BREXIT and beyond ....: REUTERS BREXIT HEADLINES - 15 Oct

Thursday 31 October 2019

REUTERS BREXIT HEADLINES - 15 Oct - 17 Oct 2019

BREXIT HEADLINES

Germany's Commerce Chambers: Brexit deal is first ray of light

Germany's DIHK Chambers of Commerce on Thursday said Britain's reaching an agreement with the European Union on its withdrawal from the bloc the first ray of light in a long time.

17 OCT 2019

EU's Tusk says Brexit deal 'always better than a no-deal'

European Council President Donald Tusk said of a new Brexit deal agreed on Thursday: "A deal is always better than a no-deal."

17 OCT 2019

Rees-Mogg says DUP should find comfort in new Brexit deal

Britain has secured a good deal with the European Union which ensures the whole United Kingdom is one customs union and should provide comfort to the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said.

17 OCT 2019

EU parliament president welcomes Brexit deal, ready to evaluate text

The president of the European Parliament said on Thursday that the assembly was ready to evaluate and possibly ratify the new text on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

17 OCT 2019

PM Johnson hails 'great' new Brexit deal but DUP says 'no'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Britain and the European Union had agreed a "great" new Brexit deal but still faced resistance from the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as he sought support for the deal.

17 OCT 2019

Labour leader supports referendum on PM Johnson's Brexit deal

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had agreed a worse Brexit deal than his predecessor Theresa May, which was overwhelmingly rejected by parliament, after Britain and the EU agreed an amended agreement.

17 OCT 2019

PM Johnson confident deal will be ratified by Oct. 31 - spokeswoman

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is confident his new Brexit deal can be ratified by the departure date of Oct. 31 and it will go forward for a vote in parliament on Saturday, his spokeswoman said.

17 OCT 2019

'We have delivered', Barnier says after agreeing Brexit deal

Britain and the European Commission have agreed a new withdrawal accord that will be presented to European Union leaders later on Thursday, the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said.

17 OCT 2019

Labour leader Corbyn says 'unhappy' with Brexit deal

Britain's main opposition party is "unhappy" with the new Brexit deal, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said in Brussels.

17 OCT 2019

EU's Juncker says Brexit deal agreed

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Britain and the European Union agreed a new Brexit deal.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit deal done - two EU officials

Britain and the EU have concluded a Brexit deal, two officials with the bloc said.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit deal awaiting clearance from London - EU diplomats

A potential deal on Britain's divorce from the European Union is still awaiting clearance from London, EU diplomats said on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

Merkel says more work needed on customs for Brexit deal, which is possible

Solutions still need to be found for customs arrangements in Northern Ireland to clinch a Brexit deal and European Union leaders could yet meet again if they do not reach an agreement at this week's summit, Germany's Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit scramble looms over fraught EU summit, Merkel says deal possible

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a deal on Britain's exit from the EU was still possible as EU leaders headed to Brussels on Thursday for a two-day summit dominated by last-gasp negotiations.

17 OCT 2019

EU's Juncker, Johnson have spoken on Brexit - EU Commission

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have talked on the eve of an EU summit set to be dominated by Brexit.

17 OCT 2019

Britain will leave EU on October 31 if there is no deal - UK minister Jenrick

Britain will leave the European Union on Oct. 31 if no Brexit deal is reached with the bloc, housing minister Robert Jenrick said on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit deal close but not guaranteed, France's Lemoyne says

A Brexit deal is within "arm's reach" but it's still not guaranteed, said French junior foreign affairs minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

VAT remains an outstanding issue in UK-EU talks: UK source

Talks between Britain and the European Union were continuing in Brussels on Thursday, with the issue of what VAT sales tax will be applied to Northern Ireland after Brexit yet to be resolved, a British government source said on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

Northern Ireland's DUP says it cannot support Brexit deal as it stands

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's last-ditch attempt to clinch a Brexit deal was thrown into disarray just hours before a European Union summit on Thursday when the Northern Irish party he needs to help ratify any agreement refused to support it.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit deal still possible - UK minister Jenrick

A Brexit deal can still be done despite Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party saying it cannot support current proposals from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union, housing minister Robert Jenrick said on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

UK marketing spending dips in third quarter as Brexit deadline looms - survey

British companies cut spending on marketing for the first time in seven years during the third quarter, as a rocky Brexit pushed businesses to keep a tight lid on costs, a survey showed.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit healthcare fears fuel expatriate insurance interest in Europe

Some Britons living in the Europe Union are worried about losing access to free healthcare after Brexit, opening up a potentially lucrative new market for European health insurers.

