Thread by @JamesCrisp6

In Boris' interview w/ @bbclaurak , he claimed that the political atmosphere on the Continent had changed and the EU would be willing to renegotiate the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
I asked the European Commission if that was true..
1/

audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-174…

Q: "Can you confirm that the European Commission will never renegotiate the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, even if it means no deal & a hard border in Ireland?"

"I can confirm that," commission spokeswoman said, "We will not be renegotiating the Withdrawal Agreement full stop."
2

Here is the video from the European Commission's daily midday press briefing.

audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-174…

3/

The EU says it will rework the political declaration, an aspirational companion document to the Brexit treaty that sets out broad terms of the future relationship, if Britain relaxes red lines of leaving single market and customs union.
4/

None of this is a surprise but worth asking the question for the umpteenth time given Boris and Hunt's suggestions the Withdrawal Agreement can be re-opened.

ENDS

Some will say they would say that or will change their minds at last minute in face of no deal.
Maybe but bear in mind 27 leaders need to change minds at once, at short notice, and that gets harder with every repetition of line. Admission over border is no small thing as well.