Brexit LIVE: Boris Johnson rushes to Merkel and Macron meeting to stop Brexit delay

Boris Johnson is planning three-way talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron at the UN General Assembly in New York as he looks to ramp up the pressure on his plans to change the controversial Irish backstop. Conservative Party sources said he will also desperately try to persuade them to make it clear any Brexit deal would have to be passed by October 31. Ministers believe this aggressive move would finally force MPs to choose between leaving the EU with or without a deal with less than a month until the UK’s proposed departure from the bloc.

It would also allow Mr Johnson to swerve a new law requiring him to ask Brussels for another Brexit delay unless a deal has been approved in Parliament by October 19.

But sources have warned this plan will only be successful if the Prime Minister can first persuade EU leaders to compromise on the backstop.

The EU is continuing to insist Northern Ireland must remain in the EU customs zone, something strongly opposed by Mr Johnson and the DUP.One insider told the MailOnline: “If there is going to be a deal then the EU is going to have to move on that.”

Mr Johnson will also hold talks with EU President Donald Tusk, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian leader Charles Michel.

1.15pm update: ‘Let’s not divide our party’ – NEC member appeals for unity in Labour Party

Yasmine Dar old delegates at the arty’s conference in Brighton a clear commitment to a public vote on Brexit would be what puts Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.

She said: “Brexit has divided our nation, but let’s not let it divide our party.

“We will go into the next general election as one united movement, committed to a public vote, and that is how we will get a radical Labour government, and get Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10.”

12.15pm update: What are the Brexit motions being voted on at the Labour Party conference?

The NEC statement
Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) says it believes it is right the party decides how to campaign in a second referendum following the election of a Labour Government.

This supports the stance taken by Mr Corbyn, noting: “The NEC welcomes Labour’s commitment to let the people decide Brexit.”

It outlines what Labour would seek in a Brexit deal and says the party would implement the result of a second referendum, which would include the option of remain.

It concludes: “The NEC believes it is right that the party shall only decide how to campaign in such a referendum – through a one-day special conference, following the election of a Labour Government.”

Composite motion 13
The Tooting-backed motion states Labour must “campaign energetically” for a second referendum and to stay in the EU in such a public vote

This motion argues the best deal for the UK is the one currently in place with the EU.

It says: “The only way to resolve Brexit is through a confirmatory referendum with an option to remain in the EU, against a credible Leave option, and calls upon the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) to propose or support any motion in Parliament for this.

“Labour must reflect the overwhelming view of its members and voters, who want to stay in the EU.

“Labour will therefore campaign energetically for a public vote and to stay in the EU in that referendum, while recognising the rights of those members who want to argue another view.”

Composite motion 14
This also supports the position adopted by Mr Corbyn without committing Labour to pursue a particular view at a second referendum.

Its states: “Our party leader has made our way forward abundantly clear: a public vote on a deal agreed with the EU giving people a final say between a credible leave option and remain.”

Brexit latest: Jeremy Corbyn is under huge pressure following a turbulent weekend for the Labour Party

11.32am update: Brexit shambles – Labour could adopt THREE positions on Brexit today

Labour could adopt ALL THREE positions on Brexit during crunch votes later today, further highlighting the crippling indecision and the policy shambles currently tearing the party apart and piling huge pressure on Jeremy Corbyn.

Jeremy Corbyn is facing an explosive showdown with party members over their Brexit position, with a series of votes taking place at their conference in Brighton.

There are three separate Brexit proposals being put to the vote of party member at the conference. The statement from Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC), backed by Mr Corbyn, says the party would implement the result of a second referendum, which would include the option of remain.

Composite motion 13 demands Labour backs a position to remain in the EU.

The third one is a composite motion and a position adopted by Mr Corbyn without committing Labour to pursue a particular view at a second referendum.

10.49am update: Unison to vote against Labour NEC statement on Brexit – report

Trade union Unison will vote against the Labour NEC statement in Brexit this afternoon at the party’s annual conference.

A source told the Press Association that Unison instead support a motion calling for a confirmatory referendum, with an option to remain in the EU.

Most unions are expected to support the NEC statement.

