Latest updates: Cabinet Office minister believes dinner seen as make-or-break for UK-EU trade talks could lead to ‘further political momentum’
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9.19am GMT
Good morning. Boris Johnson will have dinner with Ursula von der Leyen, the European commission president, in Brussels tonight in what is seen as a make-or-break moment for the UK-EU trade talks. If they concluded that compromise will not be possible, then they could emerge with the news that both side have to prepare for no deal.
But if, as they hope, the dinner isn’t a failure, the opposite does not seem to be the case; we shouldn’t be expecting an announcement that a deal has been clinched. In an interview this morning Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, suggested the best he was hoping for was “further political momentum”. He told Times Radio:
I’m hopeful that the prime minister will be able to lay out, over the course of dinner, where movement is required. The conversation between the prime minister and the president tonight, I hope, will create further political momentum, which will make sure that we do reach an agreement.
It’s clear that some political impetus will be required for the talks to make any more progress. If we can make progress at a political level it may allow Lord Frost and his team to resume negotiations over the coming days. But we must be realistic that an agreement may not be possible as we will not compromise on reclaiming U.K. sovereignty.
Continue reading…Latest updates: Cabinet Office minister believes dinner seen as make-or-break for UK-EU trade talks could lead to ‘further political momentum’ Chances of Brexit deal hang on Johnson and Von der Leyen dinnerBrexit hurdles and solutions: Boris Johnson’s Brussels to-do listCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 9.19am GMTGood morning. Boris Johnson will have dinner with Ursula von der Leyen, the European commission president, in Brussels tonight in what is seen as a make-or-break moment for the UK-EU trade talks. If they concluded that compromise will not be possible, then they could emerge with the news that both side have to prepare for no deal.But if, as they hope, the dinner isn’t a failure, the opposite does not seem to be the case; we shouldn’t be expecting an announcement that a deal has been clinched. In an interview this morning Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, suggested the best he was hoping for was “further political momentum”. He told Times Radio:I’m hopeful that the prime minister will be able to lay out, over the course of dinner, where movement is required. The conversation between the prime minister and the president tonight, I hope, will create further political momentum, which will make sure that we do reach an agreement.It’s clear that some political impetus will be required for the talks to make any more progress. If we can make progress at a political level it may allow Lord Frost and his team to resume negotiations over the coming days. But we must be realistic that an agreement may not be possible as we will not compromise on reclaiming U.K. sovereignty. Related: Coronavirus live news: UK science chief warns Britons may still need masks next winter; Moldovan PM has Covid Continue reading…