I BLAME EU
PANICKING PM TRIES TO PASS THE BUCK
Tory self-interest caused the referendum that sent the UK lurching towards a No Deal Brexit. Yet on a day when the pound tumbles, Ireland fears the return of a hard border and Britain looks broken as a trading nation, May has the gall to insist:
THERESA May threw a toddler tantrum yesterday as she refused to accept her Chequers Brexit plan is toast.
Her hissy fit came in a hastily organised Downing Street press conference after being humiliated by fellow EU leaders in Austria.
The Prime Minister put on her best stern face as she demanded “respect” from the EU.
But there was little sign of that at home or abroad as she stomped off the stage in a strop.
EU president Donald Tusk earlier rubbed salt in her Salzburg wounds by posting a Twitter photo of him offering May some cake, with the caption: “Sorry, no cherries.”
May restated her commitment to Chequers despite it being rejected out of hand by EU leaders at Thursday’s summit. Her extraordinary televised statement was intended to show her defiance in the face Brexit talks collapsing with no deal.
She added that throughout the Brexit negotiations she had treated her counterparts with “nothing but respect” and added: “The UK expects the same.”
Chequers would have Britain sharing a “common rule book” on trade with the EU for goods and foods but not services and end freedom of movement. Britain could do its own trade deals with non-EU countries.
But two main problems prevent a deal – the terms of access to EU markets for British goods and the Northern Irish border.
She repeated her outright rejection of the EU offer for the UK to remain in the European Economic Area and the customs union.
She said: “In plain English, this would mean we’d still have to abide by all the EU rules, uncontrolled immigration from the EU would continue and we couldn’t do the trade deals we want with other countries. That would make a mockery of the referendum we had two years ago.”
The PM also rejected an EU “backstop” proposal which would see Northern Ireland remain inside the customs union if the UK could not agree a free trade agreement with Brussels.
Ratcheting up her language, May said: “Creating any form of customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would not respect that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, in line with the principle of consent, as set out clearly in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
“It is something I will never agree to – indeed, in my judgment it is something no British prime minister would ever agree to. If the EU believe I will, they are making a fundamental mistake.”
May said the two sides remained “a long way apart” but insisted the UK was prepared to negotiate, and called on the EU to explain what it believed was wrong with her trade proposals.
She challenged the EU to come up with a new offer or face the prospect of no deal which would damage all European economies.
“It is not acceptable to simply reject the other side’s proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals,” May said. “So we now need to hear from the EU what the real issues are and what their alternative is so that we can discuss them.”
She added: “Anything which fails to respect the referendum or which effectively divides our country in two would be a bad deal and I have always said no deal is better than a bad deal.”
May brought the likelihood of a no deal exit centre stage by assuring EU citizens in Britain their rights would be respected regardless of what happened.
She also promised the people of Northern Ireland the government would “do everything in its power” to prevent a hard border with the Republic.
But far from providing assurance, that left businesses worried. The pound plunged yesterday at the prospect of no deal and British goods having to pay import duties for access to EU markets.
The CBI called on negotiators on both sides must change tack, adding that “rejection of Chequers helps nobody”.
May finished her statement with another defiant flourish.
She said: “I have worked to bring people with me even when
Border with Northern Ireland is something I’ll never agree to THERESA MAY ON EU LEADERS’ OFFER
that has not always seemed possible. No one wants a good deal more than me.
“But the EU should be clear – I will not overturn the result of the referendum. Nor will I break up my country. We need serious engagement on resolving the two big problems in the negotiations. We stand ready.”
May’s posturing was lapped up by hardliners such as Jacob ReesMogg, who applauded her “steely resolve” against the “EU bullies”.
He urged her to ditch Chequers for Canada-style free trade deal which would involve signing up to far fewer EU rules.
But no one else was fooled. Jeremy Corbyn said: “Theresa May’s Brexit negotiating strategy has been a disaster. The Tories have spent more time arguing among themselves than negotiating with the EU.
“From day one, the Prime Minister has looked incapable of delivering a good Brexit deal for Britain.
“The political games from both the EU and our Government need to end because no deal is not an option.”
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the “PM statement was dreadful”. The First Minister said: “The EU view was bluntly expressed yesterday but not new – she just hasn’t been listening. If her tactic now is to double down on the Chequers dead duck, and then blame EU for a no deal, she will do huge damage to all those she is supposed to serve.”
The First Minister added the only option was for the UK to stay in the single market and customs union.
She said: “If the Prime Minister is not prepared to do that, then Brexit shouldn’t happen. A ‘no deal’ or ‘no detail’ Brexit are simply not acceptable – particularly for Scotland, where we did not vote for any of this.”
Pro-remain Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: “There’s a majority in parliament against no deal and a majority in parliament against an extreme Brexit but no consensus on the form of exit. The solution is a people’s vote.”