Brexit talks dominate Thursday’s papers, as the PM makes a “last-minute” bid to secure DUP support. …
By BBC NewsStaff
Image caption Brexit talks dominate Thursday’s front pages. The Daily Express says Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “tantalisingly near” to an agreement with the EU. However, the paper says the PM is still “desperately” trying to convince the DUP to allow a “new customs border across the Irish Sea”. Image caption Mr Johnson’s fate is “in the hands of the DUP”, according to the Times. The paper reports that the Northern Ireland party is concerned with the extent to which politicians there can veto any new customs arrangement in the future. The EU also has concerns over whether EU rates of VAT should apply in Northern Ireland, the paper adds. Image caption The Daily Telegraph picks up on quotes from Mr Johnson, who has suggested Brexit talks were like a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, in which the lead character escapes jail after a long crawl through prison sewage pipes. “Now we can see the light”, the paper’s headline says. Image caption The Daily Mail’s headline plays on another analogy made by Mr Johnson, who compared Brexit talks to climbing Mount Everest, saying the summit was “not far” but still surrounded by “cloud”. The paper reports that the talks are “stuck on the DUP resistance”. Image caption “Summit’s got to give” is the Metro’s pun on those same comments. The paper says hopes were raised of a new deal on the eve of a two-day EU council meeting, but negotiations have “stumbled” over concerns about Northern Ireland’s VAT status. Image caption The Guardian says Mr Johnson has Conservative Eurosceptics “on board” – but it will be a “last-minute scramble” to secure the DUP’s backing. EU officials think Mr Johnson could “make a sudden move to seal the deal” early on Thursday, adds the paper. Image caption “Brexit on a knife edge” is the Daily Mirror’s headline. According to the Mirror, DUP leader Arlene Foster has dismissed reports her party is ready to back Mr Johnson’s deal as “nonsense”. Meanwhile, the paper also focuses on the death of former Emmerdale actress, Leah Bracknell. Image caption Brexit talks are in “deadlock”, according to the i. EU leaders are “hopeful” that an agreement can be reached on Thursday, but the DUP and hardline Brexiteers could still oppose Mr Johnson’s plans, the paper says. Image caption The Daily Star says Bracknell’s death has left the soap world in mourning. The actress’s death at 55 follows a three-year battle with cancer. Image caption The FT reports that broker Hargreaves Lansdown has come under fire from customers for promoting an investment management business that has now announced it is set to close. The paper says about 300,000 customers could be affected by the collapse of Woodford Investment Management, which was run by the UK’s best-known stockpicker, Neil Woodford. Image caption The Sun leads on an open letter by more than 100 celebrity Extinction Rebellion supporters, in which they admit to being “hypocrites” over their high-carbon lifestyles.
