ARE EU SERIOUS?
Boris dodges ‘ambush’ as EU boss holds press conference next to anti-Brexit mob
BORIS Johnson dodged an "ambush" after an EU boss chose to hold their press conference near furious anti-Brexit protesters.
Xavier Bettel milked the whooping cheers and applause from the pro-Remain mob after 'empty-chairing' the PM in a petty move in front of bemused reporters.
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ARE EU SERIOUS?
No10 said the PM's aides asked to move the press conference away from the baying crowd - described as a "large Remain gathering" - but the request was denied by their hosts.
A Downing Street source said: “We repeatedly asked for it to be moved into the press centre but they refused and said it needed to be outside - by the loud protesters.
“We took a decision to take a media engagement at the residence instead.
The sourced added: "We went to Luxembourg to see Juncker, not him.";
No10 also hit back at claims by Mr Bettel that Brexit was the "decision of the British government", adding: “it was a decision of the British people and it’s our job to enact the will of the British people because politicians don’t get to choose what votes they respect.”
We repeatedly asked for it to be moved into press centre but they refused and said it need to be outside - by the loud protesters. We took a decision to take a media engagement at the residence instead.
No10 source
Luxembourg PM Mr Bettel blasted the British people for backing Brexit and said it was a “nightmare” during a long rant - before arrogantly claiming: "this wouldn't happen in Luxembourg".
Seemingly agitated by the PM's no-show he ranted: “our citizens want to have a certainty.”
The Luxembourg premier also told reporters: “Don’t put the blame on us because they don’t know how to get out of this situation. It is not my choice.”
'CHEAP AMBUSH'
Tory MP Michael Fabricant slammed the "cheap" move by Mr Bettel and said the PM was right to walk away from the press conference.
The Brexiteer told The Sun: "The Prime Minister of Luxembourg presides offer a nation of under 591,000 people - about two thirds the size of Staffordshire.
"I believe that the leader of Staffordshire County Council would have behaved with a lot more dignity than Mr Bettel.
"Boris was right not to play into the hands of this cheap little ambush."
Boris was right not to play into the hands of this cheap little ambush.
Michael Fabricant
Boris later claimed that he walked away from the press conference because didn't think it would be "fair" to Mr Bettel.
He added: "There was clearly going to be a lot of noise and I think our points would have been drowned out."
On the two-hour meeting with Juncker, Boris told ITV: "Over the last couple of weeks there’s been a lot of work, papers have been shared, but we are now in the stage where we have to start accelerating the work and that was the agreement with Jean Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier today.
There was clearly going to be a lot of noise and I think our points would have been drowned out.
Boris Johnson
“We have to manage this carefully, yes, there is a good chance of a deal and ye,s I can see the shape of it.
“Everybody can see roughly what can be done, but it will require movement and require the system by which the EU can control the UK after we leave – the so-called backstop – to go from that treaty and that needs to happen.
“So that’s a big change we need to get done, but if we can get that done as I’ve said before – then we’re at the races.”
This afternoon's chaotic press conference came after Boris told Juncker he would not be asking for a Brexit extension as the pair claimed talks would "intensify".
Don’t put the blame on us because they don’t know how to get out of this situation. It is not my choice.
Xavier Bettel
A No10 spokesman said Johnson “reiterated that he would not request an extension” and would take the UK out of the EU on October 31.
This morning Juncker told reporters he felt "optimistic" about the meeting after the two heavyweights shook hands outside a posh restaurant.
The EU boss added: "Europe never loses patience" - before joking that he would "pick up the bill" for the meal.
LET'S MAKE A DEAL
Johnson and Juncker enjoyed a lunch of pollock, risotto, chanterelle mushrooms and fresh peas, at the European Commission president's favourite restaurant, Le Bouquet Garni, before holding their crucial Brexit summit.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay was also in Luxembourg to meet EU negotiator, Michel Barnier.
Juncker spokeswoman, Mina Andreva, said the EU chief told Boris it was the “UK's responsibility to come forward with legally operational solutions that are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement.”
President Juncker underlined the Commission's continued willingness and openness to examine whether such proposals meet the objectives of the backstop. Such proposals have not yet been made.
Mina Andreva
She added: “President Juncker underlined the Commission's continued willingness and openness to examine whether such proposals meet the objectives of the backstop. Such proposals have not yet been made.
“The Commission will remain available to work 24/7.
“The October European Council will be an important milestone in the process."
Before the summit Boris said he felt "passionately" that we will get a Brexit deal by October 31 - despite the efforts of Remainer MPs to “crush” Britain’s hopes.
He wrote in: "If we can make enough progress in the next few days, I intend to go to that crucial summit on October 17 and finalise an agreement that will protect the interests of business and citizens on both sides of the Channel, and on both sides of the border in Ireland.
"I believe passionately that we can do it, and I believe that such an agreement is in the interests not just of the UK but also of our European friends."
BACKSTOP BOOST
Boris wanded a boost today after the DUP showed signs they were softening on the idea of an “all-Ireland” farming market after our divorce from the bloc.
Jeffrey Donaldson, the party’s chief whip, said the idea of an agri-food sector to avoid a hard border was being considered.
He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland said: “Where there is political will, there is certainly a way. I think it is still possible to get that agreement.”
Under the plan, Northern Ireland would match Irish and EU rules in certain sectors after Brexit to avoid the need for a hard border.
The idea mimics a compromise offer The Sun revealed European capitals were brainstorming - where the province would mirror Brussels on animal and plant health.
INCREDIBLE HULK
Boris appeared to fire off a warning shot at Brussels this weekend, when he vowed Britain will break free of its EU 'manacles' like the Incredible Hulk.
He promised to ignore a Commons vote ordering him to delay Brexit if negotiations break down - adding: "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets."
MOST READ IN POLITICS
He told the Mail on Sunday: “When I got this job everybody was saying there can be absolutely no change to the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop was immutable, the arrangements by which the UK was kept locked in to the EU for ever, they said no one could change that.
"They have already moved off that and, as you know, there's a very, very good conversation going on about how to address the issues of the Northern Irish border.
"A huge amount of progress is being made."
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