How an ‘ambush’ brewed in Brussels derailed Brexit talks
Brussels #Brussels
The announcement of a last ditch emergency Brexit summit between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen has its roots in a breakdown of trust between the British and European negotiating teams who less than a week ago had seen a deal within their grasp.
As recently as Thursday morning the UK side was hopeful that any summit would only be necessary to formally sign off on an agreement forged between teams of officials in the unprepossessing basement of the business department in London.
But it was not to be as a few hours later Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, performed a volte face that was both unexpected and unwelcome.
In what was meant to be a routine session assessing the latest stage of