By Ben Kerrigan-
The Brexit Secretary blocked a Government backing for a technical-level deal concluded between UK and European Union officials ahead of the October European Council summit, it has been claimed.
Mr Raab’s handling of Brexit talks scuppered any chances of a deal being concluded during his meeting with the EU’s chief negotiator on October 14, minutes from an EU committee reveal.
Brexit Secretary, Mr Dominic Raab, apparently told Mr Barnier the UK Government wouldn’t be able to back the agreement.
Guy Verhofstadt, an experienced member of the European Parliament and former prime minister of Belgium has revealed how close the EU came with agreeing a deal with Britain before it was aborted. Minutes from the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents meeting, reveal ” a feeling of hope for an agreement based on a global proposal on a withdrawal agreement”. However, during his last Brussels meeting, Dominic Raab “informed Mr Barnier that the proposal would not be backed by the UK Government.
Verhofstadt says mr. Raab made the conclusion of an agreement at the forthcoming European Council meeting impossible”. The summit, which was just three days later, European leaders decided “decisive progress” had not been made and they shelved plans for an emergency November summit.
The suggestion was contained in an optimistic three-page letter to The Brexit Committee dated 24 October, only released on Wednesday afternoon by the committee of MPs. The said “we are not far from an agreement” on the vexed question of what backstop arrangements to adopt if a free trade deal cannot be signed. Details of the revelation disclosed to The Eye Of Media.com by mutual contacts with the UK Daily Express where it has also been published, are supposed to be a sign that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
EU Parliment Member: Guy Verhorfstadt
President Emmanuel Macron told reporters the EU had offered its last compromise and it is time for Theresa May to make the next political move. He said: “It’s no longer a technical issue, it’s for the political ability of the UK to reach an agreement that can be presented to u
“It’s not for the EU to make concessions to deal with UK political issues. I can not be more clear on this.
“Mrs May has been extremely committed and I’m convinced she will work in finding a political solution to get back to the EU negotiators.” Raab now says a Brexit deal to be complete by November 21, just 3 weeks away. This is yet to be seen but would represent an end to the deadlock.