UK PM May to EU: Agree to backstop changes or risk disorderly Brexit

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UK PM May to EU: Agree to backstop changes or risk disorderly Brexit

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen outside of Downing Street in London, Britain, March 6, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May put the onus on the European Union to make concessions over the thorny issue of the Irish backstop in Brexit talks, or risk Britain leaving the EU without a deal, which she said would be against EU interests.

 

The two sides are at an impasse over the so-called backstop aimed at ensuring that there is a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and Ireland - the only land frontier between the United Kingdom and the bloc.

 

May is seeking legally binding assurances that Britain will not be trapped permanently in the backstop in order to win support for her exit deal, which was defeated by a record margin in parliament in January.

 

Lawmakers will vote again on the deal next week, and May will say on Friday that the EU that should give ground in discussions over the backstop before then to help the deal go through.

 

"Just as MPs will face a big choice next week, the EU has to make a choice, too. We are both participants in this process. It is in the European interest for the UK to leave with a deal," May will say in a speech in Grimsby, northern England, according to pre-released extracts.

 

"We are working with them but the decisions that the European Union makes over the next few days will have a big impact on the outcome of the vote."

May's top lawyer returned empty handed from negotiations in Brussels this week.

 

The European Union has told Britain to rework its Irish backstop proposal by Friday, but a British source said on Thursday that the Brexit impasse was unlikely to be broken before the weekend because the EU was not moving.

 

But foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said he was hopeful that there would be success in negotiations at the weekend, in time for the parliamentary vote.

 

Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for the opposition Labour party, said it was "increasingly clear Theresa May will not be able to deliver the changes she promised to her failed Brexit deal."

 

"This speech looks set to be an admission of failure," he said.

 

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-08

[Samui Bodoh]

'Give me what I want or I'll shoot myself'!

 

I think that the EU has made it clear that they will tolerate you pulling the trigger...

 

What a waste.

 

[Laughing Gravy]

10 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

'Give me what I want or I'll shoot myself'!

 

I think that the EU has made it clear that they will tolerate you pulling the trigger...

 

What a waste.

 

Others will disagree and see it as the only way to get a clean break from the EU. As for May shooting herself. I think we all agree that is no loss.

[Topdoc]

In the absence of a miraculous breakthrough in the talks, there is only one sustainable solution: a clean break with the EU. And if you really study the details, you will see that EU membership has made little difference to UK prosperity.

[melvinmelvin]

I find Starmer's comments somewhat meaningless. By all means, he is probably right.  But what is needed now are comments aimed at moving parliament towards a majority view on something.  Comments like TM is crap from the 2nd largest party in the UK ain't helpful  in finding a meaningful end to the Brexit mess.

 

Wonder why he offers such, due to stubbornness or

a conscious decision to further maximising the crisis in the parliament.

 

 

 

[Emdog]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

'Give me what I want or I'll shoot myself'!

 

I think that the EU has made it clear that they will tolerate you pulling the trigger...

 

What a waste.

 

UK needs to be put on suicide watch

[Loiner]

Don’t stop at the backstop.
There’s plenty more in her surrender document that must be rejected.
Or bring on the No Deal exit.


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[JRG23]

What a joke the UK has become. Was back at Christmas and will be back again for work next week and the state of the nation is depressing. Never seen so many homeless people in the country and the prospects for positivity are bleak. And don't mention the pound. 

What a nightmare. Thank you, politicians, for f*&%ing up the country!!!

[mfd101]

9 minutes ago, JRG23 said:

What a joke the UK has become. Was back at Christmas and will be back again for work next week and the state of the nation is depressing. Never seen so many homeless people in the country and the prospects for positivity are bleak. And don't mention the pound. 

What a nightmare. Thank you, politicians, for f*&%ing up the country!!!

I think you'll find that the British people collectively had quite a hand in it too. eg by voting, or not voting, over many years ...

[mfd101]

2 hours ago, Topdoc said:

there is only one sustainable solution: a clean break with the EU.

Well, so much for the Irish.

[malagateddy]

Glad to see that at last the pussy is showing her claws a little bit

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[welovesundaysatspace]

3 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Others will disagree and see it as the only way to get a clean break from the EU. 

Except that it doesn’t exist. 

[Loiner]

Except that it doesn’t exist. 

Yet.


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[Kasset Tak]

I just think it's funny when you look back at some interviews just after the BREXIT vote... "I want to remain in EU... But I voted leave because I didn't think others would vote leave!"... But I guess that just show the stupidity of people!

And really, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar should hold referendum on leaving UK as all of them voted for remaining in EU! And just look back at the earlier Scottish referendum... 1 mayor point that made people vote for remain in UK was that they would have problem remaining in EU if leaving UK... then England and Whales decided that they wanted to leave EU...  

[Loiner]

I just think it's funny when you look back at some interviews just after the BREXIT vote... "I want to remain in EU... But I voted leave because I didn't think others would vote leave!"... But I guess that just show the stupidity of people!

It does show how stupid some Remainers are. These are obviously a very small proportion of them. Not enough to have affected the result though.
The more stupid ones are those who believed in Remain, and still do!


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[Thingamabob]

May has messed this up from the beginning, perhaps deliberately.

[melvinmelvin]

2 hours ago, Kasset Tak said:

I just think it's funny when you look back at some interviews just after the BREXIT vote... "I want to remain in EU... But I voted leave because I didn't think others would vote leave!"... But I guess that just show the stupidity of people!

And really, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar should hold referendum on leaving UK as all of them voted for remaining in EU! And just look back at the earlier Scottish referendum... 1 mayor point that made people vote for remain in UK was that they would have problem remaining in EU if leaving UK... then England and Whales decided that they wanted to leave EU...  

