Brexit

Countdown to Brexit:

Former prime minister Tony Blair makes a speech on Brexit at the British Academy in London on Friday, December 14th. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Brexit: May accuses Blair of ‘insulting’ British people and office of prime minister

PM says predecessor is undermining talks with call for second referendum

John West, former Ireland rugby international Trevor Ringland and John McNally in Holywood. Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker North Down on Brexit: ‘The DUP threatens the union more than Sinn Féin’
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s Brexit. Illustration: Angelo McGrath (with apologies to Jamie Reid) Fintan O’Toole: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s Brexit

DUP leader Arlene Foster attends the launch of A Better Deal in London, Britain. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters What – if anything – would satisfy the DUP in Brexit negotiations?
Cycling the Border, 2018: ‘At least yous are Prods, you f**kers’
British prime minister Theresa May returns inside 10 Downing Street, following her statement after she survived an attempt by Tory MPs this week to oust her with a vote of no confidence. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Fintan O’Toole: Britain now has a zombie PM to go with a zombie Brexit
Otherworldly villains: A Boris Johnson impersonator walks alongside Jacob Rees-Mogg. Leavers had a powerful, emotionally resonant issue: immigration. Photograph: Henry Nicholls Remainers should not be let off the hook on Brexit
‘In a no-deal scenario the UK would leave the EU at the end of March, and immediately become a ‘third country’ from the EU’s viewpoint, in other words one outside its customs and regulatory regime.’ Cliff Taylor: Ireland may face very uncomfortable choices in a no-deal Brexit
British prime minister Theresa May at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels. The latest negotiations illustrate again, observers say, the political naivety that has characterised British Brexit diplomacy. Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg What if EU leaders had agreed to Theresa May’s backstop request?
British prime minister Theresa May is in a weaker position than she was last week, having had 117 members of her parliamentary party vote no confidence in her leadership, but still she staggers on. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA The Irish Times view on the Brexit stalemate: London staggers towards the exit
British Prime Minister Theresa May will make a statement to parliament about the summit on Monday and take questions from MPs about the future of her Brexit deal. Photograph: John Thys / AFP/Getty Images Summit shows that EU cannot solve May’s parliamentary problem
A defaced ‘Welcome to Northern Ireland’ sign is displayed on the Border in Derry. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Brexit explained: Why does the Border matter and what is the backstop?
Former prime minister Tony Blair makes a speech on Brexit at the British Academy in London on Friday, December 14th. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Brexit: May accuses Blair of ‘insulting’ British people and office of prime minister
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern: ‘The decision to downgrade history in our secondary schools and to make it a non-compulsory subject [at Junior Cert level] was short-sighted and quite frankly ill-considered.’ File photograph: Tom Honan for The Irish Times Brexiteers need ‘crash course’ in Irish history, says Ahern
John Bruton: ‘I think the DUP veto wouldn’t apply, essentially (if they took their seats),’ he said. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times. Sinn Féin could have ‘neutralised’ DUP’s Brexit veto by taking seats – Bruton
Britain’s foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt attends the weekly meeting of the cabinet at 10 Downing Street in London last week. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Brexit: May’s deal could get through parliament if EU makes assurances – Hunt
Theresa May: “We will be working expeditiously over the coming days to seek those further assurances that I believe MPs will need.” Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg May puts a brave face on EU summit outcome
European Council President Donald Tusk: Trying manfully to suggest that the EU summit was not simply preoccupied with Brexit. Photograph: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP EU summit approves key elements of monetary reform
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Ireland beyond Brexit
Full Brexit results
Leo Varadkar arrives for the EU summit on Friday. Photograph: Geert Vanden/AP Varadkar stresses ‘limitations’ to what EU can do to help May
Leo Varadkar stressed the EU’s wish to help Mrs May, but added: “That is contingent on her understanding that there are limitations.” Photogaph: John Thys / AFP/Getty Images 'Limitations' to assistance EU can offer Theresa May – Varadkar
