DUP's Arlene Foster blasts Theresa May’s ‘disorganised and slapdash’ Brexit approach following plea for fresh delay
2 min read
Arlene Foster has savaged Theresa May’s approach to Brexit as ‘disorganised and slapdash’ following her latest plea to the European Union for Britain’s exit to be pushed back.
In a damning attack, the DUP leader, whose party is propping up the PM’s minority government, branded the request for an extension to Article 50 until 30 June “unsatisfactory but not surprising”.
The Prime Minister this morning wrote to EU Council president Donald Tusk "