Brexit news latest: Dominic Raab 'confident of a Brexit deal' this autumn

Dominic Raab addressing MPs in the House of Commons
AFP/Getty Images
Olivia Tobin10 October 2018
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Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has said he is “confident of a Brexit deal” by this autumn.

Mr Raab addressed MPs on the latest negotiations on Tuesday evening, making the bold claim.

Speaking at the House of Commons, Mr Raab said the final few weeks of talks are "always going to be tough" but that was all the more reason for the UK to "hold our nerve".

He added: "I remain confident we will reach a deal this autumn,” saying it is "time for the EU to match the pragmatism we have shown".

Labour’s shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer argued against Mr Raab’s claim however, saying the statement would have been “much better coming from the Prime Minister”.

He said: “It’s no good hiding behind the badge of the Salzburg summit as informal.

Mr Raab addressed MPs on Tuesday evening
EPA

“It was the PM who pushed for Brexit to be on the agenda at Salzburg. And it was the PM who failed to secure a breakthrough.”

Mr Raab also “categorically” ruled out an indefinite customs union to resolve Irish border difficulties in the Brexit talks, amid Tory warnings over the Government's "gung-ho" approach to no deal.

He told MPs that talks with the EU have "intensified" in recent weeks and the two sides are "closing in on workable solutions" to all of the key outstanding issues before urging Brussels to match the UK's "ambitions" and "pragmatism".

Mr Raab also “categorically” ruled out an indefinite customs union to resolve Irish border difficulties
AFP/Getty Images

Labour accused Mr Raab of "pretending that everything is going according to plan" and urged him to "scotch rumours" the Government is not intending to publish an Irish border backstop proposal by next week, before questioning if an "indefinite UK-wide customs union" would be part of the offer.

Sir Keir also asked Mr Raab to rule out a "vague or blind Brexit", adding: "No government has the right to plunge the country into chaos as a result of its own failure.

"Time is running out but there is still time to change course and I urge the Secretary of State to do so."

Sir Keir Starmer
EPA

Mr Raab, in reply to Sir Keir on the suggestion of an indefinite customs union, said: "No, categorically that is not correct."

He suggested Sir Keir had almost become the "prince of process" given his questions before accusing Labour's leadership of having "trashed their promise" at the last election to deliver on Brexit.

Labour MP Christopher Leslie, former shadow chancellor, asked if Mr Raab was ruling out a blind Brexit and "we will have full details of that trade relationship for the future".

"First of all there's no question of some kind of blindfolded Brexit," Mr Raab said, going on to insist the withdrawal agreement would contain substance and detail on the future relationship.

He said: "We want to make sure in the political declaration on the future relationship that we have enough detail and enough of substance so that this House and the country at large can understand the choice of the model of economic and security cooperation that we're going to be pursuing."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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