No deal a ‘distinct possibility’ says Brussels as No 10 defends talks progress

Downing Street insisted that progress is being made in talks with Brussels following claims Boris Johnson’s key aide described the process as a “sham”.

The European Union acknowledged a no-deal Brexit remained a “distinct possibility” despite intensified talks between officials from both sides.

While there was “progress on process” because of the increased tempo of meetings, there were still no “concrete” proposals from the UK side about how to resolve the Irish backstop issue, the European Commission said.

The status of the negotiations has come under intense scrutiny after the Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings described the process as “a sham” in private meetings – a claim strongly denied by Downing Street.

Gavin Barwell, who was Theresa May’s chief of staff in Number 10, said he had heard the same reports about “sham negotiations” from “multiple” government sources.

V important thread for MPs who would support a deal but not no deal. I've had same reports re "sham negotiations" from multiple govt sources. If not true (my views were sometimes misreported when I was Chief of Staff) Government should publish its proposals to replace backstop https://t.co/YV8cGefcd2

— Gavin Barwell (@GavinBarwell) September 3, 2019

Number 10 said progress was being made in talks with the European Union, pointing to comments made by French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council president Donald Tusk following meetings with the Prime Minister “which show very clearly that they are engaging in discussions with us”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We were told very firmly at the beginning that there could be no discussions, now EU leaders have said that they are willing to work with us on trying to find solutions.”

Mr Johnson’s Europe adviser David Frost has held a series of meetings in Brussels “joined by teams of officials who have expertise in all of the relevant areas” and he will be back there “later this week”.

The talks were covering a “full range of issues, which includes the Withdrawal Agreement but also the Political Declaration”.

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will update Jean-Claude Juncker and the commissioners on Wednesday on “developments in London” and the talks with Mr Frost.

Mr Juncker would also report back on his conversations with Mr Johnson and the commission will also consider no-deal planning.

Asked whether Brussels now expected a no-deal Brexit as the most likely outcome, commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said: “Our working assumption is that there will be Brexit on October 31, whether it is the most likely scenario? I would say that it is a very distinct possibility, which is precisely the reason why we do launch this final call tomorrow for everyone to be prepared in case a no-deal Brexit occurs.”

She said the EU “can’t report any concrete proposals having been made” by the UK side to break the Brexit deadlock.