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Merkel: Northern Ireland must stay in Customs Union, or deal is 'overwhelmingly unlikely'
Link to tweet
1. PM spoke to Merkel at 8am this morning - No 10 source says she said there could only be a deal if Northern Ireland stays in Customs Union, if not, then deal is 'overwhelmingly unlikely'
2. No 10 says PM stressed to Merkel UK believes they had put forward a reasonable new deal, but with no desire to engage on EU side + this demand on NI staying in Customs Union a deal is 'essentially impossible'
3. No 10 source says 'talks in Brussels are close to breaking down, despite the fact the UK has moved a long way' - today's 8am call described as a 'clarifying moment'
4. Feels like any chance of a deal this month just died
2. No 10 says PM stressed to Merkel UK believes they had put forward a reasonable new deal, but with no desire to engage on EU side + this demand on NI staying in Customs Union a deal is 'essentially impossible'
3. No 10 source says 'talks in Brussels are close to breaking down, despite the fact the UK has moved a long way' - today's 8am call described as a 'clarifying moment'
4. Feels like any chance of a deal this month just died
The EU was never going to agree this offer, because it is a shit offer...
No deal this month. It remains to be seen if Boris Johnson will comply with the Benn Act, or if we will go crashing out? We shall see...
And the number 10 blame game begins..
