A NO DEAL EU exit is now likely according to Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, who said Brussels won’t renegotiate the fundamentals of Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement in a blow to Prime Minster Boris Johnson.
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Mr Barnier said the EU will discuss alternatives to the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, but only if Parliament passes Mrs May’s agreement. He also denied Brussels would be responsible for a no deal Brexit, and claimed “many people in the UK” would agree.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron had given him 30 days to find “alternative arrangements” to the backstop.
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph Mr Barnier commented: “I am not optimistic about avoiding a “no deal” scenario but we should all continue to work with determination.
“The EU is ready to explore all avenues that the UK government may present and that are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement.
Michel Barnier said a no deal Brexit is now likely
Boris Johnson has vowed to take Britain out of the EU on October 31 with or without an exit deal The Northern Ireland backstop in Mrs May’s deal was designed to prevent any hard Irish border.
There were fears this could violate the Good Friday Agreement, and that any border posts would become targets for dissident republican terrorism.
Under the agreement the UK would automatically fall into a customs union with the EU unless the two sides could agree an alternative arrangement during the transition period.
Tens of thousands marched against the proroguing of Parliament on SaturdayIn this case Britain would struggle to sign independent trade deals with other countries, and would still have to abide by a significant proportion of EU regulations.
Mr Barnier also ruled out any “mini deal” with the UK after a hard Brexit to reduce its impact.
He added Britain would still be liable for the £32billion divorce bill even if it leaves with no deal.
Mr Johnson has said the UK would only pay a small proportion of the figure under those circumstances.
Thousands of anti-prorogue protestors marched through London on Saturday
Boris Johnson announced Parliament would be prorogued for an extended period on WednesdayMr Barnier asserted: “The UK has now come to a moment of truth and it must decide if it leaves the EU with or without an agreement.
“The UK has now come to a moment of truth and it must decide if it leaves the EU with or without an agreement.
“If it chooses the latter, it means that there will be no transition period and no so-called “mini-deals”, as the EU will only act to protect its own interests.
“In case of “no-deal”, all the UK’s financial and other obligations from its past EU membership will continue to exist.”
The Tories have surged in the polls since Boris Johnson took over as PMOn Saturday tens of thousands of marched across the UK to protest Mr Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament for a period before the October 31 Brexit date.
In London protestors chanting “you shut down the Parliament, we shut down the streets” briefly blocked Westminster Bridge as well as roads around Parliament Square.
Police made a number of arrests including Caroline Russell, a member of the London Assembly for the Green Party.
Protests also took place in a number of towns and cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Mr Barnier insisted the British Government will get the blame for any no deal EU exitMr Barnier insisted the British Government will get the blame for any no deal EU exit.
He wrote: “The EU cannot prevent the UK from choosing a “no-deal’ scenario.
“I would fail to understand the logic of that choice though, as we would still need to solve the same problems after 31 October.
“Many people in the UK understand that and I would be surprised if they succumb to the idea that the EU is to blame for a difficult political situation in the UK.”
