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Boris Johnson plans to force through Brexit deal in 10-day blitz
Boris Johnson is planning to force a new Brexit deal through parliament in just 10 days — including holding late-night and weekend sittings — in a further sign of Downing Street’s determination to negotiate an orderly exit from the EU.
The UK is even “considering” keeping Northern Ireland aligned with future EU rule changes, according to the note. Diplomats cautioned, however, that important points remained unresolved, and that this would be only part of the solution for avoiding a hard Irish border.
Britain has also yet to make written proposals and EU officials are worried about the lack of time left to secure any new agreement before the UK’s scheduled departure date of October 31.
On Monday, Mr Johnson will travel to Luxembourg to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss the prospects for a deal — their first meeting since the Tory leader entered Downing Street in July. Meanwhile Tory chief whip Mark Spencer has told hardline Eurosceptic rebels they will be thrown out of the party if they reject any deal Mr Johnson negotiates in Brussels.
At the same time Mr Johnson is trying to charm some hardliners, inviting Eurosceptic MPs to Chequers, his country retreat, for drinks on Friday night. One MP appeared resigned to backing Mr Johnson if he secured a compromise deal: “He hasn’t really got anywhere else to go. Let’s see what he gets in Brussels.”
Nikki da Costa, the prime minister’s head of legislative affairs, has told colleagues she is confident that if a deal emerges from the next European Council, it could be passed into law before October 31.
“Nikki has told us she has a plan to pass a Brexit deal in 10 days flat,” said one senior government official. “Parliament might be sitting every day and night, including the weekend, but she is confident we can leave on October 31 with a deal.”
“It is technically possible to get the necessary legislation through in around 10 days — we have just seen MPs pass a bill in one day in the Commons,” said Maddy Thimont Jack, from the Institute for Government think-tank. She added, however, that “rushing it through in this way means little time for proper scrutiny”.
At their meeting on Monday, Mr Juncker is expected to push Mr Johnson to come forward with a detailed Brexit proposal, warning that time is short and that any solution must protect the all-Ireland economy and the EU’s single market.