17 OCT 2019

Brexit deal at hand in Brussels, Johnson struggles to win support at home

Britain and the European Union were on the verge of a last-minute Brexit deal on Wednesday but Prime Minister Boris Johnson still has work to do at home to ensure his government and factious parliament approve the plan.

17 OCT 2019

Labour MP Louise Ellman leaves party after 55 years

British Member of Parliament Louise Ellman has decided to leave the Labour Party after 55 years, the lawmaker said in a tweet on Wednesday.

17 OCT 2019

UK border risks snarl up in no-deal Brexit - audit office

The United Kingdom's border risks being snarled up in a no-deal Brexit because as few as 30 percent of traders are prepared, the European Union would introduce controls and organised crime groups would exploit weaknesses, the National Audit Office said.

17 OCT 2019

Labour Party leader Corbyn to back second referendum on new Brexit deal - The Times

Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is set to back a second referendum on a new Brexit agreement, the Times reported on Thursday.

17 OCT 2019

Good chance of a Brexit deal but not done yet - UK culture minister

There is a good chance that Britain and the European Union can strike a Brexit deal but it has not been done yet, British culture minister Nicky Morgan said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

PM Johnson says almost there on Brexit deal - lawmakers

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a meeting of Conservative lawmakers the European Union and Britain were almost there on a Brexit deal but that the peak of the mountain was still partly shrouded in cloud, sources in the room told Reuters.

16 OCT 2019

EU-UK deal pretty much done, awaits UK government approval - EU sources

A tentative, technical Brexit deal between the European Union and Britain was largely ready in Brussels on Wednesday afternoon and awaited an "overall backing" but the government in London, said sources with bloc.

16 OCT 2019

No final Brexit deal on Wednesday - BBC political editor

There will not be a finalised Brexit deal on Wednesday, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg reported, citing an unnamed UK government source.

16 OCT 2019

Lawyer to bring legal case against PM Johnson's Brexit deal

A legal challenge will be brought against British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's possible Brexit deal on the grounds that it contravenes domestic tax law, lawyer Jolyon Maugham said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

UK PM to go to Brussels early Thursday for 'useful' Brexit meetings - Sky News reporter

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will go to Brussels early Thursday in a move to have some useful meetings for a Brexit deal, Beth Rigby, Sky News political editor, said in a tweet on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

No further movement expected on Brexit deal on Wednesday - UK source

No further movement is expected on Wednesday towards finalising a Brexit deal with the European Union, a British government source said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

France's Macron says Brexit deal can be found in coming hours

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday a Brexit deal could be found between Britain and the European Union in the coming hours and endorsed by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Friday.

16 OCT 2019

The news from the Brexit talks could be worse, Merkel says

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was slightly more optimistic that a deal could be reached on Britain's planned exit from the European Union given the news she had heard from Brexit negotiations in recent days.

16 OCT 2019

Macron says he hopes EU leaders can endorse Brexit deal on Thursday

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday a deal with Britain on its departure from the European Union was being finalised and could potentially be agreed on at a European Council summit on Thursday.

16 OCT 2019

Finnish PM hopes for Brexit deal to avoid no-deal split

Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne said on Wednesday he still hoped for a last-minute Brexit deal so that the European Union and Britain do not descend into a most damaging, chaotic split.

16 OCT 2019

Johnson sees chance of Brexit deal, not there yet - spokesman

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his cabinet of top ministers that there was a chance of agreeing a new Brexit deal with the European Union but the deal was not done yet, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

EU Brexit briefing delayed again to 1700 GMT - diplomats

A debriefing for EU states on the latest on Brexit has been delayed for a second time on Wednesday to 1700 GMT, three diplomats with the bloc said, as last-ditch talks between Brussels and London on sealing a divorce deal dragged on.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit clarity possible in seven to eight hours - Tusk

European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday it should be known in seven or eight hours when Brexit could happen and in theory a deal could be accepted on Thursday.

16 OCT 2019

French confectioner fights to save Christmas from the Brexit Grinch

In the shadow of the Massif Central's extinct volcanoes, the production line at French glacé-fruit producer Cruzilles is working flat out to meet a glut of advanced orders from its number one export market: Britain.

16 OCT 2019

Irish PM says Brexit issues remain, EU sources report 'standstill'

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday that last-ditch talks between the European Union and Britain had so far failed to resolve issues standing in the way of an amicable Brexit, with EU sources reporting a "standstill".

