Brussels taunts ‘rats fleeing a sinking ship’

BRITAIN’S divided Cabinet was last night mocked after the exits of David Davis and Boris Johnson, with EU diplomats comparing them to “rats fleeing a sinking ship”.

Asked about yesterday’s events, Jean-claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, answered with sarcasm: “This clearly proves that at Chequers there was a big unity of views in the British Cabinet.”

Standing with Mr Juncker was Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. He said: “Politicians come and go, while the problems they have created for their people remain. The mess caused by Brexit is the biggest problem in the history of EU-UK relations and it is still very far from being solved with or without Mr Davis.”

He added: “Unfortunately the idea of Brexit hasn’t left together with David Davis.”

Asked about Mr Johnson’s resignation, Mr Tusk replied: “I can just repeat what I said about David Davis.”

Last night Guy Verhofstadt, chief Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament, tweeted: “Walking out of the government won’t make Brexit go away, but as an optimist by nature, I hope that it creates some unity needed to find a parliamentary majority for an agreement that works. #brexit #Brexitshambles.”

One EU diplomat said: “It is starting to look like the flight of the Brexiteers. They landed your country in a mess and are leaving for higher ground. Rats and sinking ships… that age-old tale.”

The diplomat said Mr Davis had been “frozen out” of the negotiations long ago in favour of Oliver Robbins, Theresa May’s top Brexit civil servant, and that his departure would make little practical difference. However, the events of yesterday have heaped yet more pressure on the tight Brexit timeframe.

The EU has set an October deadline for a Brexit deal to be finalised so it can be ratified by national governments, Westminster and the European Parliament.

The EC, which is handling talks for the EU-27, said it will negotiate with good will and faith. “We’re working for a deal and are available 24/7,” a spokesman said.