The UK and EU find themselves at an “impasse” after the Salzburg Summit. Theresa May was humiliated by EU-27 counterparts when they rejected her Chequers Plan. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, said the UK’s proposals to collect EU tariffs outside the customs union and to remain in elements of the single market “will not work.” The bluntness of the EU response came as a surprise to the Prime Minister, who had hoped to gain momentum ahead of her party’s annual conference in Birmingham next week. However, it was reported that EU leaders were particularly riled at her refusal to engage with ‘de-dramatised’ language on the Irish backstop, dampening their willingness to compromise on other issues regarding the UK’s future relationship with the EU. The Sun reported that the Prime Minister had been under intense pressure from the DUP in the run-up to the summit, insisting that the EU’s proposed wording on the backstop would be unacceptable to its 10 MPs at Westminster.

Labour Party may endorse ‘People’s Vote’. As delegates gather for the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, Jeremy Corbyn has signalled that Labour will support calls for a fresh referendum on Brexit if a majority of members vote for it to become official party policy. “Let’s see what comes out of conference. Obviously I’m bound by the democracy of our party,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr. A YouGov poll found that 86% of Labour Party members support a referendum on the outcome of Brexit negotiations. However, Len McClusky of the powerful Unite union argues that any referendum must only be on the terms of leaving the EU – Theresa May’s proposals or no deal – rather than re-opening the question of remaining in the EU outright. Meanwhile, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Tony Lloyd, says a second referendum wouldn’t resolve the main issues at stake.

Michelle O’Neill claims it’s “not for (her) to say” whether or not she believes Máiría Cahill. Sinn Féin’s Leader in the North was asked by the BBC’s Mark Devenport whether or not she believed Ms Cahill’s account of sexual abuse by an IRA member. “I think, for me, all I can say is put on record that I am glad that today we have robust procedures in place and we will stand over those procedures,” she replied. “I believe that she has been through an awful lot in recent years, or ever since the incident that she refers to, so I wish her the very, very best for the future,” she added. A Police Ombudsman report recently criticised the PSNI’s handling of Ms Cahill’s rape allegations. Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald apologised that her party lacked robust procedures for reporting abuse at the time of the allegations. Ms Cahill claims to have contacted Ms McDonald over what she felt was an “inadequate apology,” but says she has not yet received a response.

Vote on Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee delayed over sexual assault allegation. Dr Christine Blasey Ford, a lecturer in psychology in California, claims that Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her at a party when she was 15 years old. Judge Kavanaugh denies the allegation, and Republican politicians appear determined to keep his nomination to the Supreme Court on track. Significantly, however, Dr Ford has agreed to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Her lawyers have called on the FBI to formally investigate her claims. President Trump, himself accused by multiple women of sexual assault, dismissed Dr Ford’s claims and defended his nominee. “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a fine man, with an impeccable reputation, who is under assault by radical left wing politicians who don’t want to know the answers, they just want to destroy and delay,” he tweeted. Republican Senator Susan Collins, a crucial swing vote, says it would be “disqualifying” if Judge Kavanaugh is found to have lied about his behaviour.

EU countries warn Israel will be committing a “war crime” if it demolishes Palestinian town. Israel’s Supreme Court had previously rejected appeals against the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, a small village of 180 Bedouin inhabitants situated between two Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel claims that the homes were built illegally in the first place, but Palestinians claim permits were impossible to obtain, as reported by the BBC. Eight EU countries on the UN Security Council have urged Israel not to proceed with the demolition. The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, and the Netherlands warned that such a move would be illegal under international law and would undermine an already fraught peace process. So far Israel has not set a date for the demolition.

Also published on Medium.