Brexit

Countdown to Brexit:

Donald Tusk: “I remain cautiously optimistic as those I have spoken to have expressed determination to decide swiftly.” Photograph: Reuters/Kacper Pempel Tusk has been busy sounding out preferences for top EU jobs

Europe Letter: broad agreement expected at leaders’ summit, yet some issues have the potential to provoke major rows

Boris Johnson added to the impression of shiftiness by backing away from a promise to cut taxes for high earners. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Boris Johnson’s shiftiness raises suspicions of hardline Brexiteers
Boris Johnson speaks during a Conservative Leadership televised debate hosted by Emily Maitlis for the BBC. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC via Getty Images Boris Johnson’s main opponent ... Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson speaking during the BBC TV debate at BBC Broadcasting House in London featuring the contestants for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire Limitations of Tory hopefuls on full display in ill-tempered debate
Boris Johnson embodies more than anyone else the weirdly performative nature of Brexit as a jolly jape with real and awful consequences. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Fintan O'Toole: Boris Johnson is the fool who would play the king
Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart take part in a live television debate on Channel 4 for the Tory leadership candidates, in Stratford, east London. Photograph: Tim Anderson/Channel 4/PA Wire Rory Stewart takes centre stage as Tories play politics in TV debate
Boris Johnson is the clear favourite to win the parliamentary stage of the Conservative leadership election but his victory among the party’s membership is not a foregone conclusion. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA Boris Johnson faces an uncomfortable spotlight on the road to No 10
Boris Johnson during the launch of his campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Diarmaid Ferriter: A Boris Johnson victory may not be a doomsday scenario for Ireland
Irish Times view on the Tory party leadership: Boris Johnson is evading his way to victory
John and Eileen Hall of Cavanagh Eggs. Photograph: John McVitty Brexit: ‘I don’t think either government knows what it’s doing’
Boris Johnson: the DUP has had enough dealings with him to know exactly how flaky and treacherous he is. Photograph: EPA/Andy Rain Newton Emerson: A Johnson premiership will not be the DUP’s finest hour
A combination of file pictures shows the 10 declared contenders in the Conservative Party leadership contest. Top row: Boris Johson, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid. Bottom row: Matt Hancock, Mark Harper, Esther McVey, Rory Stewart, Andrea Leadsom. Photograph: STF/AFP/Getty Images Tory leadership candidates: The opium user, the buffoon and more

Anti-Brexit campaigners, Borders Against Brexit, set up a mock customs search in 2016. Photograph: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne British government appoints expert panel on ‘soft border’ options
Rory Stewart: “I remain deeply committed to you and to this country.” Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Tory leadership race nears run-off as Rory Stewart eliminated
European regulators are arguing that granting of banking licences was based on clear capitalisation plans for new entities, say sources Brexit: Global firms postponing transfer of capital to EU from UK
Lord Paul Bew said: “A new, modern case for the union must be developed, based on the principle of consent.” Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images Leading historian says case must be made for NI to stay in UK
Imam Abdullah Patel from Bristol appearing during the BBC TV debate for the leadership of the Conservative Party on Tuesday evening. Photograph: BBC/PA Wire School suspends imam who appeared on BBC Tory debate
Conservative Party leadership contenders Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart take part in the BBC television debate in London. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/AFP/Getty Images Boris Johnson in commanding lead ahead of third Conservative ballot
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Michel Barnier, above, has told Brexit secretary Steve Barclay there can be no cherry-picking of the deal. Photograph: Bart Maat/EPA Brexit: Brussels refuses UK request for separate citizens’ rights deal
Britain’s international development secretary Rory Stewart leaving Downing Street on Tuesday. He denied ever having worked for the MI6 intelligence agency. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Tory rivals turn on Rory Stewart as campaign gathers pace
Pro Brexit demonstrators outside the Houses of Parliament. The YouGov survey of Conservative party members suggests that almost half (46 per cent) would be happy to see the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage as their new leader. Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images Majority of Tory members would give up Northern Ireland for Brexit, poll shows
From left: Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid during the live television debate on Channel 4 for the candidates for leadership of the Conservative party. Photograph: PA Conservative contenders clash over Brexit during leadership debate
