Michel Barnier raises doubts about UK's Brexit backstop plan – Politics live

EU’s chief Brexit negotiator questions plan unveiled on Thursday. Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenGovernment Brexit backstop plan – Snap summary and analysisBarnier raises doubts about UK Brexit backstop plan 2.47pm BST Sky’s Lewis Goodall thinks David Davis hasn’t come out of it all that badly.Lots of talk that para 26 isn’t a time limit but just an expectation of one. True- but remember to read paragraph 6 too. That explicitly says that the backstop would be time limited. Number 10 has written one paragraph for brexiteers one for Brussels and hoping neither notices. pic.twitter.com/HVMBY5NxsmDon’t think DD has been outwitted especially. Ultimately he has inserted a date, albeit a caveated one, flexed his muscles and shown the whole of Westminster (esp Civil servants/number 10) that an agreement can’t be made without him. That’s not a bad morning’s work. 2.42pm BST Here is the Irish government’s statement on the UK’s new plan for the Brexit backstop. It is from Simon Coveney, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister. He says there must be “substantial progress” on the backstop plan by the time of the EU summit at the end of June.”It remains vital that a legally-binding backstop is agreed to provide certainty that, in all circumstances, a hard border will be avoided.” Tánaiste @simoncoveney today issued a statement on the publication of UK proposals in #Brexit negotiations pic.twitter.com/zrf8G5ymox Continue reading…
Via: Michel Barnier raises doubts about UK's Brexit backstop plan – Politics live