Disbelief as EU chief begs UK: Please don’t go
TOP Eurocrat Donald Tusk provoked anger yesterday by pleading with Britain to have a change of heart and stay in the EU.
The European Council President said Brussels would welcome Brexit being cancelled. “Our hearts are still open for you,” he declared.
But he went on to warn that EU negotiators were ready to battle hard in the next round of Brexit talks.
Mr Tusk’s remarks came in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
He said: “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.”
But then referring to the UK’s Brexit Minister he added: “Wasn’t it David Davis himself who said, ‘If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy’? Our hearts are still open for you.”
Downing Street last night said: “We have been absolutely clear that the British people voted to leave the European Union and that is what we will be doing,”
Richard Tice, co-chairman of pressure group Leave Means Leave, said: “The British people voted to leave the EU and this decision will not be reversed.”
And Ukip MEP Nigel Farage warned: “The British political class are colluding with the European Commission to make an unbearable deal in an attempt to reverse the democratic decision of the British people. Don’t be conned.”
But Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker later backed Mr Tusk’s speech, saying he hoped the message “will be heard clearly in London”.
Mr Tusk’s remarks follow the leak of a European Commission document signalling EU negotiators are planning to toughen their stance on Britain’s relationship.
The paper said the EU team will demand continuing full free movement rights for EU citizens to come to Britain during the planned transition period of up to two years.