BORIS Johnson’s beleaguered Brexit plans have suffered another blow after leaked documents revealed the scale of Brussels’ concerns.
Confidential papers show the EU’s point-by-point rejection of the proposals, amid concerns they risk major disruption and leave open the issue of how to avoid infrastructure and checks near the Irish border.
The Prime Minister’s blueprint for a future Withdrawal Agreement has received short shrift from European leaders since being unveiled last week, with just days left until a crunch European Council meeting on October 17.
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted the workings of a deal must be in place by Friday.
But Downing Street said the imposition of such a deadline was not “helpful”.
Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “We are ready to talk with the EU at a pace to secure a deal so we can move on and build a new partnership between the UK and EU.
“But if this is to be possible then the EU must match the compromises that the UK has made.”
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During a visit to a hospital in Watford, the Prime Minister said it was up to Brussels to make the next move.
He said: “What we’re saying to our friends is, this is a very generous, fair and reasonable offer we’ve made.
“What we’d like to hear from you now is what your thoughts are. And if you have issues with any of the proposals that we’ve come up with, then let’s get into the detail and discuss them.”
Mr Johnson set out plans last Wednesday to replace the backstop – the insurance policy against a hard border in Ireland – by keeping Northern Ireland in step with single market rules on goods but taking it out of the customs union along with the rest of the UK.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said it was a “very firm no” when asked whether the UK could compromise and keep Northern Ireland in a customs territory with Ireland in order to strike a deal.
However, documents obtained by The Guardian reveal the full scale of the EU’s concerns.
A confidential report raises a number of issues, including fears creating a customs border would risk major disruption.
Meanwhile, solutions on how to avoid customs checks and infrastructure near the Irish border have been left up to a joint EU-UK committee, with no alternative plan in place if this fails.
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The UK’s chief negotiator, David Frost, is at the European Commission to hold further technical-level talks.
A spokeswoman for the Commission said officials were available “24/7” for discussions.
Speaking at a briefing in Brussels, chief spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said: “Talks will continue today and this week in order to give the UK the opportunity to present their proposals in more detail and then we will take stock with member states and the European Parliament throughout the week.
“And, as we have said before, everyday counts in these talks. I think we have said many times that we are available 24/7.”
It came as Labour was accused of being the biggest barrier to preventing a no-deal Brexit after a cross-party meeting to scrutinise the Government’s new proposals ended in a divide.
Following the talks, a senior Lib Dem source said: “The position Jeremy Corbyn is taking is that we can have an emergency Government, but only if he gets to lead it.
“They know they don’t have the numbers, but they are insistent they won’t work with anyone else.”
A source close to the talks said that while Labour confirmed it would be unwilling to back any other candidate to lead an emergency government, every other party in the meeting expressed a willingness to support another candidate if that is what is required.
Also in Westminster, Brexit minister James Duddridge refused to confirm whether he or the DUP have read the legal text of the UK’s new EU withdrawal plan.
He told the Commons he would not comment on who has seen which documents, adding: “Nor indeed will I comment on documents I’ve seen or haven’t seen.”
He said the legal text given to the European Commission outlining the UK’s proposals will not be shared with MPs until the Government judges that it will “assist the negotiations”.
However, he confirmed MPs would see the full legal text before being asked to vote on any deal, though he did not say when that would be.
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