Anger as EU warns: It’s no deal or no Brexit if May’s plan is rejected
BRUSSELS sparked fury last night after claiming that Brexit could be cancelled if Theresa May’s exit deal is rejected by MPs.
European Council president Donald Tusk said the withdrawal agreement was the only one on offer and voting it down would mean leaving without a deal – or no Brexit.
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said Britain voted “to not be dictated to by people like Donald Tusk”, while International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said failing to honour the referendum would be “dangerous”.
Mrs May was in Buenos Aires yesterday for a two-day G20 summit of world leaders focusing on climate change and international trade reforms.
The Prime Minister held private talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and discussed trade with Argentina’s president Mauricio Macri.
But Brexit dominated the sidelines. As Mr Tusk revealed Brussels was planning for the possible ditching of Brexit, Mrs May said she would address claims by US President Donald Trump, also in Buenos Aires, that her deal would prevent a UK trade agreement with America.
She also issued a warning to the 100 or more Tories who say they will cast their vote “in the national interest” when the deal goes before the Commons on December 11.
Mrs May said: “I think we should that we have negotiated with the EU. It says we will be able to do those trade deals and we will be able to do them with the US and others.”
Mr Tusk said the deal between the UK and Brussels was “the only possible one”, warning: “If this deal is rejected in the Commons, we are left with, as was already stressed a few weeks ago by Prime Minister May, an alternative. No deal or no Brexit at all. I want to reassure you that the EU is prepared for every scenario.” A senior UK official said Mr Tusk had not hidden the fact he finds Brexit a “moment of sadness for himself and for the EU”. But the official stressed: “The Prime Minister has always been very clear to President Tusk that we are leaving on March 29 next year.”
Brexiteer Dr Fox said: “For me, failing to honour the referendum would not only be undemocratic, but I think it would be quite dangerous in terms of the way that the public view the political establishment in the United Kingdom. If the public vote for Brexit and Parliament were to try and steal that from the British public, then that would create a real schism between Parliament and the electorate.”
Dr Fox appeared to suggest some Cabinet colleagues may reject the deal, warning: “Members of the Cabinet who don’t vote for the deal won’t be members of the Cabinet.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said remaining in the EU would be one of the options in a second referendum. He said: “It’s difficult to see Parliament deciding if there is to be a choice that they wouldn’t have at least some sort of Remain option on there.”
A cross-party group of MPs, including Labour’s Hilary Benn and Tory Sarah Wollaston, has tabled an amendment to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal if Mrs May’s plan fails. It calls for the Commons to be able to express its views about what should happen if it is voted down.