Boris heads to Brussel for final make-or-break push to clinch Brexit deal | UK | News (Reports)

The Prime Minister will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to try and thrash out the “remaining significant differences” holding up an agreement. Their face-to-­face summit, arranged in a phone call ­yesterday, is expected to take place tomorrow. Mr Johnson’s first trip to Brussels since taking over in Downing Street will be seen on both sides of the Channel as a sign that a trade deal is tantalisingly close. But they admit the three key sticking points – a level playing field on trade, state aid subsidies and fisheries – still need to be resolved. A senior Government source sounded a note of caution last night, warning that no progress had been made for days. “Talks are in the same position now as they were on Friday,” the source said. “We have made no tangible progress tangible progress. It’s clear this must now continue politically. Whilst we do not consider this process to be closed, things are looking very tricky and there’s every chance we are not going to get there.”

Brussels sources were also pessimistic the Prime Minister’s last-gasp trip to the Belgian capital will be enough to end the impasse.

One EU diplomat said: “Political intervention won’t do anything when the positions are still heavily guarded.

“Perhaps there is choreography leading to the EU’s Wednesday/Thursday special summit.

“However, the fundamentals have not seen change and basically nothing has altered for the last eight weeks.

“I’m in the dark what would now suddenly move which didn’t before.”

The key sticking points – fishing quotas and rules governing state subsidies to industry – still need to be resolved with the PM refusing to budge over British sovereignty.

Mr Johnson and Ms Von der Leyen agreed to meet during a 90-minute phone call described by a Whitehall source as “polite and courteous”. A joint statement from the two leaders after their call said: “As agreed on Saturday, we took stock today of the ongoing negotiations.

“We agreed that the conditions for finalising an agreement are not there due to the remaining significant differences on three critical issues – level playing field, governance and fisheries.

“We asked our chief negotiators and their teams to prepare an overview of the remaining differences to be discussed in a physical meeting in Brussels in the coming days.”

Their discussion followed days of intensive wrangling by Mr Johnson’s chief Europe envoy Lord Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Barnier briefed EU ambassadors and was said to be “downbeat” and “gloomy” about the prospects of a deal.

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney last night pointed out that tomorrow is the cut-off point for reaching an agreement.

He said a “political intervention from the very top” was needed to end the deadlock.

“Beyond Wednesday we’re into a European Council meeting and I think if there is no deal by Thursday, then leaders within the EU will certainly start to think about contingency planning for a no trade deal Brexit.”

Irish premier Micheal Martin said: “Overall I think it is in the best interests of all concerned that a proper trade deal is agreed.

“Our respective economies would suffer, unnecessarily in my view, in the event of a no-deal. A deal can be arrived at.

“It would be a significant failure if we were to end up with no-deal.” Meanwhile French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been pushing for a better fisheries deal for his country – discussed the deadlock in a video conference last night with Ms Von der Leyen, EU Council president Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Mr Michel’s spokesman said they were preparing for a crunch Brussels summit on Thursday.

French MEP Nathalie Loiseau, a close ally of Mr Macron, said: “Barnier is trying to make a good deal.

“If minds are not ready for that in December 2020, let’s meet again next year.” At Westminster yesterday, the Paymaster General Penny Mordaunt said negotiations had reached a “critical moment”.

She told the Commons: “The talks and negotiations are constructive and they are continuing at pace. And I hope that we will have good news in the coming days.”

She insisted the Government was committed to keep negotiating as long as there was hope of getting a deal.

“We will work until there is no hope left of getting a deal.

“We are all working to get a deal but the only deal that is possible is one that is compatible with our sovereignty and takes back control of our laws, trade and waters. While an agreement is preferable, we are prepared to leave on so-called Australian-style terms if we can’t find compromises.

“Of these, the level playing field issue is currently the most difficult.” The term is a trade-policy term that prevents businesses in one country gaining a competitive advantage over those operating in other countries.

If there is no deal then border checks and taxes will be introduced for goods travelling between the UK and the EU.

Brexit-supporting Tory MPs urged the Prime Minister and Lord Frost to stand firm.

Senior backbencher Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, said: “I genuinely don’t think they have put a foot ­wrong throughout this entire process.

“I want to see a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU but certainly not any deal and definitely not a deal which leaves us shackled to EU rules and regulations in perpetuity. So can I urge the Government to stand firm in these negotiations to make sure that we deliver on the Brexit that so many people voted for, and that so many of us campaigned for, for 
so many years.”

Peter Bone, MP for Wellingborough, was “absolutely confident” the Prime Minister would only bring back a deal “if it takes back control of our laws, borders and trade.

“In fact I’d bet my house on it that he will not betray those principles.”

Labour frontbencher Rachel Reeves said: “Day after day we see this Government failing to deliver their promises to the British people and failing to get the deal they prom-
ised done.

“Securing a deal is critical to the British national interest for jobs and security.

“Even at this 11th hour, we urge both sides to get on with reaching an agreement.

“We can then focus on the job at hand which is securing the economy and rebuilding our country from the pandemic.”