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Boris Johnson's showdown trip to Luxembourg descended into chaos today as protests forced him to abandon a press conference and the leader of the tiny nation launched a savage attack on the PM in his absence.

Xavier Bettel tore into Mr Johnson and the 'nightmare' of Brexit after refusing to rearrange the press conference and brazenly going ahead with Mr Johnson's podium empty.

Mocking the absent PM, Mr Bettel told Mr Johnson to 'stop speaking and act' and stop trying to 'make the EU the bad guy', accusing him of 'holding people hostage' for the sake of his political career.

It prompted an immediate backlash from Tory Brexiteers but the bruising encounter overshadowed Mr Johnson's trip to Europe which has left him no closer to agreeing a deal before the October 31 deadline.

'Our people need to know what is going to happen to them in six weeks time. They need clarity, they need certainty and they need stability,' Mr Bettel said.

'You can't hold their future hostage for party political gains,' he said to applause, adding: 'Time is ticking. We need more than just words.'

Mr Bettel - who apparently told protesters earlier that they were 'welcome' - said the EU would not grant another Brexit extension 'without a good reason'.

Gesturing to the empty space where Mr Johnson should have been, Mr Bettel said: 'It's his responsibility. Your people, our people, count on you - but the clock is ticking, use your time wisely.'

Mr Johnson had been confronted by cat-calling British expats and protesters chanting 'Bog off Boris' after his lunchtime talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker today.

Speaking to UK reporters separately after the full-frontal attack from Mr Bettel, Mr Johnson said he knew he would have been 'drowned out' if he took part in the press conference outside.

He denied a claim from Mr Juncker that there had not yet been any 'legally operational' proposals from the UK.

'Papers have been shared but we are now at the stage where we need to start accelerating that work,' he said.

Mr Johnson said he still believed there was a 'good chance' of a deal, but it will 'require movement' from the EU.

Earlier, he underlined to Mr Juncker that he will not ask for a delay to the October 31 Brexit deadline - whether there was a deal or not.

No10 sources also took a swipe at Mr Bettel by stating: 'We went to Luxembourg to see Juncker, not him.'

And Tory Brexiteers vented fury, with one MP saying: 'We fund the EU to the tune of billions every year - not sure what Luxembourg’s contribution has been.'

In an extraordinary insult, Luxembourg's PM Xavier Bettel decided to continue the press conference without Mr Johnson - leaving an empty podium

In a brutal assault Mr Bettel said 'time is ticking' to get a deal and insisted: 'We need more than just words,'

Boris Johnson was repeatedly booed by protesters as he visited Luxembourg today. He is pictured arriving to meet the PM Xavier Bettel this afternoon

A small but noisy crowd had gathered to make their views clear as Mr Johnson arrived for talks with the PM today

Mr Johnson ignored the jeers as he shook hands with Mr Bettel outside the Ministry of State building eariier today

Mr Johnson and Mr Juncker were still deep in discussions as they finished their lunch today

A crowd of protesters, including British ex-pats gave the PM a hostile reception after his crunch talks with Mr Juncker today

After the talks with Mr Bettel, Mr Johnson decided to only give a statement to a small group of journalists assembled at the nearby residence of the British ambassador, after dozens of demonstrators with a loud speaker heckled him from behind the gate.

Luxembourg PM's extraordinary 'empty podium' rant at Boris Johnson Xavier Bettel sparked an extraordinary public spat with Boris Johnson today after refusing to move a press conference away from protesters. The Luxembourg PM accused Mr Johnson of holding the future of UK and EU citizens 'hostage for party political gains'. Gesturing to the empty podium where Mr Johnson should have been, Mr Bettel said: 'Now it's on Mr Johnson - he holds the future of all UK citizens and every EU citizen living in the UK in his hands. 'It's his responsibility. Your people, our people, count on you - but the clock is ticking, use your time wisely.' Mr Bettel, answering questions from reporters, said: 'For me I just have one Withdrawal Agreement on the table and it's the one from last year. 'There are no changes. There are no concrete proposals for the moment on the table. And I won't give an agreement to ideas. We need written proposals and the time is ticking.' Mr Bettel told Mr Johnson to 'stop speaking and act', adding: 'But we won't accept any agreement that goes against a single market, who will be against the Good Friday Agreement.' He said: 'This Brexit it's not my choice. 'It's been a decision from a party, a decision from David Cameron to do it. They decide, I deeply regret it but don't put the blame on us because now they don't know how to get out of this situation.' Mr Bettel said the EU side would not be responsible if the two sides were unable to reach agreement on a new Brexit deal. 'Some people would love to give the blame to another and not be responsible for the situation,' he said. 'Theresa May accepted the Withdrawal Agreement. So don't make it like the European Union is the bad guy not accepting decisions the UK proposes. They accepted them. 'These are home-made problems. I won't accept any time to be responsible as a European leader... for, I am sorry, the mess we are in for the moment.' Advertisement

The PM denied that the UK's attempts at negotiations were a sham and said there is still 'hard work to be done' in securing a fresh deal.

