It’s my way or highway on our exit, May hints to euro leaders
THERESA May last night signalled that she was ready to quit the EU without a deal unless the bloc backs her Chequers plan.
EU Council President Donald Tusk blasted the Prime Minister’s blueprint as leaders arrived for a crunch showdown in Salzburg.
But over dinner in the Austrian city, Mrs May indicated the UK would walk away if Brussels fails to support her proposal by mid-November.
She said: “We all recognise that time is short but delaying or extending these negotiations is not an option.
“I know for many of you Brexit is not something you want but it’s important to be clear there will be no second referendum in the UK. The public has delivered its verdict and I will deliver upon that. The UK will leave on March 29 next year.”
Brexiteers and Remainers have both blasted her plan. But Mrs May insisted: “I believe I have put forward serious and workable proposals.
“We will of course not agree on every detail but I hope you will respond in kind.
“The onus is now on all of us to get this deal done.”
Before Mrs May’s RAF jet had landed in the Austrian Alps, Mr Tusk had welcomed a “positive evolution” in DISTANCE Juncker Britain’s position, “as issued new warning well as the will to minimise the negative effects of Brexit”. But he added: “On other issues, such as the Irish question or the framework for economic cooperation, the UK’s proposals will need to be reworked.”
Revealing plans for an emergency EU Brexit summit in November, Mr Tusk warned: “Today there is perhaps more hope but there is surely less and less time.”
And European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker claimed the EU and UK were “far away” on the issue.
Meanwhile, former Brexit Secretary David Davis will today give a speech in Munich blasting the PM’s plan. He will say: “We have been told the Chequers proposal fulfils what the British people voted for. Well, I simply do not buy that… 52% of British voters oppose the proposals, only 18% approve.
“It is quite remarkable for a Government policy to be that unpopular. And, for me, the Chequers plan was always a non-starter.”
Mr Davis will add that the blueprint “crosses red lines” of returning “control over our law, our money and our borders”.