EU chief mocks Boris Johnson with cartoon of 'joker' PM ahead of crunch Brexit talks
CHARLES MICHEL, the President of the European Council, has appeared to mock Boris Johnson on social media amid crunch Brexit talks between the UK and EU.
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Brexit negotiator David Frost and Michel Barnier are currently locked in intense trade negotiations in Brussels. The three day meeting in the Belgian capital comes ahead of the crucial European Council Summit on Thursday October 15 – the deadline Mr Johnson set for an agreement to be reached.
In a post on his personal Twitter account this afternoon, which has since been deleted, Mr Michel retweeted a cartoon depicting himself, Mr Barnier, Ursula Von der Leyen and Mr Johnson playing cards.
The illustration shows the Prime Minister sitting opposite the EU trio and staring at his five cards in this hand – all of which are jokers.
The caption on the post reads: “So will Boris Johnson do as Charles Michel wishes and lay his cards on the table? I’m not sure anyone would be wiser.”
It comes as the EU chief told the UK to “put all its cards on the table” during a visit to Ireland last week.
Following talks with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, Mr Michel said “significant steps” were needed in post-Brexit talks.
The European Council chief said: “The coming days are crucial, this is the moment of truth.
“There is only one week to go before the European Council on October 15 and 16.”
He added: “I have been very clear with Prime Minister Johnson.
“It’s now for the UK to restore trust and to put all its cards on the table.
“The EU is doing its utmost to find an agreement with the UK, but not at any cost.”
Over the weekend Mr Johnson held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to try and iron-out differences.
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Downing Street has insisted the UK will do everything possible in order to reach a deal ahead of the deadline.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "David Frost and the UK negotiating team are in Brussels today for further talks as part of the intensified process that was agreed by the PM and Ursula von der Leyen.
"These talks will continue until Wednesday. Then the European Council takes place at the end of this week.
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"We will work as hard as we can to see if we can get an agreement by October 15.
"The EU themselves indicated to the UK negotiating team in July that mid-October was the last possible date for a deal."