10.44am update: Momentum boss lashes out at Labour leadership’s handling of Brexit policy process

Jon Lansman said: “I’m completely supportive of Jeremy’s leadership but I’m incredibly disappointed with the process by which today’s NEC statement on Brexit was produced.

“There was no meeting, no discussion, no consultation with the membership.

“On one of the biggest issues of the day, this is a travesty.

“Across the membership there are many different views on Brexit, and on conference floor members should feel free to vote with their conscience.”

10.37am update: UK fishermen furious at quota madness demand hard Brexit: ‘France don’t give away wine!’

British fishermen forced to work within the tight constraints of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) say they have “run out of patience” and are demanding a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

The UK’s catching sector is “ready to go” into a post-Brexit future on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, according to fishermen in the Shetland Islands.

Hopes of a deal with Brussels were raised last week when European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker said he believed a revised deal with Boris Johnson was possible.

But if the Prime Minister cannot agree upon a deal with Brussels a new law forces him to request a three-month extension to avoid a crash-out.

Simon Collins, executive officer of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, said those he represents are “not impressed” by the Government’s handling of Brexit and any further delay to the UK’s exit from the bloc would not be welcomed on the islands.

Mr Collins said Shetlanders are sick and tired of watching foreign boats sail into their waters and leave loaded with fish due to “unfair quotas” set by European officials.

10.01am update: McDonnell squirms as BBC host dismantles bizarre Labour plan to ABANDON Brexit voters

John McDonnell was left squirming as BBC host Martha Kearney challenged the Shadow Chancellor over Labour’s plans to abandon Leave voters in favour of a close relationship with the European Union after Brexit.

The Labour Party pledged to hold a second referendum on Brexit if they won a majority at the next general election, with the party planning to include an option to have a close relationship with the European Union or remain in the bloc.

BBC Today programme host Martha Kearney questioned the move, suggesting limiting the poll card options to soft Brexit or no Brexit at all would not be fair to Brexiteers across the country.

Ms Kearney said: “Is it fair to all those millions of people who voted Leave, many of them Labour voters, to have a referendum which on the one hand would have Labour’s negotiated deal – which would be pretty close to the EU and a customs union, very close to the single market, versus Remain?

“There would be nothing on the ballot paper which would be either no deal Brexit, clean Brexit, hard Brexit, whatever you want to call it.”

Mr McDonnell said Labour would not allow Britain to leave the European Union without a deal, claiming Britons would be at risk of losing their jobs and “quality of life.”

9.05am update: Panicking Euro car giants demand EU strike new Brexit deal or face economic meltdown

European automotive bosses have urged Brussels to strike a Brexit deal to save the industry from “seismic” no deal shock which could cost the car giants a catastrophic £50,000-a-minute.

In a joint statement, senior executives from 23 auto business associations have expressed fears over Boris Johnson’s pledge to quit the European Union on October 31 – with or without a deal.

They warn that carmakers will be significantly impacted on both sides of the Channel if the UK leaves without an agreement, despite EU bureaucrats claiming the bloc is prepared for a no-deal Brexit.

The introduction of additional border checks and red tape could cost companies £50,000 for every minute of delayed production, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

“The UK’s departure from the EU without a deal would trigger a seismic shift in trading conditions, with billions of euros of tariffs threatening to impact consumer choice and affordability on both sides of the Channel,” the joint statement said.

“The end of barrier-free trade could bring harmful disruption to the industry’s just-in-time operating model, with the cost of just one minute of production stoppage in the UK alone amounting to £50,000.”

8.58am update: McDonnell plays down Labour tensions over Brexit

Labour members will today vote on whether it should become a Remain-backing party at its annual conference in Brighton.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I smiled when you used the language earlier of civil war and revolt but there isn’t any war in the Labour Party. It’s about honest, democratic debate.

“People have high emotions on this because they feel it’s important. But that’s not people respecting each other’s views as well. I keep saying: do not mistake democracy for division. It isn’t – what we’re having is an honest debate.”

8.52am update: Corbyn set for showdown with Labour members over Brexit position

Jeremy Corbyn is facing a showdown with Labour Party members today as they vote to decide its strategy on Brexit.

Labour has seen deep divides open up over the weekend, with the party still massively divided over whether to stay in the European Union.