He said: 'Yes, we've got a good chance of a deal. Yes, I can see the shape of it. Everybody could see roughly what could be done.

'But it will require movement. And it will require the system in which the EU can control the UK after we leave - the so-called backstop - to go from that treaty. And that needs to happen.

'That's a big change that we need to get done. But if we can get that done, as I've said before, then we're at the races.

'I think we've got actually just the right amount of time to do a deal between now and October 17-18. But if we can't do it by then we will make sure we can come out on October 31 - deal or no deal.'

But the Luxembourg PM accused Mr Johnson of holding the future of UK and EU citizens 'hostage for party political gains'.

Mr Bettel said: 'Now it's on Mr Johnson - he holds the future of all UK citizens and every EU citizen living in the UK in his hands.

'It's his responsibility. Your people, our people, count on you - but the clock is ticking, use your time wisely.'

Mr Bettel, answering questions from reporters, said: 'For me I just have one Withdrawal Agreement on the table and it's the one from last year.

'There are no changes. There are no concrete proposals for the moment on the table. And I won't give an agreement to ideas. We need written proposals and the time is ticking.'

Mr Bettel told Mr Johnson to 'stop speaking and act', adding: 'But we won't accept any agreement that goes against a single market, who will be against the Good Friday Agreement.'

He said: 'This Brexit it's not my choice.

'It's been a decision from a party, a decision from David Cameron to do it. They decide, I deeply regret it but don't put the blame on us because now they don't know how to get out of this situation.'

Mr Bettel said the EU side would not be responsible if the two sides were unable to reach agreement on a new Brexit deal.

'Some people would love to give the blame to another and not be responsible for the situation,' he said.

'Theresa May accepted the Withdrawal Agreement. So don't make it like the European Union is the bad guy not accepting decisions the UK proposes. They accepted them.

'These are home-made problems. I won't accept any time to be responsible as a European leader... for, I am sorry, the mess we are in for the moment.'

Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski said: 'Conduct of Luxembourg PM towards our Prime Minister today only accentuates the need for us to pull out of this artificial arrogant EU structure as quickly as possible.'

Who is Xavier Bettel? Xavier Bettel has been the prime minister of Luxembourg since 2013. He has been a vocal critic of Brexit and the amount of time it has taken the UK to set out the terms on which it wants to leave the EU. Speaking in the run up to the original March 2019 Brexit deadline, he said: 'We don’t force the United Kingdom, you decided to leave, we shouldn’t exchange roles. 'You want us to be the bad guy. You decided. You decided. You decided. 'We have to just find a deal and we negotiated the deal, we found the best possible deal and we are not in a souk where we are going to bargain for the next five years.' The 46-year-old is married and in 2018 he became the first openly gay PM in the world to be re-elected for a second term in office. He previously served as the Mayor of Luxembourg City between November 2011 and December 2013. He then led the Democratic Party into Luxembourg's national elections in 2013, finishing third. However, he was invited to form the next government and became PM, leading a coalition of the Democratic Party, Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party and The Greens. The government remained a rainbow coalition after elections last year. Advertisement

Nick Boles, an MP who left the Tories due to Mr Johnson's hardline Brexit stance, said: It was rude of Luxembourg’s PM not to move the press conference inside. Most voters will resent the slight... Leave voters’ antipathy to the EU will be inflamed.'

But he added that voters would be 'unimpressed by Johnson’s failure to command respect or impose himself on events'.

It was the PM's second bruising encounter of the day on his visit to Luxembourg, after a two-hour showdown with Mr Juncker over lunch - the first time they had met since he entered No10.

According to a readout issued by the EU, Mr Juncker told Mr Johnson it was the 'UK's responsibility to come forward with legally operational solutions that are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement'.

He 'underlined the commission's continued willingness and openness to examine whether such proposals meet the objectives of the backstop', but added: 'Such proposals have not yet been made.'

Downing Street said Mr Johnson 'reconfirmed his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and his determination to reach a deal with the backstop removed, that UK parliamentarians could support'.

'The Prime Minister also reiterated that he would not request an extension and would take the UK out of the EU on the 31st October,' a spokeswoman said.

'The leaders agreed that the discussions needed to intensify and that meetings would soon take place on a daily basis.

'It was agreed that talks should also take place at a political level between Michel Barnier and the Brexit Secretary, and conversations would also continue between President Juncker and the Prime Minister'.

Over the weekend, Mr Johnson likened the UK to the 'Incredible Hulk' breaking free of the 'manacles' of EU membership.

But the government has ramped up efforts to get a settlement with Brussels after Remainer MPs moved to hem in the government by ruling out No Deal, and blocking an election.