Dominic Raab: ‘What is really scandalous here is the way that people are trying to sabotage the will of the people.’ Photograph: REUTERS/Toby Melville Conservative leader hopefuls challenge Johnson’s pledge on no-deal exit
British health secretary Matt Hancock, who has withdrawn from the Conservative Party leadership race. Photograph: Matt Hancock/PA Wire Boris Johnson calls for withdrawal agreement to be broken up
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has repeated his call for the Irish Government to agree a specific timeline for the backstop. Photograph: Reuters/Paul McErlane Brexit: Ireland created backstop ‘impasse’, says Donaldson
Boris Johnson during the launch of his campaign to become Conservative leader and prime minister at the Royal Academy of Engineering in central London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Boris Johnson has clear lead as Conservatives set to vote
Boris Johnson during the launch at Westminster of his campaign to become leader of the Conservatives and prime minister. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire MPs reject motion to stop next prime minister taking UK out of EU without deal
Services make up nearly three-quarters of the UK’s economic output and about 70% of the EU’s economic activity Services: the Brexit elephant in the room
‘Things are growing quite strongly at present and there will be a slowdown in the Irish economy,’ says Séamus Coffey, chairman of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Slowdown ‘inevitable’ but no signs of crash coming
Boris Johnson delivers a speech during the launch of his campaign to become the next leader of the Conservative party in London on Wednesday. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images. MPs fail in Commons bid to block no-deal Brexit by next PM
UK Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay: frustrated by the government’s failure to accelerate its preparations for a no-deal exit. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg UK not ready for a no-deal Brexit on October 31st, confidential cabinet note warns
British expats living in Ireland are quicker to blame their fellow Brits for the difficulties posed by the Brexit decision than expats living elsewhere, a study suggests. Image: iStock. British expats in Ireland quickest to blame London for Brexit woe
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who warns it would be a ‘terrible political miscalculation’ for anyone in London to think they will automatically get a better Brexit deal after Westminster’s failure to ratify the withdrawal agreement. File photograph: John Thys/Reuters No-deal Brexit would present huge difficulties to businesses in North
According to the North’s Department for the Economy the report is a “sobering reflection” of the limited options available in a no deal Brexit Limited options for cross-Border trade in no-deal Brexit, warns ‘sobering’ report
Unemployment in the UK stayed at a 44-year-low of 3.8 per cent. Photograph: iStock UK jobs market performs better than expected
Amber Rudd, British work and pensions secretary, attends the Conservative party leadership campaign launch for Jeremy Hunt, in London, Britain. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg EU leaders accept MPs will not approve backstop, Jeremy Hunt claims
Nigel Green, the chief executive of deVere Group, said: “The pound will be delivered another bloody nose should Boris Johnson, the current frontrunner, win the race to be Tory leader and UK prime minister” Sterling falls below $1.27 after decline in British GDP
Michael Gove leaving the BBC after appearing on the Andrew Marr Show, in London. Photograph: Reuters/Simon Dawson Brexit and drugs row top agenda in Tory leadership battle
Britain’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid is seen outside Downing Street in London, England, May 21, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo Brexit: PM candidate would pay hundreds of millions for Border solution
Theresa May: hopes to use her remaining weeks in office as caretaker for some domestic policy actions. Photograph: Neil Hall Theresa May officially resigns as Tories suffer another setback
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and party candidate Mike Greene with supporters prior to votes being counted in the Peterborough by-election. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Labour narrowly beats Brexit Party in UK byelection
John Bercow: ‘Parliament will not be evacuated from the centre stage of the decision-making process.’ Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Commons cannot be suspended to achieve no-deal Brexit, says Bercow
Workers leave the Ford engine plant near Bridgend, south Wales, following the announcement that it will close in September 2020. Photograph: PA Ford claims closure of Welsh plant not related to Brexit
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and the Northern Secretary Karen Bradley are holding talks with the North’s five main parties at Stormont on Thursday to determine if there is any chance of a political breakthrough in the coming weeks. File photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Coveney going North ‘where there is real work to do’ during Trump visit
