Britain would do better to ‘soften’
PM warned over risk of bespoke deal as she heads to summit dinner DUP: We are no pushover in talks
THERESA MAY was today urged by a senior European official to “soften” her Brexit demands if she wants a successful deal for Britain.
Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament, spoke out as the Prime Minister headed to her first European Union summit since she lost her Commons majority. Mrs May came under pressure at home for a softer Brexit too, with Chancellor Philip Hammond suggesting that “transitional arrangements” would be needed for many years. Mr Hammond, who has emerged as the chief spokesman for Cabinet ministers opposing a hard Brexit, would not deny that the arrangements could be needed for four years or longer.
Mrs May will tonight aim to win favour from the other 27 leaders at a summit dinner by making a “bold and generous” offer to 3.2 million EU citizens in the UK of continued rights to work and live in Britain. But her own reduced status will be clear when she leaves the dinner early so that the other leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, the French president and Europhile rising star, can discuss Brexit without her.
Speaking to the Standard, Mr Verhofstadt said that holding out for a “complex and bespoke” Brexit deal was risky. Britain would do better, he advised, in the single market and the customs union. “Any post–election softening of the UK approach in this direction would be in their interest,” he said.
“The more complex and bespoke the future agreement is, the longer it will take to agree and the greater the risk of further uncertainty.” One solution could be an “association agreement”,
‘Reflect the views of the whole population, not just the wishes of one wing of the Conservative Party’ Guy Verhofstadt’s advice for Mrs May
a template that already covers deals with 20 countries on trade and issues such as defence, counter-terrorism and cyber-security.
Mr Verhofstadt is influential because the European Parliament will have a vote on the outcome of negotiations.
Pointing to the clear split in the Tory party, he said Mrs May’s stance should also “reflect the views of the whole population, not just the wishes of one wing of the Conservative Party”.
Mr Hammond came out fighting against the danger of a “cliff-edge” Brexit. Asked on BBC Radio 4 if transitional deals to delay and smooth out the exit from the single market and customs union could remain in place for four years “or even longer”, he replied: “All these things remain to be negotiated.”
In a remark that was mocked online, he added: “We are leaving the European Union but when you buy a house you don’t necessarily move all your furniture in on the first day you buy it.” Twitter users responded that only a person with two homes or more would not move furniture in immediately.
His comments also angered hardline Brexit backers who argue for a clean break in 2019. One claimed: “Hammond is on manoeuvres for the leadership.” A DEAL between the Tories and Democratic Unionists will go down to the wire as the Northern Irish party’s chief whip claimed today: “We’re no pushover.”
In an interview, the DUP’s Sir Jeffrey Donaldson suggested his members had already managed to strip out cuts from the Queen’s Speech.
The party has still not officially named its price for supporting a Tory minority government but infrastructure investment and economic reform for North- All the leaders want to be seen with French President Emmanuel Macron, who makes his debut. Most EU leaders see his election triumph as an opportunity to restore the Franco-German axis as the core of power, giving more stability to the Union’s heart.
Embarrassingly, Theresa May will leave tonight’s dinner early so that the other 27 leaders can enjoy a private chat about Brexit without her. Mrs May has a meeting set up with European Council President Donald Tusk but it remains to be seen if Angela Merkel will spare the time.
A “bold” offer of future rights for the 3.2 million European Union citizens living in the UK will be unveiled by the British PM. A paper on Monday will explain the details. Mrs May hopes 1.1 million UK expats in EU countries will get reciprocal protection.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier is expected to give a positive report to leaders on his opening talks with Britain’s David Davis, who gave in to Barnier’s insistence that EU priorities such as the “divorce” settlement should take priority over Britain’s pitch for a trade deal.
Discussions today centre on defence, security and foreign policy. Tomorrow sees migration — including the Mediterranean refugees — jobs and growth under the spotlight. Leaders will regret President Trump’s abandonment of the Paris climate change treaty. ern Ireland are on the negotiating table. Sir Jeffrey said there was a “very good” chance of a deal by the June 27 deadline but did not say if one could be reached before the weekend.
He told BBC radio the DUP wants investment in roads, hospitals and schools but would not disclose exactly how much money it has asked for.
He denied is it demanding £1 billion for the NHS.
DUP MP Nigel Dodds told Theresa May in the Commons he wanted an end to the “dark tunnel of austerity”.