Agree that Scotland would in all likelihood not be able to remain in EU after leaving UK.

As a new sovereign nation state they would have to get their house in order and apply for EU membership.

 

[Basil B]

At some point next week, may will concede...

 

Because she will loose her meaning full vote Tuesday.

Wednesday Mp's will block a No deal Brexit.

Thursdays vote for an extension will also be defeated unless it contains provision for a second referendum.

And if she does not concede then Labour will push through a second referendum amendment which will do her and the Tory party extreme damage,

Her only option is to preempt the Labour option with her own amendment for another Referendum, and tell the ERG to get  "Paxo'ed".

[Grouse]

6 hours ago, Topdoc said:

In the absence of a miraculous breakthrough in the talks, there is only one sustainable solution: a clean break with the EU. And if you really study the details, you will see that EU membership has made little difference to UK prosperity.

I suggest that you read a little more. Have a look at how the U.K. GDP has performed since we joined.

[RuamRudy]

51 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

Agree that Scotland would in all likelihood not be able to remain in EU after leaving UK.

As a new sovereign nation state they would have to get their house in order and apply for EU membership.

 

In terms of alignment with EU requirements, Scotland should not be a million miles away from meeting those requirements. 

Edited March 8, 2019 by RuamRudy

[Baerboxer]

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

'Give me what I want or I'll shoot myself'!

 

I think that the EU has made it clear that they will tolerate you pulling the trigger...

 

What a waste.

 

 

Not a poker player I take it.

 

The EU said there could be no more negotiations, no amendments and no changes - er, well what are they doing talking and asking for proposals and making suggestions?

 

Many in the EU still hope the UK won't leave. But the useless British politicians are so far up their own anuses they won't even see that.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

15 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

In terms of alignment with EU requirements, Scotland should not be a million miles away from meeting those requirements. 

 

555! Good one!

 

 

[Baerboxer]

16 minutes ago, Grouse said:

I suggest that you read a little more. Have a look at how the U.K. GDP has performed since we joined.

 

Silly old Grousy! You don't expect Brexiteers to actually look at facts and understand them?

 

Reality isn't their strong point. 

[RuamRudy]

4 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

555! Good one!

 

 

Please feel free to explain the joke.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

Agree that Scotland would in all likelihood not be able to remain in EU after leaving UK.

As a new sovereign nation state they would have to get their house in order and apply for EU membership.

 

 

Scotland's first minister Sturgeon was told very clearly that Scotland, part of the UK, will leave when the UK leaves. She was also told clearly an independent  Scotland could apply for membership but would be treated strictly as any new applicant - Join the queue and meet all criteria.

 

Google the Scottish budget deficits. Watch Sturgeon being grilled on youtube about it if you want a laugh.

[Baerboxer]

1 minute ago, RuamRudy said:

Please feel free to explain the joke.

 

So funny that a minority of Scots think the EU will somehow let them in quick through the back door when the EU have made it very very clear that won't happen.

 

Perhaps you think the Scottish budget deficits will be much better once the Westminster handouts are stopped? 

[sammieuk1]

Looks like Boris has now evaporated leaving his shambolic mess at the border of his mansion???? 

[RuamRudy]

8 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Scotland's first minister Sturgeon was told very clearly that Scotland, part of the UK, will leave when the UK leaves. She was also told clearly an independent  Scotland could apply for membership but would be treated strictly as any new applicant - Join the queue and meet all criteria.

 

Google the Scottish budget deficits. Watch Sturgeon being grilled on youtube about it if you want a laugh.

Good god, are there still some people struggling to get past this queue nonsense? Turkey applied to join the EU in 1987. Are you seriously trying to suggest that there has been a log jam since then, and that no other country has joined in the past 32 years?

[RuamRudy]

11 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Scotland's first minister Sturgeon was told very clearly that Scotland, part of the UK, will leave when the UK leaves. She was also told clearly an independent  Scotland could apply for membership but would be treated strictly as any new applicant - Join the queue and meet all criteria.

 

Google the Scottish budget deficits. Watch Sturgeon being grilled on youtube about it if you want a laugh.

I am looking forward to the real opening of the books. Scotland, with 8,2% of the population of the UK has 31% of the UK deficit attributed to it. And you cry about shady accounting in Brussels? There are few institutions as corrupt as successive UK governments .

[melvinmelvin]

4 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

In terms of alignment with EU requirements, Scotland should not be a million miles away from meeting those requirements. 

agree, not 500 miles away from home

some stuff must be done, take a quick look in the treaty of treaties

it contains a set of reasonably objective criteria to be met in order

to be considered a sovereign nation state

 

borders must be recognized by others, not disputed

some means to defend the borders and control borders,

(means some kind of army/police and ships+navy/coast guard)

have recognized currency - this can be a bit troublesome, Scottish pounds would hardly do

(suspect some sorting with rest-UK is needed on the monetary/finance side)

(could start from scratch with new currency, Highland Bobs divided into 100 Cheapies,

maybe continuing to use GBP could be negotiated,

maybe linking Highland Bobs strictly to GBP could be done,

there are some countries outside of US that use US dollars as currency

food for thought)

police - law - order

some other bits, can't be bothered to search right now

 

guess it would be wise to apply for UN, WTO and Council of Europe membership

 

EU:

Scotland should be familar with that

some kind of democratic national assembly and governing system would be needed

lots of work to be fixed on the legal side, but Scottish politicians are aware of that,

all directives etc etc.

 

embarking on this, excellent opportunity for developing a corpse of skilled bureaucrats

 

just a wee taste this