If Boris Johnson is granted judicial review, a more senior judge will decide whether the summons was lawful. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters Boris Johnson appeals against summons over £350m EU claim – private prosecutor
US president Donald Trump: Opposition leaders will not attend banquet held for him by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace on Monday. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images London set for Trump visit after he backs Boris Johnson
A file image of a pro-Brexit protester stands behind an EU flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Photograph: Reuters More EU citizens are seeking help for stress and anxiety over Brexit
Donald Trump said the next British leader should send arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage to conduct talks with the EU on Brexit. Photograph: Getty Trump tells UK to prepare for no deal Brexit and send in Farage
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a Brexit Party rally at the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough on Saturday, ahead of the upcoming by-election. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Result of looming byelection ‘even bigger’ than Euro elections – Farage
Brexit checkpoints under construction at Dublin Port. Photograph: James Forde OPW spends €8m buying land and developing ports for border checks
Former Tory party leader Ian Duncan Smith said the 1922 Committee should raise the threshold for nomination so that candidates would need the backing of 10 MPs. File Photograph courtesy BBC Ian Duncan Smith urges smaller Tory leadership field
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is welcomed to Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin by President Michael D Higgins. Labour’s Corbyn shielded from media as he visits Taoiseach and President
Jeremy Corbyn visits Ictu. Photograph: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland Corbyn in Dublin says he could renegotiate Brexit as prime minister
Alastair Campbell speaks to the media outside his home in north London on Tuesday after he was expelled from the Labour Party for voting for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Labour’s Tom Watson attacks ‘spiteful’ expulsion of Alastair Campbell
British politician Boris Johnson will be summonsed to court to face accusations of misconduct in public office for comments made in the run-up to the EU referendum. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. Boris Johnson to be summonsed over claims made before Brexit referendum
IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan: “These rankings are constantly changing, and Ireland has to be constantly improving its product if we are to continue to win investment” Irish economy now 7th most competitive in world - IMD
Paschal Donohoe: he will also outline how much money he will expect to be able to spend in 2020 if there is an orderly Brexit Government to spell out how no-deal Brexit would affect budget
Speaker of the House Jon Bercow. Brexiteers have complained that some of his decisions have stretched the rules to allow opponents of Brexit to set the agenda. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/PA Wire Bercow says MPs will have a say on no-deal Brexit
File photograph showing Dutch minister for Foreign Affairs Stef Blok with Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Border controls will return if no-deal Brexit happens, says Dutch minister
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House during her visit to Dublin. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Scottish results an ‘emphatic rejection’ of Brexit, says Sturgeon
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage: “The Conservative Party are bitterly divided and I consider it to be extremely unlikely that they will pick a leader who is able to take us out on October 31st come what may.” Photograph: Peter Summers/Getty Tories unlikely to select correct new leader, says Farage
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House during her visit to Dublin. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Nicola Sturgeon: Possibility of Boris Johnson as PM ‘beggars belief’
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media outside the count centre for the European Parliament election in Southampton on Sunday night. Photogrph: Hannah McKay/Reuters UK Elections 2019: Brexit Party in election victory as voters flee Tories and Labour
Loans of up to €1.5m are available under the special Government scheme at a maximum interest rate of 4%. Photograph: Getty Images Brexit turmoil triggers low take-up of special State loans
UK chancellor of the exchequer Philip Hammond on The Andrew Marr Show: refused to rule out voting against his own government in the event of a no-deal exit. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout PM candidates warned about backing no-deal Brexit
The six main contenders to replace UK prime minister Theresa May: Michael Gove; Dominic Raab; Jeremy Hunt; Sajid Javid; Andrea Leadsom and Boris Johnson. Photograph: /AFP/Getty Images Michael Gove enters race to replace Theresa May
