Talks between the UK and European Union will not take place this weekend as anticipated after the European
Commission said Boris Johnson’s new Brexit proposals “do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement”.
EU Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said discussions on the prime minister’s plan to replace the Irish backstop would not take place this weekend, but that the UK would be given “another opportunity to present its proposals in detail” on Monday.
She said: “Michel Barnier debriefed (officials) yesterday, where Member States agreed that the UK proposals do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement.”
Mr Johnson is expected to embark on a tour of European capitals for face-to-face talks next week as well as continuing to speak by phone to counterparts.
His Europe adviser, David Frost, has been in Brussels for technical talks with officials.
The move came after Mr Johnson insisted on Friday that he would not delay Brexit despite his lawyers saying he will comply with a law calling for the October 31 exit date to be postponed if there is no deal.
The prime minister has previously made a “do or die” pledge several times to get the UK out of the bloc on 31 October, with or without an agreement in place.
This is despite backbench legislation – known as the the Benn Act – committing him to request an extension if a deal is not secured following the European Council meeting in less than two weeks’ time.
Earlier, Home Office minister Brandon Lewis told Sky News: “We will follow the rule of law. We will abide by the
law as we have said consistently. But we are going to leave on 31 October. “I appreciate the follow up question to that is how do you do it.
“I am afraid as there is so many people, some in parliament as well, who seem determined to do all they can to frustrate Brexit, we are not going to tell them right now exactly what our plans are.