Let’s get down to Brexit business

Next round of EU talks start

BREXIT SECRETARY David Davis was all smiles yesterday as he arrived in Brussels for the latest round of talks regarding Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. The Haltemprice and Howden MP stood alongside the European Commission’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and said it was time for both sides to “get down to business”.

It is an important week for both men and their respective teams as they get down to the nitty-gritty of what is a hugely complex legislative exercise. Over the next few days there will be detailed discussions on all aspects of the divorce treaty, including citzens’ rights, finance and the issue of the Irish border.

The future prosperity of this country depends on Brexit being implemented as smoothly as possible, and for this to happen the UK’s negotiators need to be both resolute and diplomatic. Compromises will inevitably have to be made by both sides.

What we don’t need are unhelpful remarks like those made by the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, who recently said the EU could ‘go whistle’ over its financial demands. Such political bravado might play to the gallery but it has no place in such important negotiations.

Mr Davis and his team will have to roll up their sleeves and show their collective mettle if early progress is to be made, and it’s imperative that it is in order to ensure we avoid a political stalemate.

We must hope that the Brexit Secretary is more adept when it comes to sitting down at the negotiating table than former Prime Minister David Cameron who asked for little, and secured even less, during his EU renegotiations.

It was Theresa May who set an ambitious timetable to begin Britain’s extrication from the EU and the challenge now is to see this process through to a successful conclusion, for both sides. Mr Barnier is right about one thing, the clock is indeed ticking.