According to “The Spectator”, Brexit talks are on the verge to collapse. The magazine cited an unnamed source close to the government of UK PM Johnson which stated that pessimism is high and that preparations for a collapse of negotiation are being made. The source blamed Irish PM Leo Varadkar for failing to make concessions on the Irish border issues after UK Parliament took a no deal Brexit off the table. The source stated “Those who pushed the Benn Act intended to sabotage a deal and they’ve probably succeeded.

With the clock ticking down to October 31st 2019, the date UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to take the UK out of the EU, deal or no-deal, he made his first public attempt to get the EU back to the negotiating table. The biggest issue which has prevented progress remains the Irish border, the only land border the UK will share with the EU. The land border would run between the Republic of Ireland, part of the EU, and North Ireland which is part of the UK.

Maybe a few week’s away from divorce negotiations is what was needed in order for UK Prime Minister May to understand that the UK may be in a much better position than consensus tries to persuade everyone. With her job on the line, May appears to have gotten back on the track to fulfil her duties as a PM and deliver on the vote to leave the EU. Prior to the summer recess, May often pushed a soft Brexit which many Brexiteers pointed out would leave the UK in a weak position.

Brexit is inching closer, day-by-day, and the civil servants in charge of negotiation a deal are more or less on vacation for a few weeks. Maybe a breather is what they need, maybe they are not concerned about it given the UK’s team is led by a 'Remainer' or maybe it is a brilliant strategy to force the EU to come back from its break and actually negotiate.