Prime Minister’s demands ‘sad’ but ‘realistic’, says Euro Council chief

Theresa May’s Brexit demands are “sad” but “realistic”, according to the president of the European Council.

Donald Tusk tweeted: “Sad process, surrealistic times, but at least more realistic announcement on Brexit. EU27 united and ready to negotiate after article 50.”

But Guy Verhofstadt, who will lead the negotiations for the European Parliament, was less enthusiastic.

He said: “Britain has chosen a hard Brexit. May’s clarity is welcome – but the days of UK cherry-picking and Europe a la carte are over.

“Threatening to turn the UK into a deregulated tax heaven will not only hurt British people – it is a counterproductive negotiating tactic.”

Although many European leaders welcomed the additional clarity brought by elements of the speech, some officials on the continent were sceptical about the Prime Minister’s ability to follow through on her promise for the UK to be “a great, global trading nation”.

Germany’s foreign minister, Frank Walter Steinmeier, stressed Berlin would prioritise the cohesion of the EU over national economic interests during negotiations.

Sandro Gozi, Italy’s undersecretary for European affairs, added: “It is now finally clear what they want: they want to leave for good and they want a full Brexit.”

Poland’s minister for European affairs, Konrad Szymaski, welcomed May’s indication that securing a deal on the rights of EU citizens in Britain – and British citizens in the EU – was “the right and fair thing to do”.

In the Commons, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer praised Mrs May for ruling “hard Brexit out at this stage”, but warned that talk of Britain becoming a tax haven if it gets a punitive EU deal “would be an act of huge self-harm for the UK”.

Germany’s foreign minister, FrankWalter Steinmeier, said Berlin would prioritise the cohesion of the EU over national economic interests during negotiations.