Talks between the UK and EU on Brexit have been postponed until Monday after the European Commission said Boris Johnson’s new proposals “do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement”.
The UK this week proposed an alternative to the Irish backstop, however, the EU has said the proposals cannot be the basis for a legally binding treaty. The proposals would see Northern Ireland remain in the European single market for goods but leave the customs union, subject to approval by the Northern Ireland Assembly and of course the EU.
The EU Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said the UK will be given “another opportunity to present its proposals in detail” on Monday.
If no deal is achieved and no extension is granted, the UK is set to leave the UK under a no-deal scenario on October 31. However, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron said this weekend that there is a “good chance” Boris Johnson will secure a new Brexit deal with the European Union. On the type of break from the EU, Mr Cameron said that ” It (a deal) is difficult but I think it is far better than a no-deal outcome, which I don’t think is a good outcome and not something I would recommend.”
The blow to the government’s Brexit plans come days after the Conservative Party conference and just weeks before the October 31 Brexit deadline.
