NO DEAL
Britain rejects more ‘pointless’ Brexit talks unless EU budge & says UK should get ready for No Deal
BRITAIN has today rejected fresh Brexit talks unless the EU dramatically shift their positions - despite the EU u-turning on fresh talks.
As Michael Gove denounced further meetings as "pointless" in the House of Commons today, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier caved to pressure and agreed to "intensified" discussions.
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After Boris Johnson's gave up talks last week, Mr Gove told MPs a Canada-style free trade agreement "would not now happen" and told businesses to "get ready" for No Deal.
And Mr Gove said this afternoon: "There needs to be a fundamental change in approach from the EU if the process is to get back on track."
The Government threw out demands for fresh talks, saying there needed to be even more change.
A No10 spokesman said tonight of talks between Brexit chiefs Michel Barnier and David Frost: “This was a constructive discussion.
"The UK has noted the EU’s proposal to genuinely intensify talks, which is what would be expected at this stage in a negotiation.
"However, the UK continues to believe there is no basis to resume talks unless there is a fundamental change of approach from the EU.
'NEEDS FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE'
"This means an EU approach consistent with trying to find an agreement between sovereign equals and with acceptance that movement needs to come from the EU side as well as the UK.
"The two teams agreed to remain in close touch.”
But, crucially, Downing Street said the U-turn was not enough to resume talks.
However, EU sources said the bloc was ready to “climb down” from its hardest demands on access to fishing waters and state aid.
And if a trade pact cannot be agreed, Brussels is willing to consider mini-deals for some areas such as road and air transport links.
'UTTER RUBBISH'
But ex-PM Theresa May voiced fears UK police won’t be able to “identify and catch criminals and potential terrorists” if they lose access to EU databases.
She appeared to mouth “Utter rubbish” as Mr Gove claimed the UK will boost its security outside the EU.
Mr Gove slammed the bloc for backtracking on promises made by EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen that there would be intensive talks in the run up Mr Johnson's October 15 deadline to make progress.
He said: "The conclusions of the European Council meeting dropped a reference to intensive talks that had been in the draft and declared that all future moves had to be made by the UK."
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"There's no point in negotiations proceeding as long as the EU sticks with this position, such talks would be meaningless and would take us no nearer to a workable position."
And Mr Gove hammered home the message that Britain "should get ready" for January 1st next year, when the transition period will end with so-called Australian-style trading rules - code for No Deal.
But he didn't entirely slam the door on more talks - saying if EU chiefs wanted to come back and hash out a deal they would have to give up their stubborn positions.
"If the EU wants to change this situation, and I devoutly hope it will, it needs to make a fundamental change in it's approach.
"It has to be serious about talking intensively on all issues."
Eurocrats need to accept Britain's "independent and sovereign" status, Mr Gove demanded.
"We have to be in control of our own borders, our fishing laws, we have to be free to thrive as an independent, trading nation," he said.
And as Mr Gove ramped up the rhetoric on No Deal, EU chief negotiator Mr Barnier finally caved to Britain's demands after a call with Britain's negotiator David Frost.
He wrote on Twitter: "I just spoke to @DavidGHFrost.
"As stated by President (Ursula von der Leyen) on Friday, I confirmed that the EU remains available to intensify talks in London this week, on all subjects, and based on legal texts."
THE SUN SAYS
DEAL or No Deal? Who knows?
But one thing is clear. Boris Johnson’s decision to head full-tilt for the exit door sobered Brussels up.
Barnier is talking turkey. France may pay to fish.
OK. But let’s not start counting our chlorinated chickens.
Responding to Mr Barnier bowing to the pressure, Mr Gove said: "We need to make sure that we work on the basis of the proposed intensification that they propose.
"I prefer to look forward in optimism rather than to look back in anger.
"The difficult period over the past few weeks has been a result of some of the EU side not being as energetic as we have been to reach an agreement."
But he warned he would not put up with "the illusion of engagement, without the reality of compromise."
Mr Johnson bolstered spirits last week,
He said: "(EU bosses) want the continued ability to control our legislative freedom, our fisheries in a way that is completely unacceptable to an independent country.
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"And since we have only 10 weeks until the end of the transition period on January 1, I have to make judgment about the likely outcome and get us ready.
"And given that they have refused to negotiate seriously for much of the last few months and given that this summit appears explicitly to rule out a Canada-style deal, I've concluded that we should get ready for January 1 with arrangements that are more like Australia's based on simple principles of global free trade."
YES, NO DEAL
By Matt Dathan, Deputy Political Editor
BUSINESS Secretary Alok Sharma yesterday admitted Boris Johnson’s talk of an “Australian-style” trade deal with the EU means No Deal.
It has long been thought the PM uses the term as disguised code for a hard Brexit.
Asked if they were the same thing, Mr Sharma said: “It depends, you can use the phrase ‘No Deal’ . . . it’s a question of semantics.”
The minister also scored an own goal when asked about his local Berkshire football team Reading, saying: “We are currently in Division One”. The Royals are actually second in the Championship.
Boris Johnson slams Brussels as he admits EU have not been acting in good faith over Brexit deal
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