Stand firm or be ‘swindled’ by the EU, Salvini warns May
THERESA MAY will have to “impose” herself on Brussels during Brexit negotiations to avoid being “swindled”, Italy’s deputy prime minister has said.
Matteo Salvini said the Prime Minis- ter should be prepared to walk out with no deal as there was no “no objectivity or good faith from the European side”.
The former MEP who has clashed with the EU since entering government this year, spoke as Mrs May faced pressure from her party not to cede any more ground to Brussels. Her white paper sparked resignations from Boris Johnson and David Davis, and while some party figures supported it, others warned it should not be a flexible starting point for negotiations.
Mr Salvini, leader of the League, a hardline anti-immigrant party, told the Sunday Times: “My experience in the European Parliament tells me you either impose yourself or they swindle you.” He added Italy would be an ally of the UK after Brexit. “I remember the referendum stage as an example of participation and freedom; I hope it can be an opportunity for the British,” he said.
His comments come after Mrs May and senior ministers visited EU27 states to seek support for her plan. On Thursday Michel Barnier, the EU Brexit negotiator, rejected the customs proposals that form a key plank of it.