Brexit Party v Tories: MEP issues warning to Boris – ‘Betrayal of vote!’

The UK and the EU have reached a standoff over renegotiating the divorce deal, with Mr Johnson refusing to reopen talks until the bloc agrees to ditch the backstop. But the Brexit Party MEP and chairman of Leave Means Leave has warned that even if the Irish backstop is removed the agreement is still a “betrayal of the referendum”.

Mr Longworth said: “It is laughable for Boris Johnson to think that removing the backstop alone is Brexit. It would be a betrayal of the referendum.

“To sign up to Theresa May’s terrible treaty in any form would be Brexit in name only.

“It would leave Britain at the mercy of the EU, under the jurisdiction of the European Court, tied into an EU army command and linked to the customs union.

“In the Prime Minister’s own words, a vassal state of the EU and a colony.”

It comes after the European Commission said it was open to fresh talks but made clear Theresa May’s Brexit agreement was “the best possible deal” Britain was going to get.

And Irish Premier Leo Varadkar insisted that the Withdrawal Agreement will not be reopened, although there could be changes to the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

He said: “Our position is that the Withdrawal Agreement including the backstop is closed. But there is always room for talks and negotiations.

“We can certainly make changes to the Political Declaration and we have demonstrated before that it is possible to offer clarifications.”

Mr Johnson, who has promised to leave the EU with or without a deal on October 31, is demanding the EU drops the backstop before talks can begin.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister wants to meet EU leaders and negotiate a new deal – one that abolishes the anti-democratic backstop.

“We will throw ourselves into the negotiations with the greatest energy and the spirit of friendship and we hope the EU will rethink its current refusal to make any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.

“The fact is the Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected by Parliament three times and will not pass in its current form so if the EU wants a deal, it needs to change its stance.

“Until then, we will continue to prepare to leave the EU on October 31.”

Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is in charge of no-deal preparations, added he was “deeply saddened” by the EU’s position.

He said: “We need a new approach and we stand ready to engage with the EU, to negotiate in good faith to make sure that we can have friendly relationship in the future.

“We will put all our energy into making sure that we can secure that good deal but at the moment it is the EU that seems to be saying they are not interested.

“They are simply saying ‘No, we don’t want to talk’. I think that is wrong and sad. It is not in Europe’s interests.”

It follows reports that officials in Brussels had suggested a no-deal Brexit on Halloween now appeared the UK’s “central scenario” after a meeting between Mr Johnson’s top Europe adviser David Frost and senior EU figures last week.

Mr Frost was sent to Brussels to deliver the message that the UK will be leaving on October 31 “whatever the circumstances”.

Following the talks, a senior diplomat quoted by the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian is reported to have said: “It was clear UK does not have another plan. No intention to negotiate, which would require a plan.

“A no deal now appears to be the UK Government’s central scenario.”