Theresa May delivered a defiant ultimatum to European Union leaders in a statement from No 10 this afternoon, saying she would offer no more concessions until they give ground.
“We are at an impasse,” she declared. In a terse tone, Mrs May accused the EU of failing to show Britain respect at the Salzburg summit where her proposals were publicly rebuffed.
“I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same.
“It is not acceptable to simply reject the other side's proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals.”
Standing at a lectern in front of two large union flags, Mrs May said she would “never agree” to the EU’s demand that Northern Ireland stay aligned with EU rules, which “threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom”.
She went on: “If the EU believe I will, they are making a fundamental mistake.
“Anything that fails to reflect the referendum or divides our country in two would be a bad deal. And I have always said, no deal is better than a bad deal.”
She said the only offers made so far by EU leaders were “bad deals” that she could only reject as they failed to respect the EU referendum result of 2016.
Mrs May concluded her statement by saying: "The EU should be clear, I will not overturn the result of the referendum, nor will I break up my country. We need serious engagement in resolving the two big issues in the negotiations and we stand ready."
Theresa May's speech in full
"Yesterday, I was in Salzburg for talks with European leaders.
"I have always said that these negotiations would be tough - and they were always bound to be toughest in the final straight.
"While both sides want a deal, we have to face up to the fact that - despite the progress we have made - there are two big issues where we remain a long way apart.
"The first is our economic relationship after we have left.
"Here, the EU is still only offering us two options.
"The first option would involve the UK staying in the European Economic Area and a customs union with the EU.
"In plain English, this would mean we'd still have to abide by all the EU rules, uncontrolled immigration from the EU would continue and we couldn't do the trade deals we want with other countries.
"That would make a mockery of the referendum we had two years ago.
"The second option would be a basic free trade agreement for Great Britain that would introduce checks at the Great Britain/EU border. But even worse, Northern Ireland would effectively remain in the Customs Union and parts of the Single Market, permanently separated economically from the rest of the UK by a border down the Irish Sea.
"Parliament has already - unanimously - rejected this idea.
"Creating any form of customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would not respect that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, in line with the principle of consent, as set out clearly in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
"It is something I will never agree to - indeed, in my judgement it is something no British Prime Minister would ever agree to. If the EU believe I will, they are making a fundamental mistake.
"Anything which fails to respect the referendum or which effectively divides our country in two would be a bad deal and I have always said no deal is better than a bad deal.
"But I have also been clear that the best outcome is for the UK to leave with a deal. That is why, following months of intensive work and detailed discussions, we proposed a third option for our future economic relationship, based on the frictionless trade in goods. That is the best way to protect jobs here and in the EU and to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, while respecting the referendum result and the integrity of the United Kingdom.
"Yesterday Donald Tusk said our proposals would undermine the single market. He didn't explain how in any detail or make any counter-proposal. So we are at an impasse.
"The second issue is connected to the first. We both agree that the Withdrawal Agreement needs to include a backstop to ensure that if there's a delay in implementing our new relationship, there still won't be a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
"But the EU is proposing to achieve this by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the Customs Union.
"As I have already said, that is unacceptable. We will never agree to it. It would mean breaking up our country.
"We will set out our alternative that preserves the integrity of the UK. And it will be in line with the commitments we made back in December - including the commitment that no new regulatory barriers should be created between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK unless the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly agree.
"As I told EU leaders, neither side should demand the unacceptable of the other.
"We cannot accept anything that threatens the integrity of our union, just as they cannot accept anything that threatens the integrity of theirs.
"We cannot accept anything that does not respect the result of the referendum, just as they cannot accept anything that is not in the interest of their citizens.
"Throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it.
"At this late stage in the negotiations, it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side's proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals.
"So we now need to hear from the EU what the real issues are and what their alternative is so that we can discuss them. Until we do, we cannot make progress.
"In the meantime, we must and will continue the work of preparing ourselves for no deal.
"In particular, I want to clarify our approach to two issues.
"First, there are over 3 million EU citizens living in the UK who will be understandably worried about what the outcome of yesterday's summit means for their future.
"I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay.
"Second, I want to reassure the people of Northern Ireland that in the event of no deal we will do everything in our power to prevent a return to a hard border.
"Let me also say this.
"The referendum was the largest democratic exercise this country has ever undergone. To deny its legitimacy or frustrate its result threatens public trust in our democracy.
"That is why for over two years I have worked day and night to deliver a deal that sees the UK leave the EU.
"I have worked to bring people with me even when that has not always seemed possible.
"No one wants a good deal more than me.
"But the EU should be clear: I will not overturn the result of the referendum. Nor will I break up my country.
"We need serious engagement on resolving the two big problems in the negotiations. We stand ready."
