On a day that saw a French governments Europe minister point out that the UK could remain in the EU on the same terms as it currently enjoys, the new Brexit minister (Dominic Raab) was meeting with Michel Barnier. Whilst the two men spoke of a post Brexit security deal being closer and Barnier described two recent white papers on leaving the EU as providing greater clarity, he poured cold water on the UK’s Chequers Brexit proposals.
At the Chequers meeting where cabinet responsibility was to be re-imposed and an agreed “road map” to Brexit arrived at, the UK hoped to remain in the single market for goods by maintaining all EU rules related to goods, it hoped that a revised version of customs agreement could keep borders open. The Chequers meeting led to the resignation of the Brexit minister, David Davis, and the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, together with a host of lesser known figures. In order not to lose a critical vote in the Commons, Mrs May conceded on amendments to the customs bill that would require the EU to collect tariffs due for UK goods in reciprocation for the UK collecting tariffs on EU destined goods. They further amended such that it would become illegal for the government to agree to different customs regulations for Northern Ireland. The government contended that it agreed to the changes since they were in line with UK policy (AKA cherry picking).
Today, Mr Barnier has driven a coach and horses through the Chequers deal by categorically stating that it would never let a third country nation collect taxes for it. He also said that the EU expected the UK to abide by agreements that it took in December and March which promise that the £39 billion exit fee will be paid and is not useable as a bargaining chip as Mr Raab hopes; and that the UK has pledged to backstop the Northern Ireland border issue by allowing it (alone) to remain in the customs union.
With these two torpedoes striking the good ship Brexit a midships, it seems that the Chequers plan is sunk. Currently, despite good will on both sides and the fact that neither party wants it (rhetoric aside) the UK is currently heading for a no deal Brexit which would mean a hard exit at the end of March. Watch this space, as they say.