“But we are open to alternatives, but they must be legally binding and workable. We haven’t received such alternatives to date.”
The Prime Minister’s tour of the United Kingdom sees him square off against nationalists from Sinn Fein, the SNP… and Welsh Labour.
The new Prime Minister will inherit the worst political legacy in living memory – with the very barest of working majorities.
The first in a ConservativeHome series of what the new Prime Minister must do in the month before Parliament returns in September.
None of what follows is impossible and, if there is a common thread, it is the self-interest of MPs in avoiding an election before leaving the EU.
The President’s support for Johnson may do the latter no good among voters, but it’s likely to do him no harm among another electorate – Tory activists.
The divisions and impatience exposed could well be real, but it doesn’t follow that Brussels is about to suddenly shift its policy.
If he starts ringing alarm bells over the next few days, the possibility may be real. If he doesn’t – or only goes through the motions – then it probably isn’t.
“I think we will stay right in our land,” the President says, changing the subject as quickly as possible.
The Attorney General is asking difficult legal questions about it which Dublin, Brussels, and even many in London would rather draw a veil over.
Also: Backlash grows against SNP’s new tax; Labour AM apologises for antisemitic comment; and Scottish Tories say they’ve stopped Johnson.
Rather than collude with MPs to take power out of May’s hands, it is colluding with her in keeping it there – presumably with the aim of a last-minute backstop offer.
The Taoiseach was speaking ahead of today’s talks with Theresa May and Northern Irish political leaders.
In the event of No Deal, we should put on hold WTO tariffs for Irish trade on those items most likely to offer opportunities to organised crime.