Mr Corbyn has come under increasing pressure from party members and even some of his top team to unequivocally back remaining in the EU and their rebellion forced a vote between two options on Monday.

The party will vote on whether Labour should be neutral before a new election, which is widely expected to come by the end of the year, or whether the party should declare a Remain stance immediately.

8.44am update: There is no deal that could be better than staying in the EU – John McDonnell

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said there is there was no deal that could be better than staying in the European Union.

Speaking ahead of crunch votes on Brexit policy at Labour’s annual conference in Brighton, he told the BBC: “I can’t see we could get a better deal than Remain and I would campaign for Remain.

“But others think that they could get a deal that would be acceptable to the British people and that’s democracy – the key issue here is ‘let the people decide’.”

8.39am update: Johnson to repeat to Trump the NHS will not be part of trade deal

The Prime Minister has said he will tell the US President face-to-face the NHS will not be part of any post-Brexit trade deal.

He told reporters on the plane to New York for the UN General Assembly:

“I will be making the point to President Trump, a point that I’ve made many times before, that we must tackle climate change together and we must tackle the loss of species together.

“But I will also be saying to president Trump is that when we do a free trade deal we must make sure that the NHS is not on the table, that we do not in any way prejudice or jeopardise our standards of animal welfare or food hygiene in the course of that deal. And that we open up American markets.”

8.32am update: Boris and Trump strike UK-US trade deal by July – report

The Prime Minister and US President have agreed to strike a UK-US trade deal by July next year, The Sun has reported.

The deal could be publicly announced when they meet at the UN General Assembly in New York the week.

A senior Government source told the newspaper: “The political will is there now on both sides to do the deal by July.

“It’s a great win for us, and Trump is also really keen to shout about it in the States.

“There is also a recognition on both sides of the Atlantic that it must be done by then because the US election cycle starts soon afterwards.”

8.18am update: More than half of Labour voters in last general election want Corbyn to quit

Over half of voters who backed the Labour Party in the general election in 2017 want their under-fire leader Jeremy Corbyn to stand dow, a new poll has revealed.

Labour’s annual conference is currently taking place in Brighton, but it has been dominated by internal splits – with the party’s position on Brexit central to this – raising questions over the strength of Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

The YouGov survey of 1,650 adults from September 18-19 – before the conference started – showed 54 percent of those who voted for Labour two years ago think the party’s leader should resign and be replaced with someone else.

Nearly a third (29 percent) said he should stay and 17 percent said they were undecided.

8.07am update: UK’s most deprived regions could have economies battered by “double-whammy hit” from no deal

The UK’s most deprived regions could see their economies clattered with a “double-whammy hit” in the event of a no deal Brexit, a new report has warned.

An analysis of regional manufacturing performance by manufacturing group Make UK and business advisory firm BDO LLP showed the exposure of those regions with a high dependence on exports to the EU.

The report said they are already experiencing losses but are likely to be most at risk from leaving the EU without a deal.

The report warned Wales, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber have a very high exposure to trade with the EU, so the risks of no-deal are likely to be felt disproportionately by these areas.

Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK, said: “Although Brexit stockpiling put manufacturing on steroids for a little while, the industry has since gone almost cold turkey and the overall picture over the last year now shows Brexit, global trade wars and the economic downturn in major markets are menacing UK manufacturers.

“In particular, there are some regions of the UK with a very high exposure to trade with the EU and who are likely to suffer a disproportionate double whammy to their economies and jobs from a damaging no-deal exit.”

7.52am update: Johnson warns against ’New York’ breakthrough in Brexit talks with EU leaders

Boris Johnson has played down the possibility of a breakthrough in Brexit talks with European leaders at the UN General Assembly, warning “a New York breakthrough” did not seem to be on the cards.

The Prime Minister has insisted his “cautiously optimistic” stance of securing a deal is unchanged, but has conceded there were “still gaps, still difficulties” over to how to solve the Irish border issue.

Speaking to reporters on the plane to New York, he said: “I would caution you all not to think this is going to be the moment.

“I don’t wish to elevate excessively the belief that there will be a New York breakthrough.

“I’m not getting pessimistic – we will be pushing ahead, but there is still work to be done.”