Mr Johnson was booed as he left the restaurant after the lunch with Mr Juncker today

Mr Johnson retreated to the UK ambassador's residence rather than taking part in the press conference this afternoon

Earlier, Jean-Claude Juncker (right) tried to increase the pressure by saying although the meal had been 'friendly' he had still not seen any 'legally operational' proposals from the UK

Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and Boris Johnson (right) shook hands before going inside the restaurant in Luxembourg today, where they are due to consider the impasse over a lunch of snails, salmon and cheese

The two leaders posed for the cameras as Mr Juncker - a former PM of Luxembourg - welcomed Mr Johnson for lunch

The leaders are meeting at the Le Bouquet Garni restaurant in Luxembourg today - rather than at an EU commission or a UK venue

One of the place settings in the restaurant today ahead of the lunch discussions

Mr Johnson and Mr Juncker shook hands again for the cameras inside the restaurant today

Legislation passed by Parliament obliges the PM to seek an extension if an agreement is not struck by October 19 - the day after a make-or-break EU summit concludes.

However, allies of the premier have been claiming there is a loophole in the rebel law that could allow the government to ignore it.

In another frantic day of politics as Brexit tensions rise:

Mr Johnson's chances of getting a deal through Parliament if he can reach terms with the EU have been boosted after whips suggested they could whittle down a Tory rebellion to just eight 'Spartan' hardliners.

Austrian foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg appeared to give Mr Johnson another chink of light by hinting that the EU would veto an extension if the UK cannot make up its mind.

Remainers dismissed speculation that the PM could simply ignore a rebel law ruling out No Deal, saying unlike the Incredible Hulk that British government must obey the law.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson faced a backlash after the party confirmed that it would revoke Article 50 without a second referendum if it wins power.

Jacob Rees-Mogg ridiculed calls from a Lib Dem activist for him to be 'burned at the stake', joking that as Lord President of the Council he was entitled to 'the privilege of being beheaded'.

The leaders had been expected to dine on snails, salmon and cheese, but in the end seem to have opted for pollock.

A No10 source said: 'He could not be clearer that he will not countenance any more delays, we will be leaving on October 31 – no ifs, no buts.

'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.

What happens next in the Brexit crisis? Here is how the coming weeks could pan out: Today: Boris Johson meets Jean-Claude Juncker for lunch in Luxembourg. September 17: Supreme Court hears case on whether prorogation of Parliament was illegal. September 21-25: Labour conference in Brighton September 29-October 2: Tory conference takes place in Manchester, with Mr Johnson giving his first keynote speech as leader on the final day. This will be a crucial waypointer on how Brexit talks are going. October 14: Unless it has already been recalled following the court battle, Parliament is due to return with the Queen's Speech - the day before Mr Johnson had hoped to hold a snap election. October 17-18: A crunch EU summit in Brussels, where Mr Johnson has vowed he will try to get a Brexit deal despite Remainers 'wrecking' his negotiating position. October 19: If there is no Brexit deal by this date Remainer legislation obliges the PM to beg the EU for an extension to avoid No Deal. October 21: Decisive votes on the Queen's Speech, which could pave the way for a confidence vote. October 31: The current deadline for the UK to leave the EU. November/December: An election looks inevitable, but Labour is hinting it might push the date back towards Christmas to humiliate the PM. Advertisement

'We must finally deliver on the 2016 referendum. 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.'

Writing in the Telegraph today, Mr Johnson said the UK was working 'flat out' for a deal, despite the EU complaining that no formal proposals have been put forward yet.

'I believe passionately that we can do it, and I believe that such an agreement is in the interests not just of the UK but also of our European friends,' the PM wrote.

'We have all spent too long on this question. And if we can get that deal, then of course there will be time for Parliament to scrutinise and approve it before the end of October.'

'But be in no doubt that if we cannot get a deal - the right deal for both sides - then the UK will come out anyway.'

British officials have been drawing up alternatives to the Irish backstop, which is designed to prevent the return of a hard border.

The new blueprint could see Northern Ireland stay within some of the EU's regulatory framework to avoid the need for checks.

However, the province would be within the UK's customs jurisdiction.

The EU previously rejected such ideas when Theresa May was PM, and it is uncertain whether they would be acceptable to the DUP.

No10 has also insisted it will not table a written plan at this stage as the EU would merely 'rip it up'.

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels today, Mr Schallenberg said: 'If Prime Minister Johnson doesn't show up with new proposals when he meets Juncker, honestly for us, for the EU, there is no other option than a hard Brexit.

The British have to tell us what they need in order to convince the House of Commons.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab suggested today that the government is hunting for loopholes in the rebel legislation against No Deal.

'The UK government is always going to behave lawfully. I think the suggestion otherwise is nonsense, he said.

