British Prime Minister Theresa May's brief summer holiday from Brexit battles came to a noisy end Monday, as she faced attack from both sides of her divided Conservative Party. Archrival Boris Johnson inflamed speculation that he aims to oust May by branding her plan for Brexit “a disaster”.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is “strongly” opposed to key parts of Theresa May's proposals for a future trade deal. On Sunday morning the prime minister said she would not compromise on the UK government's Chequers plan.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is preparing for six hours of talks with the EU's chief negotiator. He will meet Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday for the extended session ahead of an EU summit on 17 October. Both sides are hoping to agree a divorce deal and a statement on future trading relations before the summit.
The EU must back Theresa May's Brexit plan or risk the UK leaving without a deal, the most senior member of the UK PM's cabinet has said. Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said the European Commission's proposals remained unacceptable and he appealed for compromise from the EU side in Brexit talks.
UK shop prices have risen for the first time in five years, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). It said shop prices increased by 0.1% in August, breaking a cycle of 63 months when prices fell. This happens after food inflation jumped to a seven-month high of 1.9% after the recent heat wave, which hit crop yields.
European foreign affairs chiefs have pledged to protect firms against the impact of US sanctions for doing business with Iran. An EU “blocking statute” took effect on Tuesday to nullify US legal action against European firms in connection with Iran.
British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson insisted on Tuesday that Britain's military will not be diminished after it leaves the European Union next year. “Britain leaving the European Union has no impact in terms of the security and defense of Europe,” Mr Williamson said in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Friday Britain faces an “uncomfortably high” risk of leaving the European Union with no deal, comments that drove sterling to an 11-day low against the dollar.
A top German industry group gave a cautious welcome to solutions proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to avert a trade war, but warned that U.S. auto tariffs were not completely off the table yet.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has informed Parliament that she is taking personal control of EU withdrawal negotiations, with new Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab “deputizing” for her in talks.