Theresa May shelves plans to present Brexit compromise to her bitterly divided Cabinet as talks face fresh chaos
THERESA May’s hopes of a November Brexit breakthrough were plunged into fresh doubt after No10 shelved plans to present a compromise to her bitterly divided Cabinet.
The PM cancelled a meeting of her inner team, with Whitehall insiders now admitting Brussels will have to wait until after next week’s Budget for any attempt to thaw stalled divorce talks.
Plans to pitch new solutions to the EU this week on how the UK will make the insurance backstop option acceptable to both Tories, the DUP and the EU have been delayed amid turmoil in Whitehall.
The PM had summoned her closest ministers for an “update” on how she planned to break the Brussels deadlock and satisfy her warring ministers.
But she abruptly cancelled the private get together late on Wednesday because the plan is not yet ready — and insiders warn the plan will now not reach Brussels until late next week.
The row over the so called “backstop” remains the last major hurdle to a deal on the terms of Britain’s £39billion divorce from the EU - ahead of further crunch talks about the our future trading relations.
Brussels is demanding Northern Ireland stay tied to EU rules if no solution a hard border with Ireland is found by 2021, but Mrs May insists there must be a “get out clause” for the UK to call time on this arrangement.
The PM outlined on Monday how Britain must have a legally binding way to quit and insisted that it must no way jeopardise the relationship between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Russia wades in
RUSSIA waded into Brexit by launching a formal objection to Britain rejoining the World Trade Organisation with full rights.
Countries including the US have already raised concerns but trade officials believe those are near to being resolved after months of talks.
Russia could pose a tougher problem because of current hostility.
Lib Dem MP Tom Brake said: “This could mean businesses face yet more crippling uncertainty.”
One Whitehall source said: “Until there is something to discuss there is no point in getting everyone in.”
They said the plan needed “Cox-proofing” in a reference to heavyweight government law boss Geoffrey Cox.
The top QC has emerged as the champion of Cabinet Brexiteers to avoid having the wool pulled over their eyes by No10.
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They said: “Civil servants used to run rings around the Cabinet, but he has stopped them in their tracks.”
Downing Street are still eyeing an emergency summit in mid-November to get the a Brexit over the line, but have warned she has just 10 days to get her offer signed off by ministers if it has time to go ahead.
Any further delay in presenting her plans to EU negotiator Michel Barnier risks missing tight Brussels deadlines - pushing any deal back into December.
But in a further headache, No Deal plans have to begin to activated by the end of November if they are to be ready in time for Britain potentially crashing out in March 2019.
The Sun Says: Not bluffing
BRITAIN is much stronger than European leaders seem to think.
Their cack-handed threats seem designed to drag us squealing back to the negotiating table, accepting whatever thin gruel they dish up.
Yet the ludicrous warnings from political pygmies like Leo Varadkar and Emmanuel Macron are only strengthening ordinary Brits’ resolve.
Even if they follow through, putting their desire to punish Britain ahead of their own citizens’ economic interests, it won’t bring a grovelling UK back into the European fold.
It would drive a wedge between the EU and the UK far greater than our vote to leave has. Brits wouldn’t turn on our Government, nor Theresa May, who has been nothing but gracious throughout this whole process.
But you can bet they’d be full of fire for Brussels’ stooges.
And we’d still have £39billion from our “divorce bill” that we could spend on vital infrastructure and tax cuts to supercharge our economy.
If Europe’s leaders think they can call our bluff, they’re making a fatal mistake.
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