FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The French President insists European Union leaders will echo his demands ahead crunch negotiations in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock. Paris believes no deal is the “most likely” scenario as the Prime Minister continues to demand that the controversial Northern Ireland backstop is stripped from the withdrawal agreement, according to a presidential aide. Mr Macron and Mr Johnson are scheduled to meet ahead of the G7 summit in Biarritz this weekend.

Ahead of their meeting, an Elysee Palace official said: “The scenario that is becoming the most likely is one of no deal. “If the United Kingdom considers that having a backstop is absolutely excluded, that is its right, but in that case it limits the possibility of reaching an agreement.” Paris will now set out a hardline approach to Britain, if the country leaves without a deal, when negotiations resume to arrange a future relationship. The official added: “The idea of saying ‘there is not a deal, so I won’t pay does not work.”

Emmanuel Macron to order Boris Johnson to settle £39bn Brexit bill after no deal

They insisted that the EU27 is united in ensuring that Britain hands over the £39bn divorce bill before talks can resume after no deal. “Have no doubt that the French and German positions – and elsewhere – are the same,” the offical said. “There is not the thickness of a cigarette paper between us.” Even pressure from US President Donald Trump at the G7 gathering will not tempt Mr Macron or German Chancellor Angela Merkel to shift from their position, the official said. MUST READ: Customs expert confirms there ARE alternatives to a hard border in N.I

Euro leaders need to do a deal with Britain - EXPRESS COMMENT Boris Johnson is right to go to France and Germany with his message that the UK is leaving the European Union come what may on October 31. EU leaders who are pinning their hopes on our Parliament derailing his plans will see how serious he is when they look in his eyes. Mr Johnson knows that the Conservative Party faces electoral catastrophe if Britain does not leave the EU before the next election - a political event which could be imminent. If he fails to deliver Brexit he will be ousted from Downing Street. His place in the history books hinges on him finally cutting the cord with Brussels. CONTINUE READING Before meeting Mr Macron tomorrow, the Prime Minister will meet Ms Merkel in Berlin this evening. Mr Johnson is expected to intensify the row with Brussels by insisting there will be no deal unless the EU accepts that the backstop must be scrapped. The Prime Minister will make his “position clear” during his first face-to-face Brexit showdowns with other EU leaders. A UK Government spokesman said: “Ahead of the G7 the Prime Minister believes it is important to speak to President Macron and Chancellor Merkel in person to make our position clear. DON'T MISS Ireland refuses to discuss UK border plans for no-deal Brexit [INSIGHT]

Nigel Farage warns of EU-UK stitch up to get Brexit deal through [VIDEO]

Peter Bone's fiery response to EU demanding Britain pay £39billion [VIDEO]

Brexit timeline

“The UK is deeply invested in the peace, prosperity and security of Northern Ireland and always will be and we have been clear that we will never place infrastructure, checks, or controls at the border. “But it is clear that unless the Withdrawal Agreement is reopened and the backstop abolished there is no prospect of a deal. It has already been rejected three times by MPs and is simply unviable as a solution. “We are ready to negotiate, in good faith, an alternative to the backstop, with provisions to ensure that the Irish border issues are dealt with where they should always have been: in the negotiations on the future agreement between the UK and the EU. “France and Germany are two of our closest neighbours, and we cooperate on a range of issues. "It is likely the leaders will discuss the upcoming G7 agenda, foreign policy and security issues, the global economy and trade, and the environment and biodiversity.”

Trending