- A string of Eurosceptic MPs indicated today they could back the PM’s proposals
- Senior Labour MP predicted that as many as 30 party colleagues could back deal
- The PM said he would adopt a tone of ‘glutinous emollience’ in the coming days
Boris Johnson’s Brexit blueprint was gathering momentum at Westminster tonight as hardline ‘Spartan’ MPs signalled they were ready to drop their opposition to a deal.
In a dramatic turnaround, a string of Eurosceptic MPs who rejected Theresa May’s deal three times indicated today they could back his proposals.
Several former Tories – kicked out of the party last month for voting to block No Deal – indicated they were ready to fall in line.
And a senior Labour MP predicted that as many as 30 of his party colleagues might be persuaded to back Mr Johnson’s deal – although other sources suggested that the true number was likely to be significantly lower.
Boris Johnson’s Brexit blueprint was gathering momentum at Westminster tonight as hardline ‘Spartan’ MPs signalled they were ready to drop their opposition to a deal
At a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday, Mr Johnson said he would adopt a tone of ‘glutinous emollience’ in the coming days in a bid to win over wavering MPs.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the plan appeared to have a ‘very good chance’ of winning the support of MPs, adding: ‘We have the DUP, Conservatives who were previously opposed and some broad-minded and constructive Labour MPs. That seems to me to be a pretty solid majority.’
Downing Street was last night even considering the possibility of an ‘indicative vote’ on the plans in the coming days to demonstrate to Brussels that the PM can get a deal through Parliament.
The shift in mood came as Mr Johnson outlined his plans to the Commons for the first time yesterday.
He told MPs that his plans, which have received a muted reaction from Brussels and hostility from Dublin, were a ‘genuine attempt to bridge the chasm’.
Mr Johnson is expected to hold talks with a string of EU leaders in the coming days in a bid to persuade them to agree a deal. He said the UK had ‘already moved quite some way’ in the hope of securing a deal with Brussels, adding: ‘We have gone the extra mile.’
But despite No 10 suggesting this week that his plans were the ‘final offer’ to the EU, the PM indicated he would be willing to consider further concessions if Brussels agreed to engage seriously in the coming days.
Mr Johnson urged MPs to ‘come together in the national interest behind this new deal’.
He said ministers were prepared to leave without a deal at the end of this month but added: ‘This Government’s objective has always been to leave with a deal and these constructive and reasonable proposals show our seriousness of purpose.
‘They do not deliver everything that we would have wished, they do represent a compromise, but to remain a prisoner of existing positions is to become a cause of deadlock rather than breakthrough.
‘So we have made a genuine attempt to bridge the chasm, to reconcile the apparently irreconcilable and to go the extra mile as time runs short.’
Downing Street was buoyed by signs that many of the 28 Brexit ‘Spartans’ who helped to block Mrs May’s deal appeared to be ready to back down.
Steve Baker, the chairman of the powerful European Research Group of MPs, said that Eurosceptics could now ‘glimpse the possibility of a tolerable deal’.
Steve Baker, the chairman of the powerful European Research Group of MPs, said that Eurosceptics could now ‘glimpse the possibility of a tolerable deal’
Veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash also welcomed the PM’s plans, while fellow hardliner Sir Bernard Jenkin said DUP backing for the deal ‘would change the whole chemistry of the way the Conservative Party thinks about this’.
Former minister Steve Brine, one of 21 Conservative Remainers kicked out last month, told Mr Johnson: ‘Those who want to avoid No Deal – like me, like him – now need to do the right thing and vote for a deal.’
While Alistair Burt, another of the exiled 21, said a deal ‘now seemed to be achievable’.
And former Tory minister Nick Boles, who quit the party over Brexit earlier this year, said Mr Johnson’s deal was ‘flawed’ but added: ‘Above all I want to see the UK leave the EU with a deal. So I must compromise. I would vote for this deal if the EU accepts it.’
Jeremy Corbyn moved to kill off the prospect of Labour MPs voting for the deal in significant numbers, with a hint that rebels would face discipline.
The Labour leader, who has opposed every Brexit plan, said: ‘Deal or No Deal, they want a Trump Brexit that will crash our economy. No Labour MP could support such a reckless deal.’
But some Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas indicated they could back a deal.
Stephen Kinnock said as many as 30 Labour MPs might vote for Mr Johnson’s proposals rather than risk No Deal or a second referendum.
Mr Johnson yesterday made a concerted effort to woo Labour MPs, dropping the confrontational style seen in previous Commons performances. He told MPs: ‘We will be ensuring that this country has the highest standards for workers’ rights and for environmental protections.’