British people will have to pay if they visit popular European holiday destinations like Spain British people face paying to enter mainland Europe after Brexit
The National Oil Reserve Agency holds only 57 per cent of the required 90 days’ supply here. Photograph: iStock Brexit could leave Ireland in breach of EU oil reserve rules
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and president of the European Council Donald Tusk at a press conference at the end of first day at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA EU leaders reject May’s plea to redefine Border backstop
British prime minister Theresa May arrives for a meeting at an EU summit in Brussels. Photograph: AP Photo/Alastair Grant Theresa May says EU must offer backstop assurances to avoid no-deal Brexit
European Union leaders at a two-day summit on the Brexit negotiations. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouws State and rest of EU willing to offer backstop assurances, Varadkar says
France’s Emmanuel Macron expressed disappointment at Moscow’s continuing failure to meet obligations in Ukraine line with the 2015 Minsk agreement. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images EU budget talks wrangle with controversial cuts to Cap and regional funds
John Bruton, speculated on an 8 per cent fall in GDP in the UK after Brexit, together with serious inflation and unemployment that would lead to “deep bitterness, alienation and anger that will go on and on in future generations”. Brexiteers’ expectations are ‘outside reality’, warns former Italian PM
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives for a European Summit in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images Leo Varadkar suggests UK could pause Brexit process
Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary: accused the Government of delaying publishing plans to prepare for Brexit. File Photograph: Tom Honan. Government accused of failing to warn public over Brexit risks
Anti-Brexit protests at the Houses of Parliament in London: The Society of the Irish Motor Industry is calling on the Government to step up its preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit Motor trade calls on Government to ‘protect Irish jobs’ in no-deal Brexit
Raymond McDaid in Doherty’s Cafe, in the Bogside, Derry Bogside on Brexit: ‘A complete mess, bizarre, unedifying’
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street after she survived an attempt by Tory MPs to oust her with a vote of no confidence. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA Wire May survives confidence vote but faces battle over backstop
British prime minister Theresa May makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, after she survived an attempt by Tory MPs to oust her. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Theresa May survives confidence vote but says she will not lead Tories into next election
Earlier on Wednesday, the UK currency had been sitting close to a 20-month low against the dollar and the euro. Photograph: Getty Sterling cedes ground as Theresa May secures MPs’ support
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, who is managing the State’s response to Brexit. A spokesman for Mr Coveney says further no-deal contingency plans will be published in due course by the Government and the EU. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Government urged to publish no-deal Brexit contingency plans
Angela Merkel and Theresa May in Berli on Tuesday. The German chancellor told deputies after their meeting she could envision offering additional “securities” to the UK but would not consider reopening the withdrawal treaty. Photograph: Michele Tantussi/Getty Images Germany still supports Brexit backstop
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who earlier on Wednesday officially opened Barclay’s bank new EU headquarters in Dublin, told the Dáil the bank was an example of more money and jobs coming into Ireland with Brexit. File photograph: PA ’Huge downsides’ to Brexit but also more ’jobs and money’ for Ireland - Taoiseach
Irish five-year bond yields climbed 0.04 percentage points to 0 per cent as of mid-morning in London. Photograph: iStock Irish bonds share Theresa May’s pain amid Brexit uncertainty
A number of cross-Border organisations were addressing the Oireachtas committee on Brexit challenges facing Border businesses. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/File Brexit: Border businesses have already closed, committee told
Conservative party MP Anna Soubry has apologised to the Irish people for the actions of her party and government in the Brexit debacle. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images. Tory MP apologises to Irish people for her party’s behaviour on Brexit
Prime Minister Theresa May walks back to Number 10 after making a statement on Wednesday morning. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Irish Ministers told not to comment on Tory confidence vote
Q&A: What happens during a Tory leadership contest?
