Fish are chips in EU talks

 SHOVE YOUR OLIVE BRANCH: Has the EU done enough to break the Brexit deadlock? Not quite, said No 10. Brussels negotiator Michel Barnier said the bloc was prepared to “intensify” talks all areas of disagreement, including fishing and competition, “based on legal texts” – as per No 10’s request. But Downing Street rejected the olive branch. It is understood Boris Johnson’s team now wants further assurances that the EU accepts it will have to make concessions – particularly on fishing rights. David Frost said Monday’s chat with Barnier was “constructive”, but added: “The EU still needs to make a fundamental change in approach to the talks.” Frost and Barnier are expected to talk again over the next couple of days. Michael Gove was in chipper mood in the Commons about the state of play, saying “I prefer to look forward in optimism rather than to look back in anger.” Mr Glass Half Full also claimed Brexit lorry parks would create some wonderful new jobs.

                                                 

Theresa May was seen screwing her face up in horror at Michael Gove’s remarks on post-Brexit security. Gove replied to the former PM’s question about the terrible prospect of failing to agree a deal over information sharing by claiming security cooperation with the EU would be even better after Brexit – causing May to display her disgust and exclaim: “Whaaat?” Over in the Lords, the Archbishop of Canterbury denied religious leaders are “misinformed” for criticising the government’s Brexit bill, while former Speaker Betty Boothroyd said trust had “collapsed” over the government’s Brexit failings. Meanwhile, Robert Peston claimed the PM still doesn’t know if he actually wants a deal with the EU. One of Johnson’s close colleagues told the ITV host: “The PM is in two minds constantly over this. He doesn’t know whether he really wants one [a deal] so no one else [around him] does.” God help us.