Mr Johnson said he would ‘reflect’ on the idea of holding a vote on his plans ahead of a crunch Brussels summit on October 17. Some senior Tories believe a successful vote would pile pressure on Brussels to cut a deal.
No 10 last night said that the idea was ‘a possibility’.
But a source warned that there was a danger the plan could backfire if wavering Labour MPs decided to hold back from rebelling until a deal had been agreed with the EU. One insider said: ‘It will be hard to persuade Labour MPs to get on board – why ask them to do it twice?’
Irish leader dismisses deal – suggesting Britons now want to ‘remain’ in the EU
by David Churchill, Brussels Correspondent for the Daily Mail
The Irish premier Leo Varadkar was accused of trying to ‘derail’ any prospect of a Brexit deal after he delivered an extraordinary dismissal of Boris Johnson’s plan.
In an incendiary press conference, the Taoiseach said the Prime Minister’s Brexit proposal ‘falls short in a number of aspects’ and claimed that British people now wanted to remain in the EU.
He then went on to insist there were only five ways to avoid a hard border in Ireland, including Irish reunification and the reversal of Brexit. Mr Varadkar also questioned how Mr Johnson’s proposals, which include customs checks, could be implemented.
He said: ‘I am reassured by what Prime Minister Johnson said today [in the Commons]: that he is not proposing that there should be any new physical infrastructure on the island of Ireland linked to customs or customs checks. But that is actually in contradiction to the papers presented by the UK government yesterday.’
Leo Varadkar has been accused of trying to ‘derail’ any prospect of a Brexit deal
His most controversial remarks came in response to a question about the prospect of Britain staying in EU, to which he replied: ‘All the polls suggest that’s what the British people actually want, but their political system isn’t able to give them that choice.’
Simon Coveney, Mr Varadkar’s deputy, also criticised Britain’s new Brexit offer yesterday as Ireland emerged as the main roadblock to Mr Johnson’s hopes of a deal before October 31.
He warned: ‘If that is the final proposal there will be No Deal. There are a number of fundamental problems… there are elements of this proposal that simply will not be part of any deal.’
Both tore into the idea of giving Northern Ireland a say over whether it joins and remains in the single market after January 2021, when the transition period ends.
Under the current backstop Ulster could be trapped inside the single market indefinitely with no say.
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who also spoke with Mr Varadkar, said ‘further discussions with the United Kingdom negotiators are needed’
Last night Brussels backed Dublin. EU Council chief Donald Tusk spoke to Mr Varadkar and Mr Johnson for 20 minutes before tweeting: ‘My message to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: We stand fully behind Ireland. My message to PM Boris Johnson: We remain open but still unconvinced.’
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, who also spoke with Mr Varadkar, said ‘further discussions with the United Kingdom negotiators are needed’.
Last night, the DUP launched a furious attack on both Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney, accusing the pair of risking a no-deal Brexit with their hostility.
Deputy DUP leader Nigel Dodds MP said their ‘incendiary and outrageous’ response represented a ‘clear ramping up of rhetoric designed to derail any realistic prospect of a deal’.
‘Our message to Leo is simple. He should reflect on his comments and his intransigent approach. He is destined to go down in history as the Taoiseach who restored a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland because his friends in Brussels will insist on it.’
DUP leader Arlene Foster added: ‘Simon Coveney’s remarks are deeply unhelpful, obstructionist and intransigent. Mr Coveney’s rejection of a reasonable offer is paving the road for a No Deal exit because unionism will not allow Northern Ireland to be trapped at the whim of Dublin or the EU.’
Brexiteers also reacted with fury. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘This is a set-up with Mr Tusk. It’s clear that he just plans to bully the UK back into the EU by the use of the border. It is utterly cynical.’
Tory MP Nigel Evans said: ‘He will sacrifice Irish jobs simply because he is not prepared to negotiate. It’s disgraceful.’
A UK government source said: ‘The EU has clearly said it wants a deal. There has to be creativity, flexibility and political will from both sides if we are to get one.’
Mr Johnson’s top Brexit adviser, David Frost, travelled to Brussels last night in a bid to keep the government’s strategy on track.
The EU’s response to Mr Johnson’s new Brexit offer will determine whether it has any chance of success. It is understood that member states will decide next week whether a deal could be done in time for a crunch summit on October 17.
The deadline was set following a briefing with the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
But, according to a diplomatic note seen by the Mail, Mr Barnier told them UK proposals were ‘not operational in any way’ and ‘just refer to future technologies and arrangements to be discussed during the transition period’.
Brussels has always insisted any alternative arrangements should be operational on Brexit day.
EU diplomats told the Mail that although they believe Mr Johnson’s offer could form the basis for a re-negotiation, there is not enough time for leaders to sign off on a deal ahead of Britain leaving on October 31.