The Prime Minister called cameras into No 10 just before 2pm - but the BBC said the statement was delayed by a power failure in the room.
Earlier the Brexit Secretary expressed anger over her treatment at the Salzburg summit which has been described as a “humiliation” by the media.
Dominic Raab complained that the EU leaders had “yanked the handbrake” on her plans without offering any credible alternative.
He accused European summit president summit leader Donald Tusk of looking “unstatesmanlike” by posting Instagram images mocking Theresa May. The picture showed him offering her a cake with the quip: “Sorry, no cherries.”
Mr Raab lambasted the EU 27 leaders for giving “no coherent explanation” for rejecting Mrs May’s Chequers plan, nor offering any alternative to it. He said they seemed to be trying to “salami slice” her blueprint rather than respond in kind to the “arm of friendship” that Mrs May had extended.
“We have been rebuffed on our plans without any coherent explanation why,” he told the BBC.
“We have revved up the motor of these negotiations and the EU has just yanked up the handbrake. For the negotiations to go forward they are going to have to take their hand off the handbrake.”
He signalled that Mrs May would not dump her plans nor make further concessions at this stage. “We are going to hold our nerve, keep calm and continue negotiating in good faith.”
In a clear reference to Mr Tusk he said: “I don’t want to impugn bad intentions to the other side. I think some of the way it was done - social media against the Prime Minister - didn’t feel to me like very statesmanlike behaviour.”
He went on: “To be rebuffed on those aspects, without a coherent explanation, without credible alternatives, I think at some point light will shine back on the EU with questions about whether they handled this well.''
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Darby, who began his career at his hometown club Liverpool and also played for Bradford, received the diagnosis from a specialist recently.
He has not played since December and retired at 29-years-old.
Other sportsmen who have been diagnosed with the condition include ex-Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen and Scotland international rugby player Doddie Wear, who was diagnosed last year.
South African world cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen sadly died in February last year six years after being diagnosed.
Stephen Hawking was just 21 when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease which left him paralysed and ultimately unable to speak without the assistance of a computer-driven synthetic voice.
Motor neurone disease is a relatively rare condition only affecting around one in 50,000 people in the UK each year.
The disease kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis, according to the MND Association.
The condition is fatal and progresses rapidly, and there is no cure, but symptoms can be managed to improve quality of life.
Symptoms develop gradually and while not painful, it is debilitating and affects how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.
It usually occurs on one side of the body first, before getting progressively worse.
Muscles weaken, sufferers can waste way and can be left unable to move or talk properly.
Swallowing and breathing will also become difficult.
People are usually only given a life expectancy of three years on diagnosis, as the function of motor neurons break down, affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Less than half of Conservatives believe Theresa May can clinch a good Brexit deal, an exclusive poll revealed today.
Just 45 per cent of the party’s supporters have faith in the Prime Minister to get a good deal for the country, Ipsos MORI found.
It also revealed that public optimism on the economy has slumped to its lowest level this year, with six in 10 saying they think things will get worse in the year ahead.
The results could overshadow Mrs May’s attempts to boost Tory morale at the party conference in two weeks.
She will be relieved, though, that Tory supporters also doubt that ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson could get a good deal if he was PM. Only 47 per cent think he could. Among the general public, an overwhelming majority believe neither of the main political party leaders can deliver a favourable Brexit. Just 28 per cent feel confident that either the PM or Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn could do it. Some 70 per cent think Mrs May will fail, and 67 per cent say Mr Corbyn would fail.
Voters remain almost evenly split between the main parties, the poll confirmed, with 39 per cent backing the Tories and 37 per cent choosing Labour. The Lib Dems were up three points to 13.
Ipsos interviewed 1,070 adults in GB by phone from September 14 to 18. Data are weighted. www.ipsos-mori.com
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Detectives are investigating a suspected hate crime after three people were injured when a car drove into pedestrians outside an Islamic centre early today.
The car careered into a crowd leaving a lecture at the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre in Cricklewood, north London, at around 12.35am.
Witnesses reported the occupants allegedly shouted “you dirty Muslims” as they swerved across the road hitting cars and lampposts before colliding with pedestrians.
Two men in their 20s suffered minor injuries and a man in his 50s is in hospital with a serious leg injury, Scotland Yard said.
The car - reported as a red Nissan by witnesses - sped off without stopping.
The Met said the occupants had been asked to leave the centre’s private car park by security at 12.20am today for reportedly behaving anti-socially, drinking and apparently using drugs.
There was then a confrontation between the three men and a woman in the car, all in their mid-20s, and a “large group” of people gathered outside.
A Met spokesman said: “Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car.
“The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left.”
