Boris Johnson calls for PM May to ditch Brexit border backstop

Political reporter,Balfast(Reuters/wp):
Brexit hardliner Boris Johnson, a former foreign minister, called on Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday to rebuff the European Union’s demand for a special “backstop” deal to avoid a hard border in Ireland after Brexit.

“The only way to put things back on the right track is to ditch the backstop and then to chuck Chequers,” Johnson wrote in an article for the Belfast News Letter, referring to a set of proposals formulated in July at May’s Chequers country retreat.

Johnson resigned over the Chequers plan, which envisages maintaining close ties with the EU on trade in goods after Brexit.

Britain in 'secret talks over Brexit transition period extension to appease DUP'

Pic:Theresa May ( AFP/Getty Images )
Political reporter(wp/es):

Secret plans to allow an extension of the Brexit transition period may result in Britain remaining tied to EU rules beyond 2020, according to reports.

The move is said to be designed to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster that a “backstop” plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland will not come into force.

The potential extension of the transition period, which would see the UK stay in the EU single market and customs union, is being considered ahead of a crunch summit in Brussels on Wednesday.

Under the current plans, if there is a Brexit deal the transition period will last until the end of 2020. During this time the UK will accept Brussels' rules without having a seat at the table.

But the Guardian and Daily Telegraph that the option of a potential extension was being considered to allow extra time to drawn up a deal and avoid the need to use the controversial "backstop" arrangement.

The Department for Exiting the European Union said it would not comment on speculation.

The need to resolve the backstop issue is a political headache for Theresa May, who relies on support from the DUP in key votes because she does not have a majority in the Commons.

The European Union's version, which would see just Northern Ireland remain aligned with Brussels' rules, has been called unacceptable by Mrs May and is fiercely resisted by her DUP allies.

Mrs May's counter-proposal, set out in June, was for a "temporary customs arrangement" for the whole UK.

But Tory Brexiteers are suspicious this could turn into a permanent situation - restricting the freedom to strike trade deals around the world.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said that a provision on customs which was not "finite" would fail to deliver the result of the 2016 referendum.

And Downing Street insisted that Mrs May would never agree a Brexit deal with the EU which "traps" the UK permanently in a customs union.

The pledge came amid speculation over possible ministerial resignations if the Prime Minister gives too much ground ahead of the Brussels summit next week.

Mr Raab said: "What we cannot do is see the UK locked in via the back door to a customs union arrangement which would leave us in an indefinite limbo. That would not be leaving the EU."

However, the EU is mounting resistance to any specific time limit being included in the text of the UK's Withdrawal Agreement.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney insisted the backstop should be able to remain in place "unless and until something better comes along" and told ITV News it was a "deal breaker".

Police appeal for witnesses after brutal assault at high-end country club in north London

Crime reporter,London(wp/es):

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward six weeks on from a brutal assault at a high-end country club in north London.

A 55-year-old man remains in hospital after he sustained a fractured skull and brain bleed at the Trent Park Country Club in Enfield.

Charles Joaque, 44, of Enfield, has been charged with grievous bodily harm. But the Met issued an appeal for more information and witnesses on Saturday.

The assault happened at about 12.45am on September 1. The victim was found unconscious.

The Standard has approached Trent Park Country Club for comment.

It acknowledged the attack at the time, stating on its Facebookpage: “We thank you for all the support and understanding following police investigations.

“Please join us for our continual thoughts and prayers, love and support to the family and friends involved.

“Please also contact Enfield Police station if you have any information that might help them with their investigation.”

The club describes itself as “north London’s friendly country club”, boasting a “unique and premium restaurant and bar with a luxury nightclub area”.

Joaque will appear at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday.

Robbie Williams performs at Princess Eugenie's royal wedding celebrations

Pic:The couple married on Friday at St George's Chapel in Windsor (AFP)
Royal correspondent(wp):

Robbie Williams reportedly hopped on stage during Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding celebrations last night.