'I think the precise implications of the legislation need to be looked at very carefully. We are doing that.'

Boost for PM as whips say they could squeeze Tory rebellion to just EIGHT MPs Boris Johnson's hopes of getting a Brexit deal through Parliament have been boosted after it emerged chips believe he can squeeze a Tory Eurosceptic rebellion to 'single figures'. Mr Johnson is now concentrating his efforts on striking a new Brexit deal with the EU after MPs passed a law to effectively take No Deal off the table. But the PM knows he will need the support of as many of his Conservative MPs as possible if he is to have any chance of winning a crunch vote on a new agreement in the House of Commons. Chief Whip Mark Spencer has reportedly told the PM that if he can secure 'meaningful changes' to the Irish border backstop protocol he can get the rebellion down to 'between eight and ten' hardline Brexiteers. Downing Street has made clear that any Tory MP who votes against a deal put before the Commons by Mr Johnson will be stripped of the whip. But the 'Spartans' - the name given to an uncompromising group of Tory Brexiteers - have warned the PM they will not be pressured into supporting a bad deal and have insisted they do not fear being expelled. In fact, they said any attempt to kick them out of the party would result in the Tories losing the next election. They argue the chances of an informal pact between the Tories and the Brexit Party - viewed as crucial to Conservative hopes of winning a majority - would be dead if Mr Johnson booted them out because Nigel Farage would almost certainly side with them. Advertisement

Downing Street said the PM could both ensure the UK left the

European Union come what may on October 31 and comply with the law aimed

at preventing a no-deal Brexit - but refused to explain how.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The position of the PM is that we comply with the law but that we are leaving on October 31 whatever the outcome.'

Asked how those two things could be compatible, the spokesman said: 'I've avoided getting into any of that beyond saying that governments comply by the law but we will be leaving on October 31.'

However, referring to the PM's Incredible Hulk analogy, former Cabinet minister David Gauke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Maybe the Incredible Hulk doesn't have to comply with the law, but the British Government does.

'And if Parliament has neither supported a deal, nor supported a no-deal departure, then the law is clear that he has to seek an extension, the Prime Minister has to seek an extension and that is what he will have to do. 'That is what the law states.'

Before the meeting today, Mr Johnson posted a video on Twitter that was filmed on board his plane on Friday.

As the aircraft rose into the the air, Mr Johnson compared it to the UK taking off under his leadership.

He said he was 'cautiously optimistic' about reaching an agreement with Brussels, but added: 'We are going to get it done. We are going to come out of the EU on October 31.'

He also again rejected anger about his decision to suspend Parliament until October 14 - which has been controversially ruled illegal by Scottish judges.

Pointing out that the Commons was only sitting for four days fewer than previously expected, Mr Johnson said there would be plenty of time for debate, adding: 'They have had three years to talk about what to do about Brexit.'

In an interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said: 'There has been detailed technical talks led by David Frost, the Prime Minister's Europe adviser. They have been meeting with Michel Barnier's team.

'The Prime Minister will be seeing President Juncker, I'll be meeting with Michel Barnier, so there's extensive talks been happening both at a technical level but also at a political level.

'So there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes. We can see a landing zone in terms of a future deal but there is significant work still to do.'

But she said the Government was not going to propose a similar deal to Mrs May's.

Ahead of his meeting with Mr Juncker, Mr Johnson yesterday struck a confident tone, saying 'we will get there' and that a 'huge amount of progress is being made'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured left in Downing Street today and right in a 'selfie' video posted on Twitter) has said he believes 'passionately' that a new Brexit deal is possible before October 31

Maverick No10 Brexit chief Dominic Cummings (pictured in Westminster today) is looking for ways around the rebel legislation against No Deal

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson said: 'I will be talking to Jean-Claude about how we're going to do it. I'm very confident.

'When I got this job everybody was saying there can be absolutely no change to the withdrawal agreement, the backstop was immutable, the arrangements by which the UK was kept locked in to the EU forever, they said no one could change that.

'They have already moved off that and, as you know, there's a very, very good conversation going on about how to address the issues of the Northern Irish border. A huge amount of progress is being made.'

However, Mr Juncker yesterday said he was still waiting to receive detailed proposals from London as to how the withdrawal agreement should be changed.

He told German radio station Deutschlandfunk: 'We do not know what the British want in detail, precisely and accurately, and we are still waiting for alternative proposals. Time is running out.'

Writing in today's Telegraph, Mr Johnson accuses the opposition parties of being part of a 'Remainer attempt to crush Brexit' while claiming only to want to thwart No Deal.

He points the finger at Jeremy Corbyn, saying the Labour leader wants to keep Britain tied to the EU 'at a cost of £250million a week' – significantly less than the £350million calculation the Leave side used during the referendum campaign of 2016.

The Prime Minister adds: 'That's enough to build a new hospital.'