Johnson must fold on fishing rights to avoid no-deal Brexit, Macron warns
Prime minister ‘dismayed’ and ‘startled’ as EU leaders call his bluff over threat to quit talks
![Emmanuel Macron arrives at the European Parliament building wearing a black face mask.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vNCEMwTnNBxmSTPh6edsTk-415-80.jpg)
EU leaders led by Emmanuel Macron have “disappointed” UK negotiators by insisting that Boris Johnson must back down in a row over fishing rights in order to get a Brexit deal, Lord David Frost said yesterday.
The prime minister’s chief negotiator spoke out after Macron called “Johnson’s bluff on his threat to walk out of negotiations” by insisting that Britain must concede a “good settlement” that will preserve fishing access for French boats in UK waters after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December, The Times reports.
“Under no condition can our fishermen be sacrificed during Brexit,” said the French president. “If conditions aren’t met, it’s possible we don’t have an agreement. We are ready for that. If there are no good terms found at the end of the discussion, we are ready for a no-deal.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to The Times, Johnson was “dismayed” by the ultimatum, which as The Guardian notes, appears to be a “direct challenge” to the PM’s threat last month to quit negotiations if no agreement was reached at this week’s crunch summit in Brussels.
Macron’s warning has “startled” No. 10 and is “regarded as incendiary”, as Johnson had said he would make a decision today on whether to continue the talks, The Guardian adds.
Criticising the EU’s stance, negotiating chief Frost last night tweeted that he was “surprised EU is no longer committed “to working ‘intensively’ to reach a future partnership” as had been agreed during talks with the European Commission two weeks ago.
“Boris Johnson will set out UK reactions and approach tomorrow in the light of his statement of 7 September,” Frost wrote.
Meanwhile, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said fresh “intensive” talks should be held, with the aim of reaching a deal around the end of October. Both sides are calling on each other to compromise on key issues that also include state aid.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Chas Newkey-Burden has been part of The Week Digital team for more than a decade and a journalist for 25 years, starting out on the irreverent football weekly 90 Minutes, before moving to lifestyle magazines Loaded and Attitude. He was a columnist for The Big Issue and landed a world exclusive with David Beckham that became the weekly magazine’s bestselling issue. He now writes regularly for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, FourFourTwo and the i new site. He is also the author of a number of non-fiction books.
-
Red Speedo: a 'darkly comic' doping drama
The Week Recommends Lucas Hnath's play stars Finn Cole as a 'reptilian' swimmer determined to win at all costs
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
One Aldwych: where London's creative spirit takes centre stage
The Week Recommends This five-star Covent Garden hotel is the epitome of elegant independence
By Julia O'Driscoll, The Week UK Published
-
Charlotte Dujardin and equestrianism's dark side
In the Spotlight Olympic gold medallist and dressage star's suspension over horse whipping brings abuse in horse sports back into the spotlight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
ICJ ruling: will 'damning verdict' stop Netanyahu?
Talking Point The UN's top court has ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories breaks international law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Macron accepts French PM's resignation
Speed Read Gabriel Attal and his government have resigned
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Venezuela election: first vote in a decade offers hope to poverty-stricken nation
The Explainer Nicolás Maduro agreed to 'free and fair' vote but poor polling and threat of prosecution pushes disputed leader to desperate methods
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'National service could become a pervasive post-graduation option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Who will be Keir Starmer's allies on the world stage?
Today's Big Question Prime minister heads to Washington to begin building new international relationships
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The campaign of destruction against 'sea gypsies'
Under the Radar Malaysia targets traditional seafaring Bajau Laut tribe in crackdown on undocumented migrants
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published