Babak Belurs

Kamis, 15 Oktober 2020

EU CAVES: Merkel admits 'some movement' on Brexit as Brussels desperately pushes for deal - Daily Express

"In some places there was movement, in other places there is still a lot of work to do," she told reporters. "For us, it is important that Ireland can continue to live in peace, that we secure the single market, but we know that Great Britain aims for a certain measure of independence, that it is no longer member of the European Union. In this spirit we have asked Michel Barnier to continue the negotiations," she added, with reference to the bloc's chief negotiator."

"We have asked Great Britain to remain ready for compromise on an agreement," Merkel added.

The German Chancellor said that if necessary the EU will “live without” an agreement.

But she added: “I believe it would be better to have such an agreement."

It comes after EU leaders called for post-Brexit trade talks to continue beyond the end of the week, a deadline suggested by Boris Johnson.

The two-day summit began on Thursday in Brussels.

The EU leaders demanded that the UK “make necessary moves” towards a deal.

Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator, said intensive talks should aim to reach a deal around the end of October.

However, his UK counterpart Lord David Frost said he was “disappointed” by the EU’s approach.

READ MORE: Brexiteer pinpoints why Boris was NEVER serious about no deal threat

The leaders agreed that the 27 member states and EU institutions would "step up their work on preparedness and readiness at all levels and for all outcomes" before the end of the transition period.

At a news conference, Mr Barnier said the EU wa ready to continue negotiations “until the last possible day”.

He added: "We want to give these discussions every chance of being successful so that we secure an agreement.”

The EU chief negotiator also proposed a two-week extension to Mr Johnson’s 15 October deadline.

Mr Barnier said his team would travel to London for talks next week and host negotiations in Brussels the week after.

Both the UK and EU are calling on each other to compromise on key issues including fishing and limits to government subsidies to businesses.

The two sides are seeking an agreement to govern their trading relationship for after the Brexit transition period ends in December.

The European Council President, Charles Michel, said the bloc was “100% united”.

Speaking at a news conference, he added: “We are united and determined to reach an agreement but not at any cost.”

Mr Barnier also reiterated the stance and added that differences still remained between the two sides.

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2020-10-15 23:46:25Z
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EU CAVES: Merkel admits 'some movement' on Brexit as Brussels desperately pushes for deal - Daily Express

"In some places there was movement, in other places there is still a lot of work to do," she told reporters. "For us, it is important that Ireland can continue to live in peace, that we secure the single market, but we know that Great Britain aims for a certain measure of independence, that it is no longer member of the European Union. In this spirit we have asked Michel Barnier to continue the negotiations," she added, with reference to the bloc's chief negotiator."

"We have asked Great Britain to remain ready for compromise on an agreement," Merkel added.

The German Chancellor said that if necessary the EU will “live without” an agreement.

But she added: “I believe it would be better to have such an agreement."

It comes after EU leaders called for post-Brexit trade talks to continue beyond the end of the week, a deadline suggested by Boris Johnson.

The two-day summit began on Thursday in Brussels.

The EU leaders demanded that the UK “make necessary moves” towards a deal.

Michel Barnier, EU chief negotiator, said intensive talks should aim to reach a deal around the end of October.

However, his UK counterpart Lord David Frost said he was “disappointed” by the EU’s approach.

READ MORE: Brexiteer pinpoints why Boris was NEVER serious about no deal threat

The leaders agreed that the 27 member states and EU institutions would "step up their work on preparedness and readiness at all levels and for all outcomes" before the end of the transition period.

At a news conference, Mr Barnier said the EU wa ready to continue negotiations “until the last possible day”.

He added: "We want to give these discussions every chance of being successful so that we secure an agreement.”

The EU chief negotiator also proposed a two-week extension to Mr Johnson’s 15 October deadline.

Mr Barnier said his team would travel to London for talks next week and host negotiations in Brussels the week after.

Both the UK and EU are calling on each other to compromise on key issues including fishing and limits to government subsidies to businesses.

