Dominic Raab's stock took quite a hit yesterday. The Exiting the EU Select Committee published a letter from him (HERE) yesterday afternoon, answering some points the committee had raised. In it, Raab says he would be happy to appear before the committee again "when a deal is finalised" and he says November 21st should be suitable. The Daily Mirror (HERE) immediately took this as an announcement that we are close to reaching an agreement.
But reading the letter it's one of those drafted by a smart arsed lawyer (which he is) designed to give the impression that something is close to fruition while actually saying there's been no progress whatsoever. Unfortunately, it was too clever by half.
But reading the letter it's one of those drafted by a smart arsed lawyer (which he is) designed to give the impression that something is close to fruition while actually saying there's been no progress whatsoever. Unfortunately, it was too clever by half.
Other news outlets, presumably all poised for just such an announcement, quickly began taking up the suggestion that a deal was imminent. But let's look at his actual words, which were:
"I would be happy to give evidence to the Committee when a deal is finalised, and currently expect 21 November to be suitable".
Note the "currently expect". Its hardly a guarantee is it? But before anyone got really carried away, this tweet from Tony Connelly at the Irish broadcaster RTE, quoting the Irish Foreign Minister, brought us all back to earth:
Breaking: Irish foreign min @simoncoveney says if a deal is to be done on the Withdrawal Agreement in November there must “movement” from the British side next week at the latest.— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) 31 October 2018
In other words there has been no change and the Irish backstop remains the sticking point. More than that they expect some "movement" from Britain.
Then Reuters (HERE) spoke to DEXEU who appeared to contradict their own Secretary of State:
"But his department later said that while Nov. 21 was the date suggested by the chair of parliament’s Brexit committee, that did not mean a firm date had been set for a deal to be done.
'There is no set date for the (EU) negotiations to conclude,' a ministry spokesperson said in a statement after Raab’s letter to the Chair of parliament’s Committee on Exiting the European Union was published".
Having started a hare running, boosting sterling by a cent or more and causing hyperventilating hacks to rush out the story, Raab's own department effectively rubbished his letter and denied there is any significance to the November 21st date. They even claimed it was suggested by Hilary Benn, the chair of the Exiting the EU Select Committee when it clearly wasn't.
In spite of Raab's apparent optimism, BuzzFeed (HERE) report that EU diplomats have circulated a note:
"The note, seen by BuzzFeed News, states that EU negotiators are hoping Theresa May's team will provide clarity by the middle of next week. That expectation, however, has been received with some pessimism among ambassadors of the EU’s remaining 27 member states who met with the European Commission earlier today".
This morning The Guardian (HERE) are reporting that Sabine Weyand, the EU’s deputy chief negotiator, has told diplomats that they are in the “final stretch on the backstop talks” and “nothing has changed, there are no new ideas”
Finally, Politics Home have a report (HERE) headlined, "Dominic Raab mocked after 'quickest U-turn in history' over Brexit deal date claim" and saying he was left 'red faced' although folks like him haven't got the shame to blush have they?
I confess I am not a fan of his. Even before he took up the job at DEXEU he has always looked like a man in a hurry and far too ambitious for his own good. In The House of Commons or in front of the TV cameras he looks a bit too cocky and self assured so a bit of a crash was overdue. When Brexit is settled, one way or the other, he will go down in history as an incompetent and over zealous lacky who was way out of his depth. He will probably sell his story as Britain: My part in its downfall, and make a fortune.
There has been radio silence from the EU since we entered "the tunnel," the period immediately before an agreement is reached. We entered the so-called tunnel a couple of weeks ago and then Raab was sent to Brussels to block it. Since then nothing.
Then Reuters (HERE) spoke to DEXEU who appeared to contradict their own Secretary of State:
"But his department later said that while Nov. 21 was the date suggested by the chair of parliament’s Brexit committee, that did not mean a firm date had been set for a deal to be done.
'There is no set date for the (EU) negotiations to conclude,' a ministry spokesperson said in a statement after Raab’s letter to the Chair of parliament’s Committee on Exiting the European Union was published".
Having started a hare running, boosting sterling by a cent or more and causing hyperventilating hacks to rush out the story, Raab's own department effectively rubbished his letter and denied there is any significance to the November 21st date. They even claimed it was suggested by Hilary Benn, the chair of the Exiting the EU Select Committee when it clearly wasn't.
In spite of Raab's apparent optimism, BuzzFeed (HERE) report that EU diplomats have circulated a note:
"The note, seen by BuzzFeed News, states that EU negotiators are hoping Theresa May's team will provide clarity by the middle of next week. That expectation, however, has been received with some pessimism among ambassadors of the EU’s remaining 27 member states who met with the European Commission earlier today".
Finally, Politics Home have a report (HERE) headlined, "Dominic Raab mocked after 'quickest U-turn in history' over Brexit deal date claim" and saying he was left 'red faced' although folks like him haven't got the shame to blush have they?
I confess I am not a fan of his. Even before he took up the job at DEXEU he has always looked like a man in a hurry and far too ambitious for his own good. In The House of Commons or in front of the TV cameras he looks a bit too cocky and self assured so a bit of a crash was overdue. When Brexit is settled, one way or the other, he will go down in history as an incompetent and over zealous lacky who was way out of his depth. He will probably sell his story as Britain: My part in its downfall, and make a fortune.
There has been radio silence from the EU since we entered "the tunnel," the period immediately before an agreement is reached. We entered the so-called tunnel a couple of weeks ago and then Raab was sent to Brussels to block it. Since then nothing.
However, if anyone knows about the timing it must be Raab himself. The EU have made their position perfectly clear and we only have to make some "movement" to get a deal. I don't expect much flexibility from Brussels, perhaps at the margin but nothing substantial. So, in that regard the timetable is in our hands not Barnier's. When do we make the movement? Raab probably has a date in mind already.
I assume once the details of the deal are published and people begin to pour over it a huge row will break out. Brexiteers will object the deal keeps us too close while Remainers will say the opposite.
The fireworks are still to come.
The fireworks are still to come.
Probably the most accurate bit of his letter was this, "The end is now firmly in sight, and while obstacles remain it cannot be beyond us to navigate them". But then again, perhaps it is.
