Balls and stalemate

Round 5 of the Brexit negotiations in Brussels

Look at the progress we’ve made over there (PA Images)

Parliament was back in session after the conference season recess and David Davis and his negotiating team were back in Brussels for round 5 of the Brexit talks.

New balls please

What do you mean it’s not a game?

The prime minister got the week off to a bad start by telling EU leaders that “the ball is in your court”. The response? Brexit is not a game, (“but the ball is entirely in the UK’s court”). And thus began the week of agonising negotiation tennis.

May to fight back against the EU as no-deal Brexit looms

EU hits back at Theresa May: 'Brexit negotiations are not a ball game'

No deal? We’re ready for ya

Remember when the referendum result came through and it became clear that David Cameron’s government had made absolutely no attempt to plan for what would happen in the event of the Leave result?

Theresa May appears to be less reckless and has revealed that the government is making plans for all scenarios, including a no-deal hard Brexit. The news alarmed the hard core Remainers who are averse to any talk of no-deal.

Theresa May unveils 'no deal' contingency planning for Brexit

However Philip Hammond has said he will not yet be spending any money on the plans. The chancellor, cautious by nature and a remainer at heart, infuriated the hardcore Brexiteers and there have been calls for his resignation or sacking all week.

Hammond's 'last moment' plan for 'no deal'

The ECJ stays for now

Giving an update on Brexit talks to MPs in the House of Commons, the prime minister has conceded the UK will continue to be bound by European Court of Justice rulings during any future transition period and refused to rule out accepting new Brussels regulations brought in during that time. The answer did not please Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who had asked the question, and who later commented that the prime minister had “to some extent” gone “further than I would have wished”.

Theresa May concedes ECJ rule during United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum transition

Stalemate in Brussels

Week 5 of negotiations has not achieved the breakthrough all sides were hoping for. The UK wants trade talks but the divorce bill is holding things up. Theresa May has said Britain will pay what it owes, but the EU wants numbers, not vague promises. Add to that the still unresolved issues of the Irish border and EU citizens’ rights and we could be looking at Christmas before any chance of the much hoped-for trade talks.

Brexit Talks Set For Two More Months Of Stalemate, EU Chief Reveals

EU negotiator says the Brexit negotiations are in a 'disturbing deadlock'

Brexit wrangle over citizens' rights is nonsense, says Juncker

Behind the scenes

If that all seems a bit bleak, it appears that behind the scenes, things aren’t quite so gloomy. David Davis has spoken of “tangible progress” being made and insiders to the talks say all is not lost, despite the stern faces made by the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Brexit talks doomed? Not so fast...

The enemy?

Remember our careful, cautious chancellor? Soft Brexit advocate, Remainer-at-heart Spreadsheet Phil? He just called Brussels ‘the enemy’ 😱.

Philip Hammond calls Europe 'the enemy' in Brexit talks

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