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Boris Johnson's government downplayed the idea of further talks on Brexit with the EU, unless Brussels first agrees to reopen the withdrawal agreement in its entirety and remove the Irish security system, which have both been dismissed several times.
In a position that seems to place the UK more firmly on the road to a departure without an agreement on October 31, Downing Street said that there was no further discussion on Brexit and that Johnson was "clear on the basis of these discussions".
His spokesman said, "I do not have a date to tell you. The Prime Minister was very clear about the fact that he was ready to begin these discussions, but obviously the key point is that the withdrawal agreement will not be pbaded by Parliament. This will therefore mean the reopening of the withdrawal agreement. "
"He will be energetic and forward thinking in the search for an agreement, but if an agreement is not possible, we will leave".
Asked if Johnson's team had asked for talks with Brussels, the spokesman said: "What we have done is to expose our position and say that we are very ready and that we will begin to speak with energy, but we are also lucid. what needs to happen if we want to get an agreement that Parliament can support.
"As I said, we are ready to start talking, but we clearly know what these discussions should be based on."
It was asked whether this really meant that the process was deadlocked, since the European Union insists that the withdrawal agreement can not be torn apart, the spokesman said that the priority from the United Kingdom remained to leave with an agreement.
"But it is very clear that if we want to get an agreement allowing us to leave on October 31, what the Prime Minister has said we will absolutely do, it will mean the reopening of the withdrawal agreement," he said. said.
Johnson has started informal talks with European leaders since his arrival at No 10 on Wednesday, but reiterated the same steadfast view, as in a call Thursday to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
He then had a call with French President Emmanuel Macron about Brexit. Asked about Johnson's message to Macron and others, his spokesman said it would be to emphasize that "the withdrawal agreement was rejected three times by the House of Commons, it will not be adopted. This means reopening the withdrawal agreement and guaranteeing the abolition of the safety net. "
French Minister for European Affairs Amelie de Montchalin said earlier that both parties should avoid the "games, gestures and provocations" of the Irish border, just three months from the United Kingdom.
De Montchalin said that Macron would have talks with Johnson in France in the coming weeks. Both must attend the G7 summit in Biarritz next month.
De Montchalin said that there was solidarity with Ireland and reiterated that the withdrawal agreement would not be renegotiated.
Johnson, who was scheduled to visit the West Midlands later on Friday for a speech on ways to maintain order, also met with Scottish and Welsh Prime Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, as well as senior officials from the United States. DUP and Sinn Féin. Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, said his spokesman.
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