MAY TELLS EU BOSSES ‘GROW UP’
THERESA May yesterday told EU leaders to grow up and accept Britain is leaving.
Her withering rebuke came in response to signals that some still believe the Brexit vote reversed. The Prime demanded instead a can be Minister “mature, co-operative” approach to talks on the UK’s departure.
Her forceful slapdown came at the end of a two-day Brussels summit
which saw Eurocrats repeatedly seek to marginalise debate about Britain’s departure from the bloc.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead negotiator on the Brexit process, is even said to have suggested snarling up the forthcoming talks by conducting them in French.
Even after the Prime Minister told the 27 other EU leaders over a working dinner that she was determined to deliver Brexit, EU Council President Donald Tusk yesterday speculated that Britain’s referendum decision could be overturned.
“If it is reversible or not, this is in the British hands. I would be the happiest one if it is reversible,” he said.
Lord Hill, Britain’s senior representative in Brussels until the Brexit vote, responded to Mr Tusk’s comments by saying: “I think there is a surprisingly wide-held view that Britain might still decide to stay in.”
But in a news conference at the close of the summit, Mrs May again made it clear Brexit will go ahead.
She said: “I want a mature, cooperative relationship with our European partners. I recognise the scale of the challenges ahead. I am sure there will be difficult moments. It will require some give and take.
“But I firmly believe that if we approach this in a constructive spirit, as I am, then we can deliver a smooth departure and build a powerful new relationship that works both for the UK and the countries of the EU looking for opportunities not problems.”
Mrs May insisted the UK had the right to begin trade negotiations with the rest of the world before the country has formally quit the EU.
She said: “As we prepare to leave the EU, I’ve been clear that the UK is discussing our future trading relationship with third countries.
“It is about seizing the opportunities of Brexit and about forging an ambitious and optimistic new role in the world.”
During the summit working dinner on Thursday night, Brexit was barely mentioned apart from a five-minute speech by the Prime Minister.
EU leaders listened to her remarks in silence and did not comment afterwards.
And European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker merely shrugged and snorted when questioned by reporters about Mrs May’s speech yesterday, ahead of talks with the Prime Minister over lunch.
But at that meeting Mrs May again told Mr Juncker that Brexit will go ahead and insisted Britain would not compromise on the issue of regaining control over borders.