This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Michael Gove has accused the European Union of intransigence over Brexit talks, calling it “wrong and sad”, as divisions between the UK and Brussels became further entrenched with the government seemingly intent on a no-deal departure.

Gove, who is in charge of no-deal preparations, reiterated Boris Johnson’s position that the only route to progress would be the EU starting again with withdrawal negotiations, something Brussels has repeatedly and consistently ruled out.

Adding to the impression of Johnson’s hardening position, newly released government read-outs of the prime minister’s phone calls with a series of EU leaders over recent days showed he delivered the same uncompromising message to them.

While the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, insisted on Tuesday that a no-deal departure was not inevitable, both he and the country’s finance minister, Paschal Donohoe, warned of a significant and long-term change to relations between the countries if it did happen.

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Downing Street has increasingly pushed the message that Brexit will happen on 31 October under any circumstances – even intimating that No 10 believes the mandate of the 2016 Brexit referendum would overrule even a blocking vote in parliament.

There is increasing worry among some MPs that Johnson could try to force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of the Commons, with his de facto chief of staff, Dominic Cummings, reportedly threatening No 10 staff with the sack if they dissent.

The government’s official position is still that it is seeking a formalised departure, albeit only if Brussels ditches the Irish backstop border insurance policy and reopens the withdrawal agreement.

While the terms of the Brexit extension to 31 October made it plain neither could happen, Gove pushed the UK government’s view that if there is no deal it will be due to EU intransigence.

“We need a new approach and we stand ready to engage with the European Union, to negotiate in good faith to make sure that we can have a friendly relationship in the future,” Gove said.

“We will put all our energy into making sure that we can secure that good deal but at the moment it is the EU that seems to be saying they are not interested. They are simply saying: ‘No, we don’t want to talk.’ I think that is wrong and sad. It is not in Europe’s interests.”

The official No 10 records of Johnson’s recent calls with EU leaders were similarly robust. In calls with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, Johnson said Theresa May’s old withdrawal agreement must be scrapped.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Leo Varadkar warned that no-deal would mark the start of a new set of negotiations between the UK and EU. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA

In conversations with Juncker and Löfven, Johnson referred to “the anti-democratic backstop”, Downing Street’s new chosen form of words for a policy negotiated jointly by the UK and EU.

Varadkar, speaking on a visit to Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, said he still held out hopes of an agreement. “I don’t accept it’s unavoidable,” he said of no deal.

“There are many ways by which a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. Either by the ratification of the withdrawal agreement, a further extension or revocation of article 50. So, there are a number of ways that a no deal can be avoided on 31 of October. I am certainly not fatalistic about that.”

Varadkar warned, however, that no deal would merely mark the start of a new set of negotiations between the UK and EU, on everything from citizens’ rights to the “divorce” settlement and the Irish border.

Donohoe was blunter still following a meeting in London with his UK counterpart, the chancellor, Sajid Javid, warning that the relationship between the UK and Ireland would “fundamentally change” in the event of no deal.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Brussels diplomats briefed on a meeting between senior EU figures and Boris Johnson’s chief envoy had been told a no-deal Brexit was the UK’s “central scenario” and that Downing Street would not countenance any discussions involving the backstop.

﻿Conservative rebels are plotting to stop Johnson and Gove pursuing a no-deal Brexit by trying to bring down the government in a confidence motion. This would give them 14 days to form a new government of “national unity” composed of those opposed to hard Brexit to prevent a crash-out on 31 October.

However, Labour appeared to stymie that proposal on Tuesday. Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, told Channel 4 News the party “wouldn’t countenance a national government of unity” to deal with Brexit.

“What we don’t want is a national unity government that gives Boris some sort of get-out-of-jail-free card,” she said, suggesting Labour would prefer an election.

If no government of national unity is formed within 14 days of a lost confidence vote, an election would be called.

Cummings has indicated he believes that in such a scenario the prime minister could plough on with a no-deal Brexit and call an election for after the UK has left the EU on 31 October.

One of the Tory rebels, Dominic Grieve, told Channel 4 News the Queen would have to step in to “sack” Johnson if he refused to go after losing a confidence vote.