Fears over Brexit talks 'falling apart'

Logistics chief slams government for lack of planning

Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has warned that Britain and the European Union need to strike a Brexit deal next week or there is a real risk that negotiations could "fall apart" without any resolution being agreed in discussions over the future relationship between the UK and the 27 EU member states once the transition period ends.

With Prime Minister Boris Johnson's mid-October deadline for a deal to be reached having already passed, and Europe's mid-November suggestion also drawing closer without significant progress, Coveney says the British side is well aware of the reality of what could lie ahead.

"I think it is quite possible that this could fall apart, and we don't get a deal. That wouldn't shock me at all," he said, adding "the UK understands only too well what's needed".

Speaking at an online event organised by the European Movement Ireland, Coveney did not give up hope, but stressed that time was running out.

"If we don't have a deal at some point next week, I think we have real problems," he said. "Reaching a deal in the coming weeks is very difficult, but I also think it is doable. No deal is in nobody's interests."

A spokesperson for Johnson said: "Let's get to the end of this week and see where we are. We've said on a number of occasions that time is in short supply."

EU leaders met via video conference on Thursday, when they were expected to discuss contingency plans for the economic and administrative shockwaves that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit.

Members of the European Parliament had previously said they wanted the text of any trade and security agreement by the start of next week, in order to study it ahead of a ratification vote on Dec 16, but it is now believed that plans are being drawn up for an emergency sitting of the Parliament on Dec 28, just three days before the end of the transition period, in case things go down to the wire.

Meanwhile, the managing director of Policy and Public Affairs at Britain's Road Haulage Association has told the BBC that guidance given to his industry about how to prepare for business next year has been "chaotic, frankly pathetic and the information provided to businesses is woefully inadequate".

Speaking on the Newsnight program, Rod McKenzie said consumers would be the ones who would suffer the consequences.

"If you were trying to set things up to be really, really bad for Britain after COVID, with Brexit… they've gone the right way about it," he said.

A handbook for lorry drivers explaining new border systems has been delayed and will not now be published until Dec 7, just three weeks before regulations come into effect.

"What logistics is brilliant at, as we proved during COVID, is delivering stuff," McKenzie added. "What is happening with this lack of preparation is that, for the first time ever, logistics may not be able to deliver stuff. We'll notice that on the shelves, and on the just in time supply chain, and in so many other ways."