LUXEMBOURG 16 Sep (ANA) - The UK is not prepared to delay Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline, Boris Johnson will tell European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker later.

 

The lunchtime meeting in Luxembourg will be the first time the pair have met since the PM took office in July.

 

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the PM would stress he wanted a deal, but there had to be "some finality" to it.

 

But ex-minister David Gauke said there were no new detailed plans to replace the controversial Irish backstop.

 

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier will also attend the meeting in Luxembourg, while Mr Johnson will be accompanied by Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and Downing Street's Brexit representative David Frost.

 

Last week MPs passed a law that would force the prime minister to ask the EU for an extension to the 31 October deadline if a deal was not agreed by 19 October.

 

Ministers have insisted the UK will obey the law while continuing to maintain that the UK will leave on Halloween, whatever happens.

 

Mr Johnson told the Mail on Sunday that, on that date, the UK would break out of its "manacles" like cartoon character The Incredible Hulk - with or without a deal.

 

And a Downing Street source said he would make clear to Mr Juncker that "he would not countenance any more delays" beyond 31 October.

 

The prime minister's optimism about getting a revised Brexit deal is not shared on the EU side.

 

Yes, the talks with the UK are becoming more focused and homing in on specific ideas, such as how European rules on plant and animal health could apply in Northern Ireland after Brexit.

 

But the UK's proposals are seen as vague, insufficient and - according to one official - "like last night's mac and cheese with fresh parsley scattered on top".

 

And there's still scepticism in Brussels that the UK is serious about getting an agreement.

 

There are also conflicting views about the role of Jean-Claude Juncker, the soon-to-be former president of the European Commission.

 

In the UK, there's a belief that he wants a deal to crown his final months in office but European diplomats question whether he would want one of his final acts to be forcing Ireland into a major climb-down over the backstop.

 

They added: "Any further extension would be a huge mistake. It is not just a question of the extra dither and delay - it is also the additional long months of rancour and division, and all at huge expense.

 

"This is why the PM will stress to Mr Juncker that, while he wants to secure a deal, if no deal can be agreed by October 18 his policy is to leave without a deal on October 31 - and reject any delay offered by the EU."

 

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the whole issue of whether the UK had the legal right to leave on 31 October, come what may, could end up in court.(ANA)

FA/ANA/16 September 2019------