Boris Johnson news – live: EU reveals no Brexit talks arranged despite no-deal threat as PM ‘absolutely’ rules out calling election before 31 October
Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The EU has revealed that no Brexit talks are currently scheduled with Boris Johnson‘s government, despite Britain being on course to leave the bloc without a deal in less than three months.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said they had “no further announcements” to make about future negotiations.
Later on Friday evening, Mr Johnson received a call from Donald Trump, the US president, in which the pair agreed to begin free trade talks as soon as the UK leaves the EU, Downing Street said.
A spokesperson said the two world leaders discussed the “unparalleled” trade opportunities offered by Brexit.
It came after Mr Johnson suffered a blow to his efforts to woo hardline Brexiteers when a senior Eurosceptic MP snubbed his offer of a government job.
However, he may have more success in other areas of recruitment, as insiders said he had requested a dog to join him in No10.
The new prime minister is understood to raised the idea with staff when he addressed them on his arrival and received an enthusiastic response.
Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded
Boris Johnson spoke to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday night, spokespeople for both leaders said.
A spokesperson for the Scottish government said:
"The first Minister and prime minister spoke by telephone on Thursday evening.
The first minister congratulated him on his appointment before reiterating the Scottish government's strong opposition to a no-deal Brexit.
She confirmed that the Scottish government will continue to make every possible preparation for no deal as long as it remains a threat, but urged the prime minister to change course and avoid this."
Downing Street has just announced a new raft of ministerial appointments.
Nick Hurd becomes a Northern Ireland minister, as well as retaining his role as minister for London, George Freeman is made a transport minister and Michael Ellis takes over as solicitor general.
Plans to recruit 20,000 new officers in England and Wales could be hampered by "logistical challenges", the professional body for police has said.
The College of Policing welcomed the announcement that the drive would begin in September and described the move as a "huge opportunity" to get a more diverse workforce that is up to scratch on modern methods.
But chief executive Mike Cunningham warned of a series of practical challenges, following the closure of police stations across the country and concerns over the lack of training instructors.
"There are a wide variety of logistical challenges that come with the recruitment process," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Not just getting people through the doors, (but) the assessment process, the attraction, recruitment campaigns, the vetting, all of those sorts of logistical challenges, and then of course training people, making sure they are fit for the responsibilities that they have."
European ministers have rejected Boris Johnson's demand that the Brexit withdrawal agreement must be negotiated.
French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin told France 2:
"We have to be very clear on that. We've always said that if the UK wants to leave the EU, and if it wants to do it in an orderly manner, the best thing we have is the agreement."
She said the current deal had not been "imposed on the British" but was the result of painstaking negotiation.
She said:
"It's two years of work between Michel Barnier's team in Brussels and the British team to set out point by point, pragmatically, in a realistic and concrete manner, how we can mark that there is a before and an after.
"It's not us who want there to be a before and an after. What we're trying to say is that in this agreement we are saying 'Here is how we separate' and for me the key, what I'd like to do in the weeks to come, is to pass that stage and negotiate calmly how we can work afterwards."
Meanwhile Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney said Mr Johnson's comments in the House Commons on Thursday setting out his Brexit plans were "very unhelpful".
He said:
"He seems to have made a deliberated decision to set Britain on a collision course with the European Union and with Ireland in relation to the Brexit negotiations.
"I think only he can answer the question as to why he is doing that."
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has flopped in its first attempt to win council seats, and may have helped hand two seats to the Remain-backing Liberal Democrats.
The hardline Brexiteers stood in by-elections for two wards in Leave-backing Gloucester and trailed in third and fourth places, taking more votes in one than the margin between victorious Lib Dems and Boris Johnson’s Tories in second.
But a spokesman for Farage’s party defiantly dismissed accusations of splitting the Brexit vote, telling The Independent: “If the Tories are moaning that we’re taking their voters, then tough.
Breaking: Boris Johnson investigated over unsolicited personal emails
Nicola Sturgeon will be rubbing her hands as Boris Johnson tilts the scales towards Scottish independence, writes Louis Staples
Hardline Tory Brexiteers have warned Boris Johnson that any attempt to pass a revised version of Theresa May's Brexit deal would be a "complete betrayal".
Mark Francois, the vice-chair of the European Research Group (ERG) of Tory Eurosceptics, said the group's steering committee had met Mr Johnson early in the Conservative leadership contest.
He said:
"We spent over an hour going through with him in detail his European strategy, and he was absolutely emphatic that the withdrawal agreement was dead. Therefore, any attempt to revive it in any form would be a complete betrayal of what he told the ERG.”
Another senior figure in the ERG, Steve Baker, who turned down a ministerial job in Mr Johnson's government, said he feared "being asked to vote for a ‘compromise’ withdrawal agreement with a time limit on the backstop". He added: "Everything now turns on Boris."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments