May hits back at EU rebuff
After her Salzberg ‘humiliation’ by Europe’s leading politicians, the British prime minister has demanded they show her some respect... and reiterated that the UK will go for a ‘no deal’ Brexit unlesss there is compromise...
THERESA May has said the UK will push forward with preparations for a no-deal Brexit after telling EU leaders it is up to them to solve the deadlock.
A day after the humiliating rebuff of her Chequers plan from EU leaders in Salzburg, the British prime minister came out fighting in a fiery speech in which she suggested she had been disrespected at the summit.
Standing at a lectern before two Union Jack flags in No.10 Downing Street, a steely faced Mrs May said the EU’s dismissal of her Chequers plan without an explanation was ‘not acceptable’.
‘At this late stage in the negotiations, it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side’s proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals,’ she said
‘So, we now need to hear from the EU what the real issues are and what their alternative is so we can discuss them. Until we do, we cannot make progress.
‘In the meantime, we must and will continue the work of preparing ourselves for no deal.’
Mrs May again emphasised that she would not entertain any plan that would result in Northern Ireland becoming part of a separate customs zone to the rest of the UK.
‘No-one wants a good deal more than me, but the European Union should be clear – I will not overturn the result of the referendum, nor will I break up my country,’ she said.
The British prime minister said she wanted to reassure people in Northern Ireland that her government would do ‘everything’ in its power to prevent a hard border, although stopped short of guaranteeing one wouldn’t happen.
Leo Varadkar yesterday acknowledged that the negotiations are set for a ‘rocky patch’ as they enter their final weeks.
However, he said he was ‘determined to keep working to secure that deal that we need before the end of the year and certainly ideally in October and November.’
The Taoiseach was speaking at the Ploughing Championships in Co. Offaly where he was asked if farmers could expect to be paying World Trade Organisation tariffs on their exports next year.
‘Next year? I really don’t think so,’ he said. That will only arise in a [Brexit] no-deal scenario and I am working every day, as are other people across Europe – and of course, the UK government – to avoid a scenario where we have a no-deal, hard Brexit next March. I think we can have a deal.’
Mr Varadkar again insisted the remaining 27 EU members countries are united behind Ireland in the negotiations, following suggestions this week that some countries were putting pressure on this country to change our tax regime in exchange for support.
‘The European Union is totally united – not just united behind Ireland but also united behind our desire to protect the integrity of the single market.
‘And perhaps a sense was created that prime minister May would come away with something more positive then we have heard.
‘But I don’t think anyone in the European Union or Ireland is to blame for that. Problems that are being created for Britain and the British government are being created as a consequence of Brexit and nobody in Europe or Ireland is to blame for that.’
A spokesman for the Taoiseach later insisted it was business as usual despite the angry tone of Mrs May’s speech.
Despite her statement that it was up to the EU to come up with alternatives to Chequers, the spokesman said the Government here was waiting for new proposals on the border backstop which Mrs May had promised on Thursday following the summit. ‘She has said
‘I will not break up my country’
she is working on new proposals for the backstop and we look forward to seeing those. The details of those are a matter for the [British] task force,’ said the spokesman.
He noted that there were positive elements in the speech, such as the commitment ‘to do everything in our power’ to avoid a hard border in the event of no deal.
‘We appreciate that she has outlined the unique circumstances facing Northern Ireland,’ he said.
The value of the pound fell following Mrs May’s speech, giving up four days of gains on the US dollar to shed 1.5% and close at $1.30 in London.
Versus the euro, the British currency was down over 1% at €1.11.
Leading Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg welcomed Mrs May’s ‘strong and forthright’ tone, but said it was time to ditch Chequers and go for a simple Canada-style free trade agreement with the European Union.
Mrs May’s speech was welcomed by DUP leader Arlene Foster, who said: ‘The prime minister is right to stand firm in the face of disrespectful, intransigent and disgraceful behaviour by the European Union.’
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald TD said Mrs May’s comments were an exercise in deflection.
However, the Irish Exporters Association expressed ‘great concern’ at the Downing Street speech.
Its chief executive, Simon McKeever said: ‘The ongoing political rhetoric and uncertainty in the UK, is further increasing fears whether a deal can be reached.’