Just for today, there's no paywall on the FT. If this one is true, it's VERY damning for Boris Gump (sorry, trying to come up with new names than BJ that can still show my disdain for him - still quite fond of "The Incredible Sulk", it's just a bit long)
https://www.ft.com/content/7453c686-d9b ... 216ebe1f17?
Boris Johnson’s nightmare in Luxembourg was more than just a public embarrassment delivered at the hands of the Grand Duchy’s Xavier Bettel.
The FT on Wednesday morning reports on a chastening encounter over lunch between Mr Johnson, Michel Barnier and Jean-Claude Juncker, which one official described as a “penny dropping” moment for the prime minister over what it really means to replace the Irish backstop.
According to an account of the meeting, the prime minister was told by his EU counterparts in no uncertain terms that the UK’s plan to replace the backstop by allowing Northern Ireland to stick to common EU rules on food and livestock (known as SPS) was not enough to prevent customs checks on the vast majority of goods that cross the Irish border.
At that point, a befuddled Mr Johnson turned to David Frost, his chief negotiator, and Stephen Barclay, Brexit secretary, and said: “So you’re telling me the SPS plan doesn’t solve the customs problem?”
The exchange, according to one EU official, was part of an abrupt “learning curve” for Mr Johnson in his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Barnier and Mr Juncker since he took office.
Another official describes the prime minister gradually “slumping” in his chair as the reality of the UK’s negotiating position and the limited time left to strike an agreement dawned on him. “He wasn’t used to hearing it”, added the official.
Article Continues...
Elsewhere; Labour don't want to hear from their student wing (too moderate, according to Momentum):
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... conference
The founder of Momentum, a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has succeeded in a bid to make the party effectively abolish its 40-year-old student wing, which is dominated by the more centrist side of the party.
Jon Lansman won the backing of Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) for a motion that argued Labour Students was not officially affiliated and should be replaced.
The motion said Labour Students had not paid affiliation fees but this was disputed by Rania Ramli, its chair, who wrote to Jennie Formby, the party’s general secretary, setting out its case. Labour Students could now look at a legal challenge on the grounds it has been excluded on the basis of inaccurate information.
The move against Labour Students was condemned by a number of MPs as counterproductive at a time when the party should be focusing on preparing for an election rather than internal rows.
Article Continues...
Whilst Labour's Brexit stance is... to stay put on that fence:
A] Negotiate a new (customs union) deal with the EU
B] 3rd referendum
C] To remain neutral in that debate
It's apparently up for debate in their conference; but that seems to be the position agreed between Corbyn and the National Executive Committee:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... referendum