Ministers ramp up 'divide and conquer' Brexit charm offensive

The EU has given a lukewarm reaction to the Government’s “divide and conquer” charm offensive as a fourth round of Brexit talks got under way.

Foreign secretary Boris Johnson, Brexit secretary David Davis and trade secretary Liam Fox are meeting various EU ministers, leaders and officials this week to bolster support for the UK’s negotiating position following the prime minister’s Florence speech.

Theresa May met Irish premier Leo Varadkar in London yesterday and was today hosting European Council president Donald Tusk — the former Polish leader who now chairs the EU’s quarterly summits — for lunch.

But one EU diplomat called it a “divide and conquer” approach, which another said is unlikely to work.

The EU is insisting the UK come up with concrete offers, particularly on money and the Irish border.

Lead negotiator Michel Barnier said yesterday that there was a need for a “moment of clarity” and a restoration of “trust” between the two sides.

He also said that talk of a transition deal was premature and that the EU “has to decide whether this period of transition is in its interest”.

The EU wants to nail down a deal on money, citizens and Ireland first, with Mr Barnier warning the government not to mix up past debts with down payments for single market access under a new trade deal.

But Mr Davis asked the EU side for flexibility and said there were “no excuses for standing in the way of progress”.

“The British are trying,” said one EU source. “That’s all very well — there are just no solid proposals.”

There are fears the UK is using this week’s meetings to hold parallel Brexit negotiations, with one senior EU source insisting that there is “resounding support” for Mr Barnier to be the sole point of contact.

EU leaders, including Mrs May, will meet in the Estonian capital Tallinn this Thursday for an informal dinner, which Mr Tusk wants to focus on the economy, migration, foreign affairs and the EU’s future budget.

The foreign secretary is on the second day of a two-day visit to Prague, Bucharest and Bratislava, where he is meeting the Czech and Romanian foreign ministers, and the Slovak prime minister and deputy foreign minister.

“These visits provide me with an opportunity to re-iterate directly to our friends that Britain has always – and will always – stand with its allies in defence of our shared values, security, and our prosperity,” Mr Johnson said yesterday.

Trade secretary Liam Fox is meeting EU trade chief Cecilia Malmström in Brussels. And Mr Davis is in the Netherlands to meet Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders, after dining with Belgian deputy prime minister Didier Reynders last night. He also met European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt when he was in Brussels yesterday.