British prime minister Theresa May making a statement outside 10 Downing Street. She has announced that she will resign on Friday, June 7th. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images Tory leadership race: Candidates jostle for position after May's exit
British prime minister Theresa May reacts as she delivers a statement in London, Britain, May 24th, 2019. Photograph: Simon Dawson Theresa May to resign as Conservative leader on June 7th
Tánaiste Simon Coveney (right) said the EU position on Brexit would not change with a new prime minister, suggesting that the stated aim of Boris Johnson (left), to renegotiate the Withdrawal Agreement would put him on a collision course with the EU. File photograph: Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty Images. Theresa May’s departure will not fix Brexit issues, Coveney says
British prime minster Theresa May and husband Phillip casting their vote in the European elections in her Maidenhead constituency. Photograph: EPA/Neil Hall May’s government postpones publication of withdrawal agreement bill
Parliament Buildings, Stormont. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Industry warns of €1bn hit to NI economy if Stormont talks fail
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May is on the verge of quitting, according to speculation. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters Brexit: May’s legislation pulled fuelling speculation she is about to quit
Most officials and political sources in Dublin expect Boris Johnson to win any Tory leadership race if Theresa May stands aside. Photograph: Gareth Harmer/National Lottery Community Fund/PA Wire. Senior government figures fear UK is inching towards no-deal Brexit
UK prime minister Theresa May. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images May under pressure to quit as supporters desert her
Theresa May: “The sofa is up against the door, she’s not leaving,” said former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Air thick with anticipation as Theresa May’s premiership nears endgame
Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom leaves the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire Leadsom resigns as Theresa May faces pressure to quit
Some traders said they saw a rising chance of Britain leaving the European Union without a transition deal. Photograph: Bloomberg Sterling on track for longest ever losing streak against euro
British prime minister Theresa May: “Reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal any time soon will be dead in the water.” Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg May warns MPs Bill rejection would leave Brexit deal ‘dead in the water’
UK prime minister Theresa May. Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg May presents ‘bold new offer’ with second Brexit referendum tilt
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May delivers a keynote speech in central London. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AFP/Getty Images Brexit: May says new deal will require vote on second referendum
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage on the campaign trail in Exeter, ahead of this week’s European elections. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA Wire EU to investigate Nigel Farage over expenses funded by Arron Banks
In a detailed briefing today, Simon Coveney told his Government colleagues that a no-deal Brexit could still be avoided but that the UK government had to come up with a solution and indicate what it wants. File photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Threat of no-deal Brexit remains greater than ever - Coveney
Also weighing on sterling in recent weeks has been a firmer dollar. Photograph: iStock Sterling at 4-month lows as political clouds gather in UK
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will stress need for Irish businesses to obtain customs numbers to continue trading with the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Photograph: David Young Coveney to brief Cabinet on measures for no-deal Brexit
A spokesman for British prime minister Theresa May said any commitment made in British law would be consistent with that instrument and with the withdrawal agreement itself. Photograph: Hannah Mckay/Reuters/File May’s cabinet to consider alternative Border proposal in Brexit deal
Brexit Party leader Nigel gestures after being hit with a milkshake while arriving for a Brexit Party campaign event in Newcastle. Photograph: Reuters Nigel Farage hit by milkshake on European campaign trail
Jacob Rees-Mogg: the MP is often referred to as the honourable member for the 18th century, ‘a nod to those funny clothes he wears, along with pretending not to know’ any pop songs. Photograph: Colin McPherson/Corbis/Getty ‘Absolutely abysmal’: Critics rip apart Jacob Rees-Mogg’s new book
UK prime minister Theresa May outside Downing Street. Photograph: Hannah Mckay/File Photo/Reuters Theresa May to present ‘new and improved’ Brexit deal
Speaking in Tullamore, Co Offaly on Friday evening, Mr Varadkar said a no-deal Brexit could result in customs checks at the Border. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/INPHO Varadkar expects Brexit to be centre stage again after Tory/Labour talks collapse
