THE deadline for Britain leaving the EU falls on Halloween – and now Brexit’s main protagonists have been made even scarier.
As leaders from the EU and UK attempt to carve out a deal, some of the most recognisable characters of the Brexit saga have been carved into pumpkins.
Artist Mark McNamara created the pumpkin patch at Fallon & Byrne on Exchequer Street in Dublin city centre for their Halloween display.
Among those who feature are Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, ex Prime Ministers Theresa May and David Cameron, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and DUP leader Arlene Foster.
Also included are European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, House of Commons speaker John Bercow, House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and the UK’s Supreme Court President Lady Hale.
CARVING OUT A DEAL
Meanwhile, Brexit negotiations will now enter the “tunnel” phase of intensive and secretive talks in a major boost for Johnson’s prospects of brokering a fresh deal.
The accelerated negotiations were agreed to by the EU27 after a “constructive meeting” between the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay in Brussels today.
After talks came close to hitting the buffers, the Prime Minister managed to win some confidence that he can secure an agreement after meeting with the Taoiseach.
But the details of Mr Johnson’s concessions are not yet known.
European Council president Donald Tusk handed the Johnson a last-minute reprieve to secure an agreement, but warned the UK still has not presented a “workable, realistic proposal”.
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Mr Barclay and Mr Barnier were dispatched after the Varadkar and Johnson held face-to-face discussions in the Wirral yesterday, prompting the leaders to “see a pathway” to a possible agreement.
Both camps welcomed this morning’s discussions as “constructive” and Mr Barnier went on to meet with the EU27 ambassadors who, the European Commission said, agreed to “intensify discussions over the coming days”.
This takes the negotiations into “the tunnel”, which is Brussels jargon for an in-depth phase of talks among a select group of negotiators designed to minimise leaks.