The singer reportedly sang some of his greatest hits as Princess Eugenie celebrated her marriage to Jack Brooksbank.

Williams’ daughter Theodora was a bridesmaid at the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Friday.

The festivities are set to last two days with Saturday having a ‘festival vibe theme’

A source told the Daily Mail: “There will be dodgems and funfair rides, coconut shies, lots of food stalls, loads of cocktails, bloody Marys for the hangovers and a festival vibe.”

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank married in front of the royal family and 850 guests at a star-studded ceremony at Windsor Castle.

During the ceremony, classical singer Andrea Bocelli performed two songs accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Once the ceremony was over, the couple followed the example of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and rode through the streets of Windsor in a carriage

Members of the public lined the streets to get a glimpse of the newlyweds. 

The nuptials were being followed by a post-wedding lunch hosted by the Queen and a black-tie reception this evening at Royal Lodge, the mansion in Windsor Great Park belonging to Prince Andrew.

Many celebrities who attended the ceremony and wedding breakfast posted pictures to social media, flouting an alleged ban on publishing pics from the big day.

Cars Delevingne, Jack Whitehall and Demi Moore were just some of the celebs to post images to Instagram

UK's proposed legal relationship with EU would leave ECJ in charge, lawyer says

Political reporter(reuters/wp):
Britain’s proposed judicial ties with the EU would still see the European Court of Justice take the binding decision on important cases in UK law after Brexit, according to a legal opinion seen by Reuters that could stir concern among hardline Brexit campaigners.

Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged that Britain will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the ECJ after Brexit, and regaining full control of Britain’s laws is one of the key attractions of Brexit to its proponents.

May has proposed an “independent arbitration panel” in cases where there is a dispute with the European Union. But in areas where Britain has agreed to abide by a “common rulebook” with the bloc, Britain would recognise that the ECJ is supreme on the interpretation of EU law.

An opinion by Carl Baudenbacher, a former president of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Court, to be published by a committee of lawmakers, said that such a relationship would likely be modelled on agreements by the EU with Ukraine and Moldova.

“It is... in my view unlikely that the EU institutions and in particular the ECJ will agree to an arbitration model that is more favourable to the UK than the Ukraine model is to Ukraine,” he wrote in an opinion to be published by a committee of UK lawmakers and seen by Reuters on Thursday.

“This means that in all important cases, the ECJ, i.e., the court of the other side, would take the binding decision.”

Baudenbacher said that any “attempt to break elements out of the Ukraine and Moldova agreements and transplant them into a UK-EU agreement is amateurish bricolage,” he said, using a phrase suggesting an incoherent jumble.

Instead, Britain should consider a judicial relationship with the European Union modelled on EFTA’s arrangements so that it can ensure its autonomy from the ECJ after Brexit, he said.

The European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement has the EFTA Court and the ECJ as its two pillars, with the EFTA Court - which could have British judges - often making the key rulings for non-EU members.

British banks risk ratings downgrades in disorderly Brexit - S&P

Business correspondent(reuters/wp):
British banks could face potential credit rating downgrades if there is a disorderly Brexit as this would be likely to trigger a domestic political crisis and economic contraction, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s said on Thursday.
British banks could face potential credit rating downgrades if there is a disorderly Brexit as this would be likely to trigger a domestic political crisis and economic contraction, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s said on Thursday.

Fitch Ratings, a rival ratings agency, said that UK banks are well funded to face a no-deal Brexit, but could face challenges if wholesale markets were disrupted for a lengthy period.

“Their ratings should be able to withstand economic deterioration in the no-deal scenarios,” Fitch said in a statement.

S&P reiterated warnings from the Bank of England on Tuesday that derivatives markets face disruption from a no-deal Brexit unless the EU allows EU customers to continue using LCH, part of the London Stock Exchange, that clears the bulk of euro denominated swaps.

Some euro clearing of these transactions has already moved to rival central counterparty (CCP) Eurex (DB1Gn.DE) in Frankfurt.

