Donald Tusk slams Johnson over ‘stupid blame game’
The European Council president Donald Tusk has hit out at Boris Johnson for trying to win “some stupid blame game” after two antagonistic anonymous briefings up-ended Brexit talks.
Last night a senior Downing Street source told The Spectator that any countries blocking the UK’s exit from the EU on 31 October would “go to the bottom of the queue” in any negotiations about a future relationship. The same source identified Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as preventing a deal from being struck.
This morning Number 10 briefed out that negotiations were effectively scuppered after a phone call between the Prime Minister and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“The call with Merkel showed the EU has adopted a new position,” said the source. “She made clear a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely and she thinks the EU has a veto on us leaving the customs union.”
The same source added: “If this represents a new established position, then it means a deal is essentially impossible not just now but ever. It also made clear that they are willing to torpedo the Good Friday Agreement.”
So far Berlin has declined to comment on the “confidential” conversation.
However, Tusk this morning tweeted: “What’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people.
“You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?”
Tusk’s comments were backed by Ireland’s deputy PM, or Tanaiste, Simon Coveney, who tweeted: “Hard to disagree – reflects the frustration across EU and the enormity of what’s at stake for us all.
“We remain open to finalize a fair Brexit deal but need a UK Govt willing to work with EU to get it done.”
But Rupert Harrison, portfolio manager at BlackRock and former aide to George Osborne, had a different take.
He tweeted: “Sadly the impact of the Benn Act is clear to see – the EU have not felt any pressure to engage seriously with the UK’s proposals and are now actively gambling on the outcome of a UK election.”
Harrison noted that Johnson was likely to win “especially with help like this from EU leaders”, adding: “Then they will have to engage seriously.”
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