The Hussaini Association, which had organised a lecture at the centre, described it as an “Islamophobic attack”, adding that the driver and passengers were heard “shouting anti-Islamic taunts at the crowd”.
It said the car was “hurtling down” the road and mounted the pavement before swerving into bystanders.
Hassan Naddi, head of security at the charitable organisation, said hundreds of people including women and children were leaving the event when the incident took place.
He told the Standard: “I felt absolutely helpless. You don’t understand how many women and children he just missed. People were ducking behind cars to hide.
“They were shouting ‘You dirty Muslims’ without a doubt it was an Islamophobic attack from the stuff they were screaming out of the windows.“
Anwar, a volunteer at the The Hussaini Association, said: “The car was going very fast way over the speed limit, it crashed into people and didn’t stop.
“A lot of us chased after them and helped get the injured out of the road. We were very scared and there was a lot of panic.”
Scotland Yard said they were not treating the event as terrorist related but said officers were investigating Islamic hate crime as an “aggravating factor”.
Detectives are analysing CCTV in a bid to trace the driver and are “keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision.”
A spokesman for the Hussaini Association, which organises Islamic lectures at the centre, said: “We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community but remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society.”
Kelly Schonhage from Brent CID said: “We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of inquiries are under way to trace the car and those involved.
“Inquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing. If you were there at the time and have information I would urge you to contact police with information.
“Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community.”
Anyone with information should call Brent CID on 07747 476 161 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Ben Stokes and Alex Hales have been charged by the Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) with bringing the game into disrepute for their parts in the brawl that took place outside a Bristol nightclub last September.
They will attend a private hearing in front of a three-man CDC panel, chaired by former Derbyshire batsman Tim O'Gorman, on December 5 and 7. The other members of the panel are Chris Tickle, a former employment tribunal judge, and Mike Smith.
Each player has been charged with two counts of breaching ECB directive 3.3 which states: "No Participant may conduct themself in a manner or do any act or omission at any time which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any Cricketer or group of Cricketers into disrepute."
The CDC has the remit to impose penalties ranging from an unlimited fine or suspension and termination of registration.
The hearing has been scheduled between England's two overseas tours - Sri Lanka and West Indies - which means that Stokes and Hales remain available for the Sri Lanka tour. However, the panel could hand down bans to either or both players so it remains to be seen what their availability will be beyond that.
Stokes was found not guilty of affray at Bristol Crown Court last month following a week-long trial. Having missed the Lord's Test against India he was then immediately made available for England again and played in the remaining three matches. Following the brawl he missed the end of last year's ODI series against West Indies and the full tour of Australia before returning against New Zealand.
Hales, who only missed two ODIs against West Indies, was not arrested at the time of the incident outside Mbargo nightclub and was not on trial, although his name came up regularly during the trial. His role in the events was brought into question by Stokes' lawyer who raised the possibility that the injuries sustained by Ryan Ali could have been caused by Hales.
There was also police bodycam footage shown to the jury in which Hales claimed he had only arrived on the scene after the fight.
Stokes and Hales were referred to the CDC shortly after the incident last September but the hearing was put on hold while criminal proceedings were active. The hearing will come four months after Stokes' trial finished but the complexity of the case has meant all sides have needed time to prepare evidence.
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Business reporter(wp/es): BMW has said it will temporarily halt production at its British Mini plant immediately after Brexit day as part of contingency plans for a “no-deal” divorce.
The car giant is bringing forward the annual shutdown period at its Oxford plant amid rising fears the UK could crash out of the EUwithout securing a deal.
Carmakers generally close their factories over the summer for a few weeks to allow for retooling and repair work as many staff take holidays and sales are at their lowest level.
"We have scheduled next year’s annual maintenance period at MINI Plant Oxford to start on 1 April, when the UK exits the EU, to minimise the risk of any possible short-term parts-supply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit," BMW said.
"While we believe this worst case scenario is an unlikely outcome, we have to plan for it."
Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29 next year, but Theresa May faces a battle to agree a deal with Brussels before that date.
BMW’s announcement shows the firm is concerned about how disruptive a “no-deal” Brexit could be, and its lack of confidence that a deal will be reached.
Carmakers are worried that Brexit may impose customs checks on parts and finished models, adding costly delays to the manufacturing process.
The automotive sector, which employs more than 850,000 people in Britain, has warned that extra costs risk the viability of production sites.
Britain's biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said on Monday that it would go down to a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich plant from October until the beginning of December, after warning about the impact of Brexit and diesel policy.
BMW said it was sticking by its British production sites, which also include a Rolls-Royce car facility, an engine facility and a fourth site which houses a press shop and sub assembly.
"We remain committed to our operations in Britain, which is the only country in the world where we manufacture for all three of our automotive brands," BMW said.
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