Boris Johnson news – live: PM says no-deal Brexit is ‘touch and go’ as he threatens to withhold divorce bill from EU

Follow the latest updates from meeting of world leaders in Biarritz, France

Brexit: Boris Johnson is the right man for the job, says Trump

Donald Trump has praised Boris Johnson as the “right man for the job” of delivering Brexit at the G7 summit in Biarritz on Sunday.

The US president promised a “very big trade deal” as the two leaders held their first meeting. However, the prime minister has warned a deal with the US will not be “plain sailing”.

Mr Johnson also discussed Brexit with Donald Tusk, the European Council president, after the pair clashed on Saturday over who would be to blame for a no-deal Brexit.

Key Points

• Boris Johnson and Donald Trump hold first meeting
• US president says Prime minister is "right man" to deliver Brexit
• PM threatens to withold some of £39bn Brexit divorce bill
• Trade deal with US won't be "plain sailing", Mr Johnson says
• Mr Johnson defends Prince Andrew after scrutiny over friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

[25 August 2019 08:34 · Samuel Osborne]

Welcome to live updates from The Independent on the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. 

Boris Johnson will meet with Donald Trump today to discuss a post-Brexit trade deal. He will also discuss Brexit with Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, after the two clashed yesterday.

[25 August 2019 08:42 · Samuel Osborne]

Mr Trump has said Mr Johnson is the "right man" to deliver Brexit. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Mr Trump was asked what his advice was for Britain's departure from the European Union. 

Mr Trump responded: "He needs no advice. He is the right man for the job." 

Mr Johnson replied that the president was "on message there." 

The much-anticipated meeting was the first since Mr Johnson took Britain's top job last month. The pair met for a working breakfast after being photographed on last night walking and talking on the margins of the summit.

Mr Johnson desperately needs a US trade deal post-Brexit, as Britain will lose its easy access to the EU's single market. 

[25 August 2019 08:50 · Samuel Osborne]

Here's more on Mr Johnson warning that negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal with the US will not be "plain sailing", from Andrew Woodcock​, our political editor in Biarritz: 

[25 August 2019 09:05 · Samuel Osborne]

Ahead of Mr Trump's meeting with Mr Johnson, the US government had talked up the prospect of a new era in the special relationship.

But Mr Johnson told reporters that while there was "a massive opportunity" for Britain, "it is not all going to be plain sailing".

"There remain very considerable barriers in the US to British businesses which are not widely understood," he said.

Mr Johnson said he had discussed the problems with Mr Trump in an eve-of-summit phone call, and highlighted barriers to the sale of British goods including shower trays, cauliflowers and Melton Mowbray pork pies.

"It is very important if we are going to do a fantastic free trade deal that it is a free trade that works in the interests of British business," the prime minister said.

"There are massive opportunities for UK companies to open up, to prise open the American market.

"We intend to seize those opportunities, but they are going to require our American friends to compromise and to open up their approach because currently there are too many restrictions.

"It goes without saying that there are sectors of the UK economy, not least the NHS, which remain completely off limits as far as any trade deal with America goes.

"We will not allow the NHS to be on the table at all."

Mr Johnson indicated he would be willing to have talks with the US about a tax on tech giants - the UK currently has draft plans on the table on the issue.

[25 August 2019 09:24 · Samuel Osborne]

Leaders of the G7 are arriving for a working meeting focused on looming threats to the global economy. 

The leaders of Britain, the US, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, as well as the European Union, were expected to discuss the spread of trade disputes, notably the US trade war with China. 

[25 August 2019 09:30 · Samuel Osborne]

Here's footage of Mr Trump saying Mr Johnon is the "right man for the job" of delivering Brexit:

[25 August 2019 09:39 · Samuel Osborne]

Mr Trump and Mr Johnson have directed officials to launch a "special relationship economic working group (SREWG)" following their meeting, according to a joint statement issued by the White House.

Larry Kudlow, the US director of the National Economic Council, and Sir Mark Sedwill, the UK cabinet secretary, have been directed to set up the group.

"The SREWG will develop market-oriented principles for economic growth and increase bilateral co-operation on issues related to the modern 21st-century economy," the White House said.

[25 August 2019 09:49 · Samuel Osborne]

Here's Mr Johnson and Mr Trump saying a post-Brexit trade could happen "quickly":

[25 August 2019 09:59 · Samuel Osborne]

Mr Trump and Mr Johnson also discussed Huawei and 5G technology at their bilateral meeting, the White House has said.

"The president and prime minster also addressed global security issues of mutual concern, especially Iran's threat to freedom of navigation in the Gulf, tensions in Hong Kong, 5G and Huawei, and instability in Libya and the Sahel region," the White House said in a statement.

[25 August 2019 10:05 · Samuel Osborne]

Asked if he had made clear his views on the NHS and animal welfare in trade talks with Mr Trump, Mr Johnson said: "Not only have I made clear of that, the president has made that very, very clear. There is complete unanimity on that point."