May clashes with Trump over Russia
backstop deal. In a fudged compromise, the British proposal said the Government “expects” the backstop to be in place until the end of 2021.
But Barnier insisted that EU plans to keep only Northern Ireland under EU rules would have to stay in place until a solution is found to the Irish border issue.
At a press conference in Brussels, he said the six-page document presented by the UK “raises more questions than it provides answers”.
He said the backstop proposals “cannot be extended to the whole UK – it has been designed for the specific situation of Northern Ireland”.
Barnier added: “We have provided this exceptional proposal on behalf of the EU to include Northern Ireland in our customs territory. That is quite an exceptional offer by the 27 (other member states). We have wanted to make our contribution to north/south co-operation in Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement and the need to avoid a hard border.”
Barnier also insisted “backstop means backstop” and that there could be no debate on it being temporary.
Boris Johnson caused another headache for the PM by criticising her handling of the Brexit negotiations. In a leaked recording of a talk to Tory supporters, Johnson said May lacked the “guts” for the hard talks and suggested Donald Trump could do a better job.
The Foreign Secretary also took a swipe at Chancellor Philip Hammond, calling the Treasury “the heart of Remain” in comments to a private dinner.
He said the Brexit talks were heading for “meltdown” and Leave supporters may not get the deal they expected.
May responded by saying Johnson “had strong views on Brexit but so do I”.
Anti-Brexit pressure group Best For Britain have launched their campaign for a second EU referendum next year. They want MPs to force a referendum on the deal secured by May, with an option on the ballot paper of keeping the UK in the EU. THERESA May and Donald Trump clashed at the G7 summit over Russia being suspended from the group.
Trump dropped a bombshell yesterday by calling for Moscow to be allowed in from the cold.
He said: “Russia should be in this meeting. They should let Russia come back in because we should have Russia at the negotiating table.”
May said there should be no talk of Moscow being reinstated until it proved it had changed its ways.
The Prime Minister, who also lashed out at the President’s planned steel and aluminium tariffs, said: “We should remind ourselves why the G8 became the G7 – it was because Russia illegally annexed Crimea.
“We have seen malign activity from Russia in a whole variety of ways, including on the streets of Salisbury in the UK.”
May’s warning came hours after Trump’s allies said she reminded him of a “school mistress” because of her stern approach. But she said: “When I disagree with President Trump, I’m able to say so. I disagree with him on the steel and aluminium tariffs and I have told him that.”
May blasted Trump’s proposed tariffs as “deeply regrettable” – and warned revenge was “unavoidable”.
But she insisted the US and the UK remain “good friends” and added: “President Trump and I work together.
“When we disagree, because of the nature of our relationship, we’re able to have that frank and open discussion.”
In her bid to hit out at Russia after the Salisbury assassination plot, May won backing from leaders at the summit in Canada on a plan to prevent and respond to hostile state activity.
Meanwhile, Trump launched a tirade against Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and French president Emmanuel Macron via Twitter in the row over tariffs.