The two sides are seeking an agreement to govern their trading relationship for after the Brexit transition period ends in December.

The European Council President, Charles Michel, said the bloc was “100% united”.

Speaking at a news conference, he added: “We are united and determined to reach an agreement but not at any cost.”

Mr Barnier also reiterated the stance and added that differences still remained between the two sides.

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2020-10-15 23:16:43Z
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Boris urged NOT to extend the Brexit deadline as PM hands EU an extra 24 hours - Daily Express

Last month, the Prime Minister gave the EU up until today to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK in order to allow plenty of time for an agreement to be ratified by the end of the transition period in December.

As neither side has been able to come an agreement, with issues on fishing rights remaining a top priority, Mr Johnson has allowed an extra 24 hours for the crucial Brexit talks.

But an Express.co.uk poll - which ran from 2pm to 10pm today - asked whether the Prime Minister should extend the deadline again.

The poll received a staggering 10,458 votes with 97 percent (10,096) warning the Prime Minister not to extend the deadlines any further.

Just three percent (327) said he should, while 35 people said they didn’t know.

One person said: “This wavering by our government isn't doing UK industries and businesses any good at all.

“They need to know where they stand now. Not tomorrow.

“Put your big boys trousers on Boris, and tell them it's definitely NO DEAL.”

A second person added: “Hell No!!! He should never have given them an extra 24 hours.

READ MORE: The five issues UK and EU officials remain far apart on

A fourth person said if Mr Johnson backs down again he should resign.

They said: ”If Boris backs down tomorrow then he should resign. Simple.

“If he is not up to the job then stand aside and let someone with balls take over.”

Another reader said: “Surely he can't be that stupid.

“He'd be handing the advantage to the EU on a plate.

“They will see him as weak as [Theresa] May and double down on their demands.”

While a fifth reader wrote: “EU has had enough time. If nothing happens by tonight.

“I doubt anything but trying to delay. Just say good bye. No deal.

“If they have any suggestions ask them to get them together and UK can then start talking with EU January 2021 from outside the EU.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the UK looks forward to hearing the outcome of the EU Council summit and Mr Johnson will reflect on that before setting out Britain’s next steps.

He added the UK still wants to reach a trade deal with the EU, and that is the country’s aim.

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2020-10-15 21:36:00Z
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Boris Johnson's Covid strategy in turmoil as Manchester refuses toughest restrictions - BBC News - BBC News

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2020-10-15 21:36:03Z
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'Do the right thing for our city': Mayor Sadiq Khan pleads with Londoners over Covid-19 restrictions - Evening Standard

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2020-10-15 20:44:35Z
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Coronavirus: Greater Manchester leaders fuming as they 'unanimously reject' Tier 3 plan - Sky News

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused the government of treating the region as a "sacrificial lamb" as local leaders rejected the strictest coronavirus measures.

Leaders in Greater Manchester have "unanimously opposed" being put into the highest category of the government's new three-tier system for localised COVID-19 restrictions, amid a bitter political row with Westminster.

A call between Greater Manchester leaders and Downing Street officials failed to reach an agreement on new coromnavirus rules on Thursday.

And, after those inconclusive talks, Mr Burnham branded the Tier 3 plans as "flawed and unfair".

"They are asking us to gamble our residents' jobs, homes and businesses and a large chunk of our economy on a strategy that their own experts tell them might not work," he said.

"We would never sign up for that."

Under Tier 3 restrictions, people are banned from socialising with other households both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs are closed unless they can operate as restaurants only.

However, Mr Burnham said Greater Manchester leaders had been told by England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, that "any regional lockdown would require widespread closures way beyond pubs to stand any real chance of working".

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, has previously admitted Tier 3 restrictions "will not be sufficient" to slow COVID-19 infections alone.

Businesses forced to close as a result of localised restrictions will, from 1 November, see the government pay two-thirds of their employees' wages.

But Mr Burnham said the government should be offering the same support it did through the furlough scheme, which will finish at the end of this month and has seen the government pay 80% of employees' wages.

