THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL TAKES A SHOT AT BREXIT BACKERS, WHO ARE NOT AMUSED.
‘Not prepared’ to reopen talks ahead of no-deal
European Council President Donald Tusk took a swipe Wednesday at Brexit-backers in Britain, wondering aloud what “special place in hell” might be reserved for those who had no idea how to deliver the country’s exit from the European Union.
With less than two months to go until Britain is due to leave the EU and concern mounting about a potentially chaotic departure, Tusk, who chairs meetings of EU leaders, also appeared to dash any British hopes that the bloc would reopen discussions over the Brexit deal that was overwhelmingly rejected by U.K. lawmakers last month.
“I have been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of plan how to carry it out safely,” Tusk told reporters after talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
As the men shook hands, Varadkar told Tusk, “they will give you terrible trouble in the British press” over the comments.
British MPS demanded in vain that the “devilish Euro-maniac” apologize for his outburst, but instead Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator, fanned the flames by saying even Lucifer would not welcome Brexiteers, because “after what they did to Britain, they would even manage to divide hell.”
Prime Minister Theresa May visits Brussels Thursday — one of her last chances to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom, who backed Brexit, demanded an apology from Tusk. She said: “What he has said is pretty unacceptable and pretty disgraceful. I’m sure that when he reflects on it he may well wish he hadn’t done it.”
Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, described Tusk as “out of order,” while Sammy Wilson, the Democratic Union Party’s Brexit spokesman, said: “This devilish Euro-maniac is doing his best to keep the United Kingdom bound by the chains of EU bureaucracy and control.”
May’s visit also appears fruitless with EU leaders refusing to look at the so-called Irish backstop question.
“The EU 27 is not making any new offer,” Tusk said Wednesday. European Commission President Jeanclaude Juncker agreed, saying the bloc “is not prepared to reopen the issue.”
Tusk and Varadkar said EU nations were intensifying preparations for a “no-deal” British exit — which could inflict heavy economic damage in the U.K. and the EU alike.