16 OCT 2019

Northern Ireland's DUP dismisses report on backing Brexit consent proposals

The leader of the DUP, a small Northern Irish party backing Britain's minority government, dismissed a report on Wednesday that it had accepted the latest proposals on the role the region would play in how Northern Ireland is treated after Brexit.

16 OCT 2019

EU-British Brexit talks to resume in Brussels - UK spokesman

Talks between British and EU negotiators on Brexit will resume in Brussels after a lunch break, a UK spokesman said as last-ditch efforts dragged on to seal a divorce deal this week before Britain is due to leave the bloc on Oct. 31.

16 OCT 2019

UK minister: PM will abide by pledge to write Brexit delay letter

British Brexit Minister Stephen Barclay said the government would comply with assurances given to a Scottish court that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would write a letter to the EU requesting a Brexit delay if a deal is not reached by Oct. 19.

16 OCT 2019

At best, EU summit can grant tentative approval of any Brexit deal

Any approval by European Union leaders at their Thursday-Friday summit in Brussels of a last-minute Brexit deal could only be conditional on the British House of Commons approving it later, three diplomats with the bloc said.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit debriefing meeting delayed to 1500 GMT - EU diplomats

A debriefing for EU states on the latest on Brexit has been delayed to 1500 GMT on Wednesday from 1200 GMT, two diplomats with the bloc said as last-ditch talks between Brussels and London on sealing a divorce deal dragged on.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit talks ongoing as PM Johnson seeks to reach a deal - spokesman

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his team are pressing on with Brexit talks with both the European Union and lawmakers from the governing Conservatives and Northern Ireland's DUP to try to hammer out an exit deal, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

'Number of significant issues to resolve' in Brexit talks - EU's Avramopoulos

The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the bloc's executive arm on Wednesday that "a number of significant issues" remained unresolved in last-ditch talks with Britain, European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said.

16 OCT 2019

UK Brexit minister: Not aware of 'second letter' plan to thwart EU exit delay

Brexit minister Steve Barclay said on Wednesday he was not aware of any government plan to send a second letter to the European Union that would undermine a request to delay Brexit.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit minister says would not countenance short 'technical' delay

Brexit minister Steve Barclay said on Wednesday he would not consider accepting a delay to Britain's EU exit beyond Oct. 31, even if it was only used to tie up the necessary legal requirements of an agreement.

16 OCT 2019

Irish PM says still outstanding Brexit issues, may need more time

There are still issues to be resolved in Brexit negotiations, particularly on the issue of consent for Northern Ireland as well as some on customs, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday after speaking to his British counterpart.

16 OCT 2019

Chances of Brexit deal this week are shrinking - BBC political editor

The chances of a Brexit deal being agreed this week are now shrinking, BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said on Twitter on Wednesday, citing government sources.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit talks hit standstill over future trade deal, DUP: EU sources

Talks between the EU and Britain to seal a Brexit divorce deal this week have hit a "standstill", according to sources in the bloc.

16 OCT 2019

More work still to do in Brexit talks - UK government source

There is more work still to do in talks to secure a deal for Britain to leave the European Union, a British government source said on Wednesday, as negotiations resumed to try to hammer out a new agreement.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit finance relocations limit need for future trade link - think tank

The growing tally of UK-based banks, insurers and asset managers opening hubs in the European Union means that a post-Brexit trade deal in financial services may be of limited importance to either side, the New Financial think tank said on Wednesday.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit talks to resume after 'constructive' negotiations into the night

Brexit talks will resume in Brussels on Wednesday morning after "constructive" negotiations that went into the night on Tuesday, a British spokesman said.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit deal within reach in last-ditch talks, but doubts remain

Last-ditch talks between Britain and the European Union to get a Brexit deal ahead of a summit of the bloc's leaders this week went on past midnight to Wednesday, but it was still unclear if London could avoid postponing its departure due on Oct. 31.

16 OCT 2019

Brexit supporter Paterson says emerging deal is 'unacceptable' - The Sun

Brexit supporting Conservative lawmaker Owen Paterson said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's emerging European Union divorce deal was "absurd" and "unacceptable", The Sun newspaper reported.

15 OCT 2019

DUP leader says 'no' to mooted Brexit compromise on tariffs

The small Northern Irish party supporting Britain's minority government insisted on Tuesday that the region must remain within the United Kingdom customs union as part of any Brexit deal and not have to follow tariffs set by the European Union.

15 OCT 2019

DUP says more work needed on PM Johnson's Brexit plan, gaps remain

The small Northern Irish party supporting Britain's minority government said further work was required on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal because gaps remain over what they can sign up to.

