Brexit: Michael Gove accuses 'wrong and sad' EU of intransigence
Michael Gove has accused the European Union of intransigence over Brexit talks, calling it “wrong and sad”, as divisions between the UK and Brussels became further entrenched with the government seemingly intent on a no-deal departure. Gove, who is in charge of no-deal preparations, reiterated Boris Johnson’s position that the only route to progress would be the EU starting again with withdrawal negotiations, something Brussels has repeatedly and consistently ruled out.
Agreement between the EU and the UK to extend the Article 50 deadline - 11th April 2019
(12)This extension excludes any re-opening of the Withdrawal Agreement. Any unilateral commitment, statement or other act by the United Kingdom should be compatible with the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement, and must not hamper its implementation. Such an extension cannot be used to start negotiations on the future relationship.
Gove was, obviously, a member of the government that agreed that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be reopened. He didn't resign, he didn't even make a fuss. He talks about it today as though this document doesn't exist, and calls the EU names. You might add to that the fact that he, and Johnson, Davis, Raab and even Baker, were in the Government that agreed the detailed principle of the NI Backstop in December 2017 and confirmed our agreement to it in March 2018. The heart of all of this project is dishonesty - and now the core message we are delivering to the EU, as we imagine we are soon to start actual future trade negotiations, is that we are simply not to be trusted to keep our word.
