Diary Day 606: Theresa May held private meetings with dozens of her backbench MPs, who received presentations on the “customs partnership” and “max-fac” options for the Irish border on which theCabinet cannot agree.
In Brussels, EU27 ministers met Michel Barnier in Brussels to discuss the state of talks so far. Afterwards Ekaterina Zakharieva, the Bulgarian deputy prime minister chairing the council, said at a press conference: “Mr Barnier informed us that since 23 March no significant progress has been made on the three pillars that we work on: withdrawal, future framework, and Ireland.”
At a later event in Brussels, Mr Barnier said: “There is still a lot of uncertainty. Negotiations on the future with the UK have not started yet. We have had first exploratory discussions.”
Asked about the progress that had been made since March, he said: “I would say little, not very little.”
He said the transition period that is expected to follow Brexit day in March 2019 depended on “operational solutions” being found on the issue of Northern Ireland’s border with the Republic.
“The clock is ticking” to reach an agreement before October or November which can be ratified by the UK and European Parliaments and the EU Council.
“So, little progress but we are working on technical issues which is always useful.
“None of these issues are negligible. The two key points which remain, where there is risk of failure, are the governance of the agreement and the Ireland-Northern Ireland issue.”
In Berlin Andrew Parker, the director general of MI5, gave a speech to the German security service about the security problems posed by Islamist terrorists and the Russian government. The Guardian pointed out that this was the first ever public speech outside Britain by a head of MI5. Hidden in plain sight, it suggested, was the real message directed at politicians: they need to understand the importance of having rules that allow collaboration between security services. Thanks to Brexit these are in doubt.
In the Highlands and Islands a report commissioned by five local authorities was published. The report, entitled “Post-Brexit Implications for Agriculture and Associated Land Use in the Highlands and Islands”, found that potential Brexit-induced price reductions and the removal of income support measures could lead to the acceleration of existing trends in declining agricultural activity, land abandonment and a shrinking agricultural workforce.
Rural economy and connectivity secretary Fergus Ewing welcomed “this important report, which highlights the distinctive challenges of farming in the Highlands and Islands, both in terms of the land and those available to work it.
“It confirms what I have been saying ever since the Brexit referendum – that Brexit is going to be the biggest challenge that the industry and rural communities has faced for generations.”
My heart sinks.
Josephine Hayes 