Brexit negotiations: Tittle-Tattle

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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On Monday, the Brexit talks in Brussels are to be resumed. The day before the meeting is marked by declarations of intent, speculation and rumors.

The EU is demanding a break from London by next Friday. Until then, a new legal text must be available so that an agreement can be reached before the Brexit deadline of 31 October, as representatives of the EU Commission and the Council of the Member States reiterated.

On Friday it had become known that the no-deal-hardliner Johnson would probably apply for an extension of the Brexit deadline, should no agreement with the European Union come about.

It was speculated that London could provoke a rejection of the application by the EU, for example by threatening to block decisions in Brussels in the future. An application for renewal would have to be accepted by all 27 remaining EU countries.

Vandalize Brexit extension?

Rumors that Britain could ask an EU member state to torpedo a Brexit extension are "tittle-tattle", so nothing but gossip, said Construction Minister Robert Jenrick the broadcaster Sky News. The prime minister will "absolutely" abide by the law.

The Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said before the new talks, nobody is interested in a no-deal Brexit. "There will be no significant resistance if Johnson applies for an extension." The Finnish EU Council Chairman Antti Rinne has also openly shown a renewed Brexit shift. It was important to prevent a hard Brexit.

Boris Johnson had tried by phone on Friday to convince various EU leaders of his recent proposals. According to the British province of Northern Ireland after the Brexit in a customs union with Britain remain. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar wants to negotiate with Boris Johnson next week on a way out of the Brexit crisis. However, a European Commission spokeswoman said that Johnson's proposals were not the basis for an agreement.

Only one in five Britons trust Johnson Brexit Deal

Should the EU reject Johnson's Brexit proposals or Parliament withdraw his confidence, the prime minister will not resign, the Sunday Times reported. "Unless the police knock on the door of Downing Street 10 and have a warrant for the Prime Minister, he will not go," the newspaper quotes a conservative politician.

A survey commissioned by the British Independent suggests that more and more voters are losing confidence in Boris Johnson. Thus, only one in five Britons is convinced that the Prime Minister will be able to reach a Brexit agreement before 31 October. 54 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with Johnson's performance - in August it had been 41 percent.

Johnson is struggling on several fronts: as reported by the Guardian, he may be legally forced to disclose private emails and text messages that reveal the nature of his connection to entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri. The prime minister is accused of having had an affair with the American during his time as mayor of London and to have favored her.

200,000 Scots demonstrate independence from Britain

In Edinburgh, meanwhile, tens of thousands of people have demonstrated for the independence of Scotland from Britain. According to the organizers, around 200,000 people took part in the demonstration.

The Scottish Prime Minister and President of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, is aiming for a new referendum on independence in 2021.