He accused ministers of testing out the three-tier approach on parts of northern England.

"Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are being set up as the canaries in the coalmine for an experimental regional lockdown strategy as an attempt to prevent the expense of what is truly needed," the mayor said.

"The very least they should be offering the people of Greater Manchester who will be affected by these closures is a full and fair 80% furlough for all affected workers, 80% income support for people who are self-employed, and a proper compensation scheme for businesses.

"So far, they have not been prepared to offer that."

Urging the government to pursue a different course and consider a return to stringent England-wide restrictions, the Greater Manchester mayor said: "I've said it may be that we need to look at a national circuit-break as preferable to this unfunded, risky regional lockdown strategy.

"We have to protect the health of the nation but let's do it as one nation, and not make the North of England the sacrificial lamb for an ill-thought-through Downing Street policy which doesn't make sense in the real world."

Mr Burnham claimed Prof Van-Tam had told Greater Manchester leaders that "the only certain thing to work is a national lockdown".

"But the government told us this morning it is unwilling to do that because of the damage it will do to the national economy.

"And yet that is what they want to impose on the North West."

Mr Burnham accused the government of "treating us with contempt", adding: "People are fed up of being treated in this way, the North is fed up of being pushed around.

"We aren't going to be pushed around anymore."

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on local leaders to "set aside party politics" and back the government's plan for increased restrictions.

"The situation in the North West of England is severe," he said.

"The number of cases is rising exponentially, the number of people in hospital has doubled in just 12 days.

"So I call upon local leaders to set aside this party politics and to work with us to put in place the measures that are needed in Greater Manchester, across the North West, so that we can deal with this virus and support people through it.

"This is a time for people to come together so that we can control this virus."

Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, warned the government that forcing Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester would be "a very foolish thing to do".

The Altrincham and Sale West MP told Times Radio: "The danger is, if you try to do these things without consent, people lose patience very quickly.

"We have a very clear demonstration at the moment; you have no support among MPs, no support among council leaders and opposition from the mayor as well.

"There clearly isn't the broad consent for this measure that is needed."

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2020-10-15 19:07:30Z
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Coronavirus: Greater Manchester leaders fuming as they 'unanimously reject' Tier 3 plan - Sky News

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused the government of treating the region as a "sacrificial lamb" and vowed: "We aren't going to be pushed around anymore."

Leaders in Greater Manchester have rejected being put into the highest category of the government's new three-tier system for localised COVID-19 restrictions, amid a bitter political row.

A call between Greater Manchester leaders and Downing Street officials failed to reach an agreement on new restrictions on Thursday.

And, after those inconclusive talks, Mr Burnham revealed: "Today we communicated our clear and unanimous view to the government.

"It is wrong to place some of the poorest parts of England in a punishing lockdown without proper support for the people and businesses affected."

In an outspoken attack on the government's new localised lockdown system, Mr Burnham accused ministers of testing out the three-tier approach on parts of northern England.

"Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are being set up as the canaries in the coalmine for an experimental regional lockdown strategy as an attempt to prevent the expense of what is truly needed," he said.

Urging the government to pursue a different course and consider a return to stringent England-wide restrictions, the Greater Manchester mayor said: "I've said it may be that we need to look at a national circuit-break as preferable to this unfunded, risky regional lockdown strategy.

"We have to protect the health of the nation but let's do it as one nation, and not make the North of England the sacrificial lamb for an ill-thought-through Downing Street policy which doesn't make sense in the real world."

Mr Burnham claimed the England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, had told Greater Manchester leaders that "the only certain thing to work is a national lockdown".

"But the government told us this morning it is unwilling to do that because of the damage it will do to the national economy.

"And yet that is what they want to impose on the North West."

He added the government was "treating us with contempt", adding: "People are fed up of being treated in this way, the North is fed up of being pushed around.

"We aren't going to be pushed around anymore."

Under Tier 3 restrictions, people are banned from socialising with other households both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs are closed unless they can operate as restaurants only.

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2020-10-15 18:12:19Z
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