The Brexit negotiations dramatically went up in flames today as the EU accused Boris Johnson of a ‘stupid blame game’ after he said the bloc had made a deal ‘impossible’.
The Prime Minster condemned a demand from Angela Merkel for Northern Ireland to stay in the customs union ‘forever’.
No10 sources said Mrs Merkel told the Prime Minster during the 30-minute showdown that Northern Ireland must remain within the EU’s customs union indefinitely.
But Mr Johnson retorted that her position meant a deal was ‘essentially impossible, not just now but ever’.
A Downing Street source said the call – which effectively reads the last rites on hopes for an agreement before next week’s EU summit – was a ‘clarifying moment’.
Mr Johnson now appears certain to boycott the gathering.
In response, EU council president Donald Tusk ranted on Twitter that the PM was risking the ‘security and interests of our people’ by refusing to make concessions.
The PM’s spokesman swiped back that he had ‘chosen to conduct these talks by personal telephone conversations with EU leaders, so I will refrain from commenting on social media’.
In other news Brexit minister Michael Gove will be unveiling a ‘preparedness’ paper on No Deal later this afternoon.