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Britain's May tries to warm the Brexit atmosphere with EU

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May welcomes Head of the European Commission, President Jean-Claude Juncker to Downing Street in London, Britain April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May told European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday she wanted a "deep and special relationship" with the European Union, trying to warm the atmosphere before Brexit talks begin.

 

After a dinner at her Downing Street official residence with the EU's main Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his British counterpart, David Davis, both sides said the meeting was "constructive" but offered few details.

 

The four have in recent weeks been careful not to poison the atmosphere before the talks, leaving financial markets and business leaders to guess what the mood is as battle lines are drawn before the complex negotiations for Britain to leave the EU, following last June's referendum vote to quit.

 

"The PM had a constructive meeting this evening with President Juncker of the European Commission," a spokesperson for May said in a statement.

 

"Following the UK's letter of notification under Article 50 (on its departure from the EU), she reiterated the UK's commitment to achieving a deep and special partnership with the European Union."

 

The cautious wording is in stark contrast to the early days of May's premiership, when she riled EU leaders by taking a firmly pro-Brexit stance to win over her governing Conservative Party and, she said, to carry out the will of the people.

 

May is keeping her cards close to her chest before the talks, not wanting to give her hand away.

 

But she is letting members of her government speak out. Foreign minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that while divorce talks with the EU could be so tough that "plaster may fall off the ceiling", Britain would win a good deal.

 

Before the dinner, May's spokesman said the prime minister would reiterate her Brexit plan which she set out in the letter triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, but little was mentioned about an early election she has called for June 8.

 

The EU says it expects the talks to begin in earnest after that election - when May hopes to strengthen her parliamentary majority - and when she has confirmed her negotiating team, which is now led by Davis.

 

"President Juncker had a constructive meeting with Prime Minister May," a Commission spokesperson said, adding that as well as Brexit, they addressed "issues of strategic interest".

 

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Mark Heinrich and James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-27

[champers]

No tongues, so not too friendly.

[elgordo38]

Photo rather reminds me of my "last days" in the bedroom with wife number one just before the fan hit the Shi*

[dunroaming]

I think he is whispering to May  " Madam I am going to screw you good and hard but not in the way you would like!".

[Baerboxer]

10 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

I think he is whispering to May  " Madam I am going to screw you good and hard but not in the way you would like!".

 

and she replies, "give over silly boy, you left you're viagra back home"..

[ilostmypassword]

Angela Merkel attacks British 'illusion' of keeping benefits of EU

Angela Merkel has said British politicians are still living under the “illusion” that the UK will retain most of its rights and privileges once it leaves the European Union.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she continued, “you may think that all this is self-evident. But I have to put this so clearly because I get the impression that some in Great Britain still have illusions about this, and that is a waste of time.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/27/angela-merkel-attacks-british-illusion-of-keeping-benefits-of-eu

[dunroaming]

Posturing and veiled threats aside it really is time to get on with the negotiations.  After the election will be the earliest opportunity which works for May as she will know how much she has increased her majority in the house by then.  Any substantial increase will probably mean that she will go after the hard Brexit and end up with a crap deal whereas if she loses any seats then she will probably have to think again.

[Guest]

 

"May a year ago: 'Remaining inside the EU does make us more secure, it does make us more prosperous and it does make us more influential'."

 

 

[dunroaming]

May is a politician and U-turns are very much the order of the day for politicians.  Those that actually believe what a politician says should take a reality pill.