Tusk urges UK to do a U-turn on Brexit

EUROPEAN Council president Donald Tusk has urged Britain to change its mind about leaving the EU next year.

Britain exits on March 29, 2019, but the negotiations around its departure must be concluded by October to leave parliaments time to approve any agreement.

‘If the UK government sticks to its decision to leave, Brexit will become a reality, with all its negative consequences, in March next year unless there is a change of heart among our British friends,’ Mr Tusk told MEPs yesterday. He quoted UK Brexit secretary David Davis as saying that ‘if a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy’.

‘We here on the continent haven’t had a change of heart. Our hearts are still open to you,’ Mr Tusk said. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker added: ‘I hope that will be heard clearly in London.’

Theresa May’s spokesman responded by insisting the UK will be leaving the EU.

‘I think we’ve been absolutely clear: the British public voted to leave the EU, and that is what we will be doing,’ he said

Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar yesterday warned the UK government there can be no ‘back-sliding’ over the Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach said his Government will continue to ‘advance and defend’ Ireland’s interests and ‘seek to mitigate the negative effects of Brexit’.

‘It will be important to remain vigilant to ensure that commitments entered into in December are delivered in full,’ he said.