15 OCT 2019

Johnson to meet party lawmakers on Wednesday night

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to address a meeting of his lawmakers from the Conservative Party on Wednesday evening, the chief political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph reported.

15 OCT 2019

Brexit talks continue, still work to do - PM Johnson's spokesman

Talks aimed at reaching a Brexit deal with Brussels are continuing but there is still work to do, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said on Tuesday.

15 OCT 2019

Report of imminent Brexit deal 'premature' - EU officials

A report that Britain and the European Commission are close to agreeing on the text of a Brexit deal is "premature", two EU officials said on Tuesday, though a third said there had been some "serious convergence of views" in technical talks.

15 OCT 2019

DUP will not back Brexit deal if UK PM Johnson accepts more concessions-HuffPost

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party will not support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal if he has to make more concessions to the European Union to get it done, the HuffPost reported on Tuesday.

15 OCT 2019

Pro-Brexit lawmaker Baker says optimistic a tolerable deal can be struck

The leader of the strongly pro-Brexit faction within Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party said he was optimistic that a tolerable deal could be struck with the European Union that he could vote for in parliament.

15 OCT 2019

Dover is ready for Brexit but eyes French border and paperwork

Dover, Europe's busiest ferry port, is as prepared for Brexit as it can be but there are uncertainties over the extent to which freight operators are ready for new declarations and whether France will keep goods moving, the port's chief executive said.

15 OCT 2019

London retains global finance throne amid Brexit chaos

From the pinnacle of the City of London's largest skyscraper, Stuart Lipton is wagering a $1.2 billion bet that the British capital remains a master of the international financial universe no matter what happens with Brexit.

15 OCT 2019

Irish PM says Brexit talks make progress and going in the right direction

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday that Brexit talks between the United Kingdom and the European Union had made progress and were moving in the right direction.

15 OCT 2019

Brexit to be delayed again, free trade deal will be struck - Reuters poll

Britain's Oct. 31 departure from the European Union will be delayed, according to the vast majority of economists polled by Reuters who again said the two sides would eventually agree a free trade agreement as the chance of a no-deal exit had fallen.

15 OCT 2019

France puts onus on exporters to prepare for Brexit custom checks

France has warned companies bringing goods in and out of Britain through its border after Brexit that they are responsible for making sure their paperwork is in order.

15 OCT 2019

Germany's Scholz: No-deal Brexit would damage Britain the most

Germany's Finance Minster Olaf Scholz told Reuters on Tuesday that a no-deal Brexit should be avoided as such an outcome would damage Britain the most.

15 OCT 2019

Amid Brexit tension, Irish PM says UK citizenship laws out of step with Northern Ireland peace deal

British citizenship laws are out of step with Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord that recognised the birthright of anyone in the British-run region to identify as Irish, British or both, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday.

15 OCT 2019

Too soon to say if Britain's parliament will sit on Saturday - parliament leader

It is too soon to say whether Britain's parliament will need to sit on Saturday, Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the lower house of parliament, said on Tuesday, in a reference to ongoing talks in Brussels over a Brexit deal.

15 OCT 2019

UK hiring falls by most in over four years as Brexit nears

Britain's jobs boom has weakened in the approach to Brexit with the number of people in work unexpectedly falling by the most in over four years and unemployment rising, official data showed on Tuesday.

15 OCT 2019

Don't be misled by Brexit jobs trickle - London finance chief

Britain's vast financial services industry will lose more jobs to Europe over the coming years because of Brexit, the City of London's policy chief told Reuters, warning people not to be duped by the low number of job moves to the continent so far.

15 OCT 2019

EU's Barnier sees three Brexit scenarios: deal, extension, "breakdown" - sources

The European Union's Brexit negotiator told the 27 EU states staying on together that he saw three possible scenarios ahead: a deal with Britain later on Tuesday, another delay to Britain's departure or a "breakdown" of talks, according to diplomats with the bloc.

15 OCT 2019

Finnish PM says Britain is seriously trying to avoid hard Brexit

Finland's prime minister, Antti Rinne, said on Tuesday that for the first time, it looked like Britain was trying to reach an agreement to avoid a hard Brexit at the end of October.

15 OCT 2019

UK's Brexit proposals fall short, need agreement by end of the day - EU diplomats

Britain's latest proposals on the terms of its departure from the European Union are still not enough for an agreement and a legal text is needed by the end of Tuesday for a deal to be agreed at a leaders' summit this week, three diplomatic sources said.

15 OCT 2019

https://uk.reuters.com/news/archive/RCOMUK_Brexit