The EU is in the process of introducing a law that would require LCH to be supervised by the bloc’s regulators as well as the Bank of England if it wants to continue serving EU customers.

“While dual supervision could yet be a negotiated middle ground for one or more U.K. CCPs, it appears challenging to apply effectively in practice, not least when clear and rapid decision making is required in a crisis,” S&P said.

Clearing houses such as LCH act as a financial backstop if transactions they handle run into trouble.

Pressure to shift euro clearing would moderately affect LCH, S&P said.

“Our base-case view is that LCH Ltd will maintain its market leading franchise in OTC interest rate swaps following Brexit, and an (ratings) upgrade would depend on us becoming increasingly confident in this outcome,” the agency said.

Fitch said there would be significant negative consequences for banks and financial stability if no interim solution was in place for derivatives ahead of a no-deal Brexit.

Theresa May warned by DUP she could go if ‘red lines’ are crossed on EU border deal

Pic:Theresa May with the DUP's Arlene Foster ( PA )
Political reporter(wp/es):

Theresa May’s allies in the Democratic Unionist Party today said any Brexit breakdown of the pact propping up the Government could fall “on the head of the Prime Minister”.

Sources in the Northern Ireland party indicated that a change of Tory leader, rather than a general election, could result if Downing Street accepts a deal with the EU that would see the Province remain subject to European rules while the rest of the UK breaks away.

Their warning came as a senior Conservative MP said a leadership contest could be completed in “days” if necessary.

Mark Pritchard, a former secretary of the 1922 Committee which would be in charge of the process, tweeted: “Lots of wild and loose talk about leadership moves. There is no vacancy. 

“However, on a technical point, if a vacancy did arise process need not take more than 2 working weeks — 4 days in Commons (if needed) and 6 days with membership — does not need to be an overly long process.”

Mrs May was due to bring together senior ministers for a meeting this evening where insiders think she aims to “bind” key figures into a possible deal that would keep Britain in a form of customs union and also mean extra regulatory checks on goods from the mainland to Northern Ireland.

A Whitehall source said: “I think it is all about getting people over the line whom she thinks might be the biggest risk.”  

Among ministers expected to attend were Brexit-backers Michael Gove and Liam Fox, but not Commons leader Andrea Leadsom or Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

Brexit negotiations are set to come to a head next week at an EU summit where Mrs May will be under pressure to agree an Irish “backstop” that the DUP sees as tantamount to keeping the Province in the single market, including remaining subject to European Court rulings.

Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson went further than the party’s threat to vote down the Budget by saying it could refuse to support social and welfare legislation as well.

“We are hoping that the Government will deliver on the promises it made not to accept any arrangements that would make Northern Ireland separate from the UK,” he told the Standard. “The signs are not good at present.”

A party source said the DUP would look like “patsies” if it failed to make a stand. Responding to claims from some government insiders that it would risk a general election and a Jeremy Corbyn victory, the DUP source said: “Will responsibility simply fall on the head of the Prime Minister? Could it result in a change of leader, or could it result in the Government falling? It will depend on how the Government react to such a hypothetical vote.”

Former Conservative prime minister John Major said the “bullying” behaviour of dissident Brexiteers towards Mrs May was worse than the anti-Maastricht rebels he famously dubbed “bastards”.

“I have great sympathy for her plight and I think the way she has been treated by some of her colleagues has been absolutely outrageous,” he told the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast.

“People in Parliament who are undermining the Prime Minister by wandering round saying we are going to have 40-odd signatures for a leadership election tomorrow, saying unless the Prime Minister does this thing or that thing we are going to vote against it, that’s an intolerable way to treat a Prime Minister who is in the middle of negotiations.”

Labour ex-premier Tony Blair said the DUP were asking the impossible because they could not have both an open border with the Republic and different trade rules.

Former Cabinet minister and Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith urged Mrs May to “listen very carefully” to the DUP’s warnings. He insisted it was  “wholly feasible to have non-hard  borders” after Brexit.