Five things we learnt from Dominic Raab’s EU Committee appearance

Today, Dominic Raab, settling into his role as Brexit secretary, appeared before the Lords EU committee to answer questions on progress, or lack of, from the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Here’s what could be gleaned from the 100-minute session:

Northern Ireland continues to be a stumbling block

Unsurprisingly, Raab revealed little about any proposals to resolve the Irish border issue. He did, however, rebut his colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg’s suggestion of introducing border checks 'like we had during the troubles’. He assured the committee, ‘we will not be returning to a hard border.'

There is no boeuf between Raab and Michel Barnier

The Brexit minister called stories over his frustration with Barnier for failing to make himself available for Brexit talks ‘tittle-tattle’. Raab maintains he has ‘a good professional and personal relationship’ with the EU Brexit negotiator. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Barnier has told journalists, ‘We are prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country.’ However, Barnier also warned the UK that it could not have a ‘single market a la carte’.

A deal is ‘within our sights’

Raab told the committee that 'broadly 80% of the withdraw deal is concluded'. He did admit that talks could ‘creep beyond’ the October deadline for divorce terms, citing the deadlock on issues like data sharing, police cooperation and dispute resolutions as the reason for the delays.

Dominic Raab is no beggar

Lord Liddle, whose phone went off midway through the meeting, told Raab in a headed exchange that ‘we’re begging for a tariff-free trade deal because without it we know we will suffer grave, industrial consequences.’ Raab responded by saying, ‘That is hyperbole. We don’t beg. I certainly don’t beg.’

No deal remains a possibility

After attempting to reassure the public last week that stockpiling medicine in case of a no deal was sensible and not a sign of blind panic, the Brexit secretary warned that a no deal was still possible if an agreement could not be made either during negotiations, in the EU parliament or between the individual EU member states. Even so, Raab was also keen to emphasise his ‘pragmatism to go the extra mile to get the deal that I think is in both sides’ interests’, while making sure to include a quick dig at his predecessor, David Davis.