The Londoner: Brexit delay very likely, says former FCO chief

In today's diary: Coronavirus chaos should lead to Brexit delay / Tom Tugendhat calls for the MoD to help stranded Brits / Dave Rowntree's plate smashing incident / Emily Thornberry still awaiting Labour leadership ballot
To be put on ice? Frost and Barnier
POOL/AFP via Getty Images
26 March 2020

Sir Simon Fraser, a former head of the Foreign Office, says he believes a Brexit transition extension is now very likely because of coronavirus.

“We’re near the end of March, there’s only been one negotiating session, Barnier’s got coronavirus, everybody is completely overwhelmed with the crisis,” Fraser explains. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, tested positive for the illness last week. His British counterpart, David Frost, is in self-isolation after reporting “mild” symptoms.

Under the Brexit deal, the UK Government has until June this year to request an extension of the transition period, otherwise it must either secure a deal or leave the transition period without one at the start of next year.

Although the current round of Brexit talks has been suspended, with both sides exploring video-conferencing options, the Government insists Brexit will not be delayed.

Fraser told Civil Service World: “It would be irresponsible, frankly, if we come out of this crisis in the autumn to then present business with a whole new set of uncertainties... either through no deal or through a very thin deal at the end of the year”. Surely it’s in everyone’s interests to delay?

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CONSERVATIVE MP Tom Tugendhat floated the idea of a “bold volunteer army” earlier in the week, telling us: “Think of all the 17- to 18-year-olds and students now free who could be volunteering?” He has another big idea. That the MoD should now be deployed to help people stuck around the world. Hope No 10 listens again.

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Simply smashing: Dave Rowntree (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Blur’s Dave Rowntree last night revealed a mysterious fact about the song Parklife to fans during an online listening session organised by The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess. “The smashing sound at the beginning of the track is me sitting in the studio smashing a plate I’d just eaten my dinner on. I did it in one take. I’m a professional.”

Happy Birthday, and look - no one's washing their hands

THERE were joyous renditions of Happy Birthday yesterday — and not just to time handwashing routines to ward off the virus. Sir Elton John celebrated “the best birthday ever” with a cake from his sons while actor Jessica Chastain showed off a bottle on her big day. Champagne for one? A woman after The Londoner’s heart. For ex-MP Chuka Umunna, there’s been a very special birthday — he and his wife Alice welcomed a second daughter a few days ago. “If ever there was a time to be blissfully unaware of what is going on in the world,” he said on his Instagram feed.​

SW1A

Minister Jesse Norman, praising Jeremy Corybn’s “sincerity”, said: “I can speak for my colleagues on the Conservative benches in saying we will be sad to see him go.” They should knight him.​

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Still waiting: Emily Thornberry (Photo by Darren Staples/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Emily Thornberry still hasn’t received her ballot paper for the Labour leadership race, which ends next week. Thornberry, once a candidate herself, tells Matt Forde she thinks “it’s coming”.

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