statement issued following the meeting said: 'The two leaders agreed that talks had been constructive and they urged their respective teams to continue to explore the options in a positive spirit.
'They will review progress again in the coming days, seized of the tight timescale and the historic significance of setting the EU and the UK on a path to a deep and unique future partnership.'
The statement said discussions had looked at 'which guarantees could be given with regard to the backstop that underline once again its temporary nature and give the appropriate legal assurance to both sides'.
Talks also covered 'the role alternative arrangements could play in replacing the backstop in future'.
The statement added: 'Both reconfirmed their commitment to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and to respect the integrity of the EU's internal market and of the United Kingdom.'
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox (pictured in Downing Street yesterday ) is working on a legal 'codicil' to the deal setting out the current backstop will not last forever - something critics fear.
Mr Juncker - pictured tonight sporting a plaster on his face - has warned Mrs May must be the one to find concessions to get a Brexit deal
The PM and Mr Juncker agreed to talk again before the end of the month.
After the meeting, Mrs May said: 'I have underlined the need for us to see legally binding changes to the backstop that ensure that it cannot be indefinite.
'That's what is required if a deal is to pass the House of Commons. We have agreed that work to find a solution will continue at pace.
'Time is of the essence and it is in both our interests that when the UK leaves the EU it does so in an orderly way. So, we have made progress.'
Mrs May will continue her diplomatic offensive at an EU-Arab summit on Sunday - but officials have admitted it would not be the scene for a dramatic 'deal in the desert'.
Other EU leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Council President will be in Sharm el-Sheikh and Mrs May will hold Brexit-related talks.
But no decisions will be taken in the absence of key powerbrokers, including French President Emmanuel Macron - possibly ending Mrs May's hopes of a new vote on her deal as soon as next week.
Mrs May faces a race against time to get her deal approved before exit day on March 29 and could face mass resignations next week to stop no deal.
But amid hopes Sunday's summit could produce a breakthrough, a senior Government official said: 'This is not a meeting about Brexit and the PM isn't going to seek to turn it into one.
'At summits the PM always holds a series of bilateral meetings and conversations and she will of course continue to engage her fellow leaders in relation to Brexit,' the official said.
'But this isn't a European Council meeting and it isn't somewhere that European Council decisions are going to be made.'
Mrs May is battling to keep her Brexiteer rebels (including Steve Baker, pictured) on board and met senior MPs last night to sooth anger over claims the so-called 'Malthouse Compromise' was being dropped
Mrs May is battling to keep her Brexiteer rebels on board and met senior MPs on Tuesday night to sooth anger over claims the so-called 'Malthouse Compromise' was being dropped.
The PM told them the plan - to replace the current border backstop with a technology-based solution - is still under development despite ministers accepting it will not be ready in time to approve the deal before exit day.
It is deeply unclear whether any extra legal promises will be enough to swing enough vote for the Prime Minister to win a second vote on the deal.
The hardline European Research Group has repeatedly insisted the deal must be re-written to pass - warning new legal language will not be enough.
Mrs May has promised MPs if she has not held a vote on a revised deal before Wednesday they will get another chance to put their own proposals to the test.
The PM has been warned she could face a raft of ministerial resignations if she fails to rule out a no deal Brexit in time for those votes, which will fall just a month before exit day.
Corbyn heads to Brussels for talks with Eurocrats as Labour leader bids to break Brexit deadlock
Jeremy Corbyn is to hold talks in Brussels in a bid to try to break the Brexit deadlock.
Ahead of the discussions with EU figures, the Labour leader called on Prime Minister Theresa May to abandon her Brexit 'red lines' to secure a workable deal.
Mr Corbyn said he would use the meetings with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and others to stress that a no-deal Brexit does not command a majority in Parliament.
Jeremy Corbyn is to hold talks in Brussels in a bid to try to break the Brexit deadlock
The Labour leader said: 'The Conservative Government is running down the clock in an attempt to blackmail Parliament into accepting Theresa May's bad deal over a chaotic no deal.
'We are saying loud and clear that there is no majority for no deal, and Labour will be working with politicians across the House to prevent a no-deal outcome which would be so damaging to our economy and communities.
'Labour respects the result of the referendum, but we do not support the Prime Minister's damaging approach which is focused more on appeasing factions of her party than finding a sensible solution that works for the whole country.
'With just 37 days until Brexit, Theresa May must accept that her historic defeats in Parliament and complete failure to reach a new deal mean her approach has failed.
Mr Corbyn said he would use the meetings with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and others to stress that a no-deal Brexit does not command a majority in Parliament
'She should abandon her damaging red lines and finally work with Labour to reach a deal which works for our country.'
As well as Mr Barnier, the Labour leader will meet European Commission secretary general Martin Selmayr and European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt.
Mr Corbyn will be accompanied on the trip by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer.
photo link
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/cabinet-clash-over-no-deal-as-backstop-talks-resume-in-brussels/
News Photo Cabinet clash over no deal as backstop talks resume in Brussels
Advertising
You don’t have to pack away your dress just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/21/09/10089030-0-image-m-4_1550743134430.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий