11th hour Brexit talks collapse after bitter clash between Geoffrey Cox and Brussels’ Michel Barnier leaving Tories fearing ‘party meltdown’
Geoffrey Cox and Brussels’ Barnier had “a robust exchange of views” No10 sources said — diplomatic code for a blazing row
ELEVENTH hour talks for a new Brexit deal were last night on the verge of collapse as EU chiefs clashed bitterly with Cabinet ministers in Brussels.
With just five days to go before a final showdown Commons vote, British and EU negotiators hit deadlock over a compromise on the Irish backstop.
No10 admitted that Attorney General Geoffrey Cox’s meeting with Michel Barnier was “difficult” and the pair had “a robust exchange of views” – diplomatic code for a blazing row.
It even emerged that the senior eurocrat’s deputy Sabine Weyand told EU ambassadors last night that the two sides are so far apart they will today discuss whether it’s even worth holding any further meetings.
And plans for a weekend trip for Theresa May and EU Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker to seal any new deal were put on ice.
The grim news came and Tory ministers in London began to panic yesterday, predicting “a party meltdown nationwide” if the PM’s deal is voted down on Tuesday.
Parliament is expected to swiftly seize control and enforce a softer Brexit after a three month delay.
Government fears deepened when it emerged Jeremy Corbyn met two senior Tory Remainer rebels yesterday to discuss backing their plan for EEA membership and a customs union.
One distraught Brexiteer minister told The Sun: “If we lose on Tuesday, absolutely everything is going to be s***.
“I cannot see how we go forward with whatever softer Brexit that gets imposed on us without the party splitting in two. It will be a complete disaster.”
As the depth of the negotiating gap emerged, Brussels was left alarmed by Britain’s demand for an independent review system for the backstop, which it sees as a threat to its legal integrity.
An EU source told The Sun what Mr Cox had asked for amounted to a repackaged unilateral exit clause “with bells and whistles on”.
Barnier just didn't want to engage
No 10 source
They said: “What Britain is asking for goes way beyond where Barnier can go. “It doesn’t look we’re going to bridge the gap any time soon.
Mr Barnier also told allies he was left dismayed by British negotiators’ failure to guarantee that any changes he approves will get the agreement past Parliament – making him even more reluctant to agree them.
But a No10 source hit back: “We made what we thought were some pretty reasonable proposals on Tuesday night.
“Barnier just didn’t want to engage.
“It’s looks bad, but it’s also what you’d expect from them at this stage as they have to look like they’re putting up a fight.
“If we can get it something, it won’t be until the very last minute.”
Tuesday’s Meaningful Vote will still go ahead no matter what despite the breakdown and as many as 60 Brexiteer Tory MPs still refusing to back the deal, No10 insisted yesterday.
In a bid to win round more Brexiteer Tories, the Brexit ministry last night announced a significant boost to a team working on an ‘alternative arrangements’ option to replace the backstop.
Ministers will set up and preside over three advisory groups to bolster the planning, made up by trade experts, business and union bosses and senior MPs.
Labour boss Mr Corbyn held talks with ex ministers Nick Boles and Sir Oliver Letwin to discuss their calls for a Norway-style Brexit – also known as Common Market 2.0 - deal if the PM’s deal is defeated in next week’s crunch Commons vote.
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A Labour spokesman said: “It was a positive meeting – they discussed Labour’s alternative plan and the letter to Theresa May from Jeremy and Common Market 2.0.
“They met to discuss each one of their proposals, which both aim at different forms of a close economic relationship with the EU after Brexit.”
Labour refused to say if they would back an amendment which called for Britain to have a Norway-style Brexit deal.
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