Britain’s prime minister Theresa May and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn: plug has been pulled on six weeks of Brexit compromise talks. Photograph: Philippe Lopez and Paul Ellis May set to present next-step options as talks with Labour collapse
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn: In a letter to Theresa May, he wrote “it has become clear that, while there are some areas where compromise has been possible, we have been unable to bridge important policy gaps between us”. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images Brexit talks between Conservatives and Labour collapse
Analysis from UBS cautioned investors against making “strong directional trades” in sterling as political uncertainty persists. Photograph: iStock Sterling sinks to four-month low as Brexit talks break down
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: ‘We appreciate and understand that the beef price is very low and the cost of production is now exceeding the price that farmers can get from the factories.’ Photograph: Collins Taoiseach promises European aid will ‘flow to farmers’ shortly
Sterling fell 0.1 per cent versus the euro to 87.34 pence per euro, heading for the longest run of declines since December 2000 Sterling heads for longest losing streak since 2000
British prime minister Theresa May arriving for a meeting with members of the 1922 Committee in London on Thursday. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP Theresa May to agree date for departure at June meeting
Thomas Cook said it had received multiple bids for its airline, but this was overshadowed by what it referred to as a ‘difficult trading environment’. File photograph: Getty Troubled Thomas Cook issues further profit warning
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage visiting an e-cigarette and vape shop whilst on a European Parliament election campaign rally in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales on Wednesday. Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty. Nigel Farage’s success could help Theresa May to get Brexit deal, says Coveney
UK prime minister Theresa May (centre) is due to meet the executive backbench of the Conservative and anti-EU 1922 Committee on Thursday. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire May to outline resignation ‘roadmap’ as Brexit deal receives fresh blow
Holyhead was adopting a “suck-it-and-see approach” to dealing with post-Brexit life, the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly heard. Photograph: AFP Holyhead port ‘relaxed’ about Brexit, British-Irish assembly hears
UK prime minster Theresa May. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg Brexit: May to bring withdrawal Bill forward in early June
Andrew Rosindell: ‘A completely fresh start is needed, and this time it will be a different type of negotiation.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Brexiteers call for ‘completely fresh start’ to end stalemate
Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer: has said Labour could agree to a deal only if it included a confirmatory referendum. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images May under pressure to abandon Labour talks as poll spells trouble
Tánaiste Simon Coveney: ‘Everybody has to be willing to compromise. The problem is that some of the UK side don’t seem to be willing to do that.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times Change of British PM will not end Brexit deadlock, Coveney warns
British politicians should not imagine that a change of prime minister will resolve the Brexit deadlock, Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters. Change of prime minister won’t end Brexit deadlock - Coveney
Photograph: iStock Consumers still saving despite Brexit uncertainty, surveys find
Nigel Farage on Sunday’s Andrew Marr show. An Opinium poll for The Observer put his Brexit Party on 34%. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire . Support for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party increases pressure on May
The Royal Princess, the luxury cruise liner, berthed in Dublin in 2018. Photograph: Dave Meehan Minister reassures DUP leader over reduced cruise ship business
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during his walkabout while on the European Election campaign trail in Durham on Saturday. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Poll surge for Farage’s Brexit Party sparks panic among Tories and Labour
Shadow chancellor of the exchequer, Labour’s John McDonnell: “The administration is falling apart”. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Tory battle to replace May threatens Labour talks on Brexit – McDonnell
British prime minister Theresa May this weeks rebuffed demands to set out a timetable for her departure from No 10. Photograph: EPA Brexit: 1922 Committee seeks clarity on Theresa May departure
Tánaiste Simon Coveney: concerned the six-month extension to article 50 had led some at Westminster to relax their sense of urgency about Brexit. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Brexit: Tory-Labour talks vital to future of Ireland, Coveney says
Theresa May has announced a year-long Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for 2022. Photograph: PA Theresa May urged not to go ahead with UK festival as it clashes with partition centenary