May rebukes Trump as she begins tour to sell Brexit deal

Prime minister insists Britain can strike trade deals and Brussels will have no say in it

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Theresa May rebuked Donald Trump and insisted Britain could strike trade agreements outside the EU as she launched a nationwide tour yesterday to whip up support for the contested Brexit divorce deal.

Prime Minister May headed to Wales and Northern Ireland, hours after US President Trump said it seemed like a “great deal” for the European Union that could block Britain from forging its own trade agreements with the United States.

May has two weeks to convince the public, and, crucially, a divided parliament, before the December 11 vote in the House of Commons that risks ending in a humiliating defeat and sinking the deal.

Trump suggested May had made a mistake by signing an agreement that might impede a future trade deal between London and Washington.

“Sounds like a great deal for the EU,” he said at the White House, adding: “We have to take a look at seriously whether or not the UK is allowed to trade”.

“As the deal stands, they may not be able to trade with the US and I don’t think they want that at all. That would be a very big negative for the deal,” said the president, who is close to leading Brexiteers in the UK. “I don’t think that the prime minister meant that and hopefully she’ll be able to do something about that.”

In control

Starting her tour in Builth Wells in central Wales, May insisted Trump had not rained on her parade. “We will have an independent trade policy and we will be able to negotiate trade deals with countries around the rest of the world,” May said. “As regards the United States, we have already been talking to them about the sort of agreement that we could have in the future.

“It will no longer be a decision taken by Brussels. We will have control of that and we will strike trade deals that will enhance our prosperity, enhance our economy and bring jobs to the UK.”