Effigies of UK politicians: ESRI says if the UK left leaves the EU without a deal, growth in Ireland may be cut to 2.6 per cent from an otherwise 4.2 per cent. Photograph: Andy Rain No-deal Brexit may halve Irish economic growth, ESRI warns
Paschal Donohoe with Christine Lagarde: the Minister is in Washington for meetings with senior officials from the Trump administration and the IMF. Photograph: Marty Katz/ washingtonphotographer.com Government is doing ‘all we can’ to avoid no-deal scenario – Minister
British prime minister Theresa May meets with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Tuesday. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters. Threshold reached to trigger no confidence vote in Theresa May - reports
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney with students at Loreto Letterkenny: “All Government departments must give full priority to activating their plans for a no-deal or disorderly Brexit.” Photograph: Julien Behal Government ramps up preparations for no-deal Brexit
British prime minister Theresa May arrives for a meeting with European Council president Donald Tusk at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Mood shifts against May as she seeks support for Brexit deal
German chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with Britain’s prime minister Theresa May in Berlin on December 11th, 2018. Photograph: Odd Andersen EU leaders tell May there will be no Brexit renegotiation
Theresa May (L) shakes hands with Angela Merkel ahead of talks at the Chancellery in Berlin on Tuesday. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg Theresa May to visit Dublin as part of effort to save Brexit deal
There is no scope to reopen Britain’s withdrawal agreement with the European Union, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said. Paschal Donohoe rules out renegotiating Brexit deal
Former UK prime minister Sir John Major is pictured speaking at event in Duiblin’s Westin Hotel to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times. UK needs to revoke article 50 application immediately – John Major
An anti-Brexit campaigner stands outside the Westminster parliament with EU and Union Flags and a placard asking ‘Brexit: is it worth it?’. The Taoiseach said calls for a poll on Irish unity during the Brexit process were ‘disruptive’. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty. Sinn Féin call for Irish unity poll ‘destructive’, Taoiseach says
Theresa May in the House of Commons on Monday following a statement where she told MPs that tomorrow’s ‘meaningful vote’ on her Brexit deal had been deferred. Photograph: Parbul/PA Wire What can the EU offer May to save her Brexit deal?
Analysts are now expecting further pressure on sterling given the uncertainty over the UK’s blueprint and timeline for Brexit. Sterling steadies after Brexit vote postponement fall
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May returns to Downing Street after postponing the parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images May begins tour of European capitals to seek improvements to Brexit deal
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin on Monday. A statement from Government Buildings said both he and European Council president Donald Tusk agreed the Brexit withdrawal agreement “could not be renegotiated”. Photograph: PA Wire Varadkar and Tusk agree plans for no-deal Brexit should intensify
British prime minister Theresa May (centre) speaking in the House of Commons on Monday Photograph: AFP/PRU/Getty Brexit: May to seek concessions on withdrawal deal in Europe
Former UK prime minister Sir John Major has criticised the ‘breathtaking ignorance’ unionist leaders and Eurosceptics have shown over the Irish border during the Brexit debate. File photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times. John Major decries ‘breathtaking ignorance’ shown in Brexit debate
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: said to prime minister Theresa May there was no point bringing back the same deal with cosmetic changes. Photograph: Parbul/PA May claims she can get EU to guarantee backstop will be temporary
Students from anti-Brexit protest group outside Stormont in Belfast. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters North’s businesses ‘extremely frustrated’ by Brexit vote delay
DUP leader Arlene Foster: “The prime minister was warned that this deal would not work but did not listen.” Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire Foster says Brexit vote deferment sums up government’s ‘chaotic’ approach
Simon Coveney says the backstop was ‘fair and balanced, a ‘middle ground measure’ that is a fallback position as a last resort. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne Brexit withdrawal treaty not up for renegotiation, says Coveney
Analysts said sterling’s weakness on Monday reflected concerns about Theresa May’s future as prime minister. Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images Sterling hits 20-month low as parliament’s Brexit vote postponed
