Pound Surges As Johnson On Brink Of A Brexit Deal

A Brexit deal looks highly likely but it will likely take an extension to get the deal signed, sealed, and delivered.

Brink of a Deal

The Guardian reports Boris Johnson 'on brink of Brexit deal' after border concessions

A draft text of the agreement could now be published on Wednesday if Downing Street gives the final green-light, according to senior EU and British sources. It is understood that the negotiating teams have agreed in principle that there will be a customs border down the Irish Sea. The arrangement was rejected by Theresa May as a deal that no British prime minister could accept.

Johnson will still have to win over parliament – including the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) and the hardline Tory Brexiters, the European Research Group – on the basis that, under the deal, Northern Ireland will still legally be within the UK’s customs territory.

“Northern Ireland would de jure be in the UK’s customs territory but de facto in the European Union’s,” one diplomatic source said of the tentative agreement.

In a phone call with Johnson on Tuesday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, acknowledged the momentum towards reaching a deal, but raised the possible need for a “technical” Brexit extension beyond 31 October to allow talks to bear fruit.

DUP Not on Board

DUP will not back a Brexit deal if Boris Johnson makes more concessions to the EU. Source tells me: "We will not be going more or giving more. Difficult times ahead.”https://t.co/0ZoSgvKdPl

— Arj Singh (@singharj) October 15, 2019

This is a good political move on the part of DUP. Perhaps the EU will lighten up on some points.

But if push comes to shove, Johnson will dump DUP if he has the votes.

Saturday Meeting

Parliament will meet on Saturday, October 19, if there is a deal.

The Benn Bill requires Johnson to seek an extension or present a deal by that date. The goal is to have a draft by tomorrow.

ERG On Board

ERG didn’t meet with PM himself but reading between the lines it seems they had a detailed briefing on the outline of the deal being discussed. They appear to have made their red lines clear and for now they don’t believe PM has crossed them.

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) October 15, 2019

ERG is the group of hard-line Brexiteers led by Steve Baker

Blasts Pour In

They are such bellends. The ERG are going to approve a deal that’s microscopically different to the previous one when they could have done this a year ago and spared us all this pain and destruction. Patriots? Nihilistic Nigels, I’d say, and sexist to boot.

— George Cazenove (@KingofSW6) October 15, 2019

That is complete nonsense. There is an enormous difference between all of UK being permanently trapped in a customs union and Northern Ireland being trapped. And the latter isn't necessarily true. Stormont (Northern Ireland) will have a say, but both sides must agree.

SNP Blasts the Deal

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon Blasted the Deal.

We oppose the politics of Johnson and Trump. But let us be clear today that we reject their methods too. Crude populism tramples on the rights of minorities and tears at the very fabric of our democracy.

We won’t take it anymore. We shouldn’t take it anymore. It is time to take charge of our own future. It is time for independence.

​Brexit is a disaster. What makes Brexit so much worse for Scotland is that it is happening against our will.

Wales will have voted to leave. England will have voted to leave. Northern Ireland will be given a say over its future. Scotland will be the only country in the UK to be taken out of the EU against our will and with no say over our future relationship with Europe.

My call is that the referendum [on Scottish Independence] must happen next year.

Scottish Independence Polls

(Click on image to enlarge)

Hard Border Between Britain and Scotland

Sturgeon not only wants to break away from the UK, she also wants to Join the EU.

Effectively, she is campaigning for a hard border between Great Britain and Scotland.

It's nonsensical given what just took place with Ireland. And this time there is no Irish Sea solution.

But heck, I am all in favor of a vote. I believe in self-determination.

I rather doubt Scotland would vote for a hard border, but let em have a referendum, if only to shut Sturgeon up.