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Donald Tusk accuses Boris Johnson of playing 'stupid blame game' over Brexit

Donald Tusk (L), President of the European Council, and Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, meet at the United Nations September 23, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Don Emmert / AFP)        (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
Donald Tusk and Boris Johnson meet at the United Nations in New York last month. (Getty)

Donald Tusk has launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson accusing him of playing a “stupid blame game” over Brexit.

The President of the European Council tweeted on Tuesday saying the “future of the UK and Europe” is at stake with just 23 days left until the Brexit deadline.

“@BorisJohnson, what’s at stake is not winning some stupid blame game. At stake is the future of Europe and the UK as well as the security and interests of our people,” he said.

“You don’t want a deal, you don’t want an extension, you don’t want to revoke, quo vadis?”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during her visit of Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau, Germany, October 7, 2019.  REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly told Mr Johnson on Tuesday that striking a deal is now “overwhelmingly unlikely”. (Reuters)

The Latin phrase “quo vadis” roughly translates as “where are you going?”

It comes shortly after German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Prime Minister in a call on Tuesday that the prospect of agreeing a deal is now “overwhelmingly unlikely”.

After the call Downing Street accused Brussels of making it “impossible” for Britain to leave the European Union with a deal.

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A Number 10 source said the German Chancellor had made it clear that the EU had taken a “new position” following the tabling of the latest UK plan last week.

“She made clear a deal is overwhelmingly unlikely and she thinks the EU has a veto on us leaving the customs union,” the source, quoted by Sky News, said.

Mrs Merkel is said to have told the Prime Minister that Northern Ireland is the UK’s “special problem” and that the Irish Republic must at least have a veto on it leaving the customs union.

“It was a very useful clarifying moment in all sorts of ways,” the source said. “If this represents a new established position, then it means a deal is essentially impossible, not just now but ever.

“It also made clear that they are willing to torpedo the Good Friday Agreement.”

The Prime Minister has said that his blueprint to resolve the issue of the Northern Ireland backstop represents a “fair and reasonable compromise”.

However, EU leaders have so far refused to enter into detailed discussions on the plan, saying it does not represent the basis for a new Brexit settlement.

As the clock ticks down, a new Brexit readiness document was published on Tuesday which sets out what will change if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal on October 31.

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