The court ruling comes ahead of Tuesday’s crunch vote on the British prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal. Photograph: Photograph Andy Rain/EPA Brexit: UK can revoke Article 50, European court rules
Skylark pivots away from Brexit Britain to US and sees sales soar
A large mural depicting the EU flag being chipped away and attributed to the artist Banksy is seen at the Port of Dover. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters Any UK obstruction of Irish hauliers could lead to ‘retaliation’
A view of a Ukip ‘Brexit Betrayal’ march in London, Britain, on Sunday. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Theresa May faces crucial 48 hours as MPs threaten to defeat her Brexit plan
Minister for Local Government Eoghan Murphy. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Brexit may delay Irish MEPs from taking their seats
A Commons committee has said there are no ‘realistic, long-term proposals’ on how to keep the Irish Border open. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire MPs criticise May’s Brexit plan as ‘failing to offer clarity, certainty’
Priti Patel: “Let’s take back control of borders, laws and money.” Brexit: Tory MP backtracks over food scarcity in Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland published the letter on Saturday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Karen Bradley pens open letter to ‘reassure’ Northern Ireland on Brexit deal
Cargo trucks wait to embark ferries in front of the white cliffs at the Port of Dover. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images UK ports could face six months of delays after no-deal Brexit
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May: came under pressure to reveal list of North-South bodies to be protected. Photograph: Rebecca Naden UK to protect 156 cross-Border co-operation schemes after Brexit
Ireland’s EU commissioner Phil Hogan has said the risk of a disorderly Brexit means new investment in major energy and other infrastructural projects thought to be ‘down the line’ may have to be accelerated. File photograph: Alan Betson Ireland needs to plan ‘more intensively’ for no-deal Brexit, Hogan warns
Tory MP Priti Patel’s food shortage comments were criticised by EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan. EU agriculture chief Phil Hogan rails against Tory MP’s food threat
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May faces a crucial vote on Tuesday. Sterling volatility the acid test on looming Brexit vote night
Paul and Brendan O’Sullivan, owners of Irish knitwear company Irelands Eye. In the past six years its business to Germany has quadrupled. Photograph: Lensmen Photographic Agency Irish exporters have designs on Germany for growth
A sticker reading “No Border, No Brexit” on a road sign near the Hands Across the Divide sculpture in Derry. Photograph: Mary Turner/Bloomberg Brexit VAT change could close thousands of Irish firms – Ibec
British prime minister Theresa May lights up Downing Street Christmas tree: “Overwhelmingly, the message I’ve heard is that people want us to get on with it.” Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA May ministerial roadshow to comb Britain to promote Brexit deal
President Michael D Higgins, receives the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill UK ‘could sleepwalk off cliff edge’ with no Brexit deal - London mayor
Theresa May at a press conference at the end of European Council in Brussels, Belgium, on November 25th. File photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA Brexit: May says MPs may be given choice between backstop and extending transition
British prime minister Theresa May: met Conservative backbenchers in her office to listen to their concerns about the backstop. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Brexit: May weighs up offering backstop vote to MPs
“Each new development in the Brexit process contains multiple new permutations of upside and downside sterling risks that are purely impossible to trade at this point.” Photograph: Getty Images Sterling trapped in narrow trading range
Nigel Dodds said the advice of the British attorney general Geoffrey Cox QC “vindicates the DUP opposition to the backstop” and was “devastating for the prime minister”. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images DUP heaps pressure on Theresa May despite confidence-and-supply deal
A road sign on Westminster Bridge in London. Photograph: EPA/Andy Rain Brexit legal advice warns of UK trapped in talks by Irish backstop
JPMorgan places a 10 per cent probability on a no-deal Brexit. Photograph: Getty Brexit: JPMorgan says probability of UK staying in EU has doubled to 40%
May Brexit reversal for May after House of Commons defeat
Nigel Farage has quit Ukip. File photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA Nigel Farage quits Ukip over party’s direction
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, who said on Tuesday the vote showed Theresa May’s government no longer commanded a majority in the House. Photograph: PA Wire MPs secure the right to greater control over Brexit process
Central Bank on North Wall Quay, Dublin: has established an investment banks and broker dealers division. Photograph: Alan Betson Brexit-avoiding firms coming to Republic will face ‘intrusive’ scrutiny
Prime minister Theresa May speaks in the House of Commons at the start of a five-day debate on her Brexit deal. Photograph: PA Wire Theresa May’s government found in contempt of parliament
A general view of the entrance of the Court of Justice of European Union. Photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA Brexit: UK likely to be able to revoke article 50 unilaterally
Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry Photograph: Google Maps Cancer, fire and environmental services to be impacted by Brexit
Pro-European Union (EU), anti-Brexit demonstrators wave Union and EU flags as they protest opposite the Houses of Parliament in London on December 3, 2018. Photograph: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images Brexit: Britain can revoke Article 50 without EU approval, ECJ adviser says
British prime minister Theresa May leaves Downing Street in the rain on Monday to address the House of Commons. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Brexit deal gives UK control of borders, laws and money, May to tell MPs
Secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, arrives for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London on November 26th Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA MPs must listen to deal's supporters in NI, says Northern Secretary
In the wake of Brexit, roughly one-third of all extradition requests made by the UK will be refused because of its withdrawal from the European Arrest Warrant, according to barrister Anthony Hanrahan. Ireland able to agree extradition deal with UK, conference hears
A videograb shows Britain’s attorney general Geoffrey Cox as he delivers a statement on the government’s legal position on its withdrawal agreement with the EU, in the House of Commons. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Backstop will be ‘painful’ for both EU and UK, says attorney general
Theresa May will try to convince the Commons to back the Brexit deal in a December 11th vote. Photograph: AP Theresa May: ‘I will still have a job in two weeks’ time’
Micheál Martin referred to how tens of thousands of people from Northern Ireland hold Irish passports and therefore were “Irish citizens” and “European citizens”. Photograph: Alan Betson Irish citizens in North unlikely to have vote in European elections
John Kerry: “I have concerns that depending on what kind of Brexit takes place, it could have a negative impact on the progress made in the last 20 years... We have to see how this is going to be resolved.” File photograph: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA Solving Border issue without reigniting Troubles ‘imperative’ – John Kerry
A Guinness lorry at the Border. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images Government should publish no-deal Border plans, FF says
Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are yet to agree the format for a mooted TV debate between the pair next Sunday. Photograph: AP Photo Theresa May in battle over Brexit as charm offensive begins
Sam Gyimah, who has resigned as universities minister in protest over the government’s Brexit plan. Photograph: PA Sam Gyimah resigns over Theresa May's 'naive' Brexit deal
BrexitCoveney Irish preparations for no-deal Brexit intensify
Britain’s trade secretary Liam Fox: “In politics we cannot always have the luxury of doing what we want for ourselves, but we have an abiding duty to do what is right for our country.” Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images Brexiter Liam Fox backs Theresa May’s deal ahead of vote
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reviews a trainee guard of honour on his first visit to Templemore Garda Training College, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie Varadkar: No hard Brexit policing plans put in place
British prime minister Theresa May. File photograph: Russell Cheyne/Getty Theresa May says extending article 50 would kill Brexit deal
Theresa May speaking at the Parliamentary Liaison Committee on Thursday Brexit: May says steps will be taken for ‘no-deal’ if she loses December vote
Prof George Huxley: “There is a curious madness about [Brexit] which is very, very alarming” ‘My desire to be an Irish citizen was increased by Brexit’s follies’
Bank of England governor Mark Carney: No-deal Brexit would be “a totally different situation than people have been living with and experiencing, certainly in advanced economies, for the last 30, 40 years.” Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA Shock of no-deal Brexit would be immense – Bank of England
Minister for Health Simon Harris said he felt obliged to pass similar legislation to what was presented to the people before the referendum, and those provisions contained the penalties and criminal sanctions. Photograph Nick Bradshaw Dáil votes down proposal to fully decriminalise abortion