UP TO EU
Boris Johnson won’t want to go down in history as ‘Mr No Deal Brexit’ says Donald Tusk in jibe ahead of G7 summit
DONALD Tusk kicked off the G7 summit this morning with a dig at Prime Minister Boris Johnson - claiming he won't want to "go down in history as Mr No Deal".
The jibe came in a press conference hours before seven world leaders land in Biarritz, France, for the annual meeting.
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The President of the European Council finished a short speech with the remark as he said he will meet with Mr Johnson tomorrow to talk Brexit.
He said: "He will be the third Conservative British Prime Minister I will meet to discuss Brexit.
"The EU was always open to co-operation when David Cameron wanted to avoid Brexit when Theresa May wanted to avoid a No Deal Brexit, and will also be ready now to hold serious talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
"The one thing I will not co-operate on is No Deal, and I still hope that Prime Minister Johnson will not like to go down in history as Mr No Deal.
"We are willing to listen to ideas that are operational, realistic and acceptable to all member states, including Ireland.
"If and when the UK Government is ready to put them on the table."
Mr Johnson hit back, and speaking to reporters on the plane over to France, said: "I have made it absolutely clear I don't want a no-deal Brexit.
"But I say to our friends in the EU, if they don't want a no-deal Brexit then we have got to get rid of the backstop from the treaty.
'MR NO DEAL'
"If Donald Tusk doesn't want to go down as 'Mr no-deal Brexit' then I hope that point will be borne in mind by him too."
In his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Tusk tomorrow, the Prime Minister will spell out his absolute commitment to getting the UK out of the EU.
Mr Tusk also said this weekend's talks will be "a difficult test of unity and solidarity of the free world and it's leaders".
He added: "There is still no certainty whether the group will be able to find common solutions, and the global challenges are today really serious.
"Or weather it will focus on senseless disputes among each other.
"The last years have shown that it is increasingly difficult for us to find common language and the world needs our cooperation more, not less.
"This may be the last moment to restore our political community."
DEAL OR NO DEAL?
A No Deal departure from the European Union means leaving without formal arrangements for the future relationship or any transition period.
Currently Britain's trade, customs and immigration rules are tied up with the single market and a host of EU regulatory bodies.
If Brussels doesn't make concessions to the much-debated Irish backstop, Mr Johnson has insisted Britain will leave the EU without an agreement on October 31.
He recently tweeted: "We are ready to work with our friends and partners to deal a deal.
"But if you want a good deal for the UK, you must simultaneously get ready to come out without one."
But Mr Tusk has been a strong proponent of the Irish backstop, opposed by some Brexiteers, arguing it is a necessary instrument if a hard border on the island of Ireland is to be avoided.
Under a No Deal scenario, Britain will crash out of the EU with no transition period to ensure a smooth crossover.
The 310 mile frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic could become a hard border if no other arrangement is made - which could be catastrophic for the region.
Mr Johnson announced an extra £2.1 billion of funding to prepare for a No Deal, which is doubling the amount of money set aside this year, and tasked Michael Gove with preparing for a No Deal Brexit.
Ministers had previously announced plans for troops on the street and emergency ferries to cope with this scenario.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
This weekend a ring of steel has been set up around the site where seven world leaders will meet for talks in Biarritz.
Also known as the Group of Seven, these countries are the seven largest economies of the world.
Issues on the agenda at the G7 include the global economy, tackling inequality and responding to the challenges of the digital age and the rise of artificial intelligence.
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Anti-G7 protests as heads of state arrive in nearby Biarritz
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