Fury over Juncker ‘like it or lump it’ deal
THE head of the European Commission sparked fury after he claimed that Britain will be offered a “like it or lump it” deal so bad that no other country will want to leave the failing EU.
The “ludicrous” attack by Jean Claude Juncker came as Theresa May yesterday announced the date for Britain’s EU exit.
Meanwhile, the commission’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tried to raise the stakes by saying the 27 EU countries should prepare for customs controls with the UK.
The “spiteful” threats stand in stark contrast to the reasonable stance taken by the UK Government seeking a deal which will benefit the UK and EU.
The UK will have “the choice to eat what’s on the table or not come to the table at all”, Mr Juncker told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Mr Juncker predicted that Britain’s experience of withdrawal will bring the other 27 member states closer together, as they will “realise it’s not worth leaving”.
He said: “They will all see from the UK’s example that leaving the EU is a bad idea. On the contrary, the remaining member states will fall in love with each other again and renew their vows with the European Union.”
Mr Barnier said the “EU27 have to start preparing now for future controls” as he held a seminar to discuss customs controls.
The comments led to calls for Mrs May to simply walk away from the EU if Mr Juncker tries to play hardball.
Tory MP David TC Davies said: “It really is ludicrous. He is just making an empty threat. We all know that no deal is better than a bad deal and that it will harm the rest of the EU more than us.”
He added: “If Juncker tries this trick then we should just leave.” Senior Tory MP Peter Bone said: “Juncker and Barnier are just part of the European elite who are in a completely different world to ordinary people.
“The real issue for them is whether they can survive without the UK, not whether the UK can survive without the EU.”
Richard Tice, co-chairman of Leave Means Leave, said it appeared Mr Juncker is “determined to pursue a spiteful campaign against Britain, which will impact negatively on the citizens of the EU he claims to represent”.
Mrs May’s official spokesman said the UK would seek to “secure frictionless borders” with the EU.
Responding to Mr Juncker’s comments, he said: “We have said many times we are at the start of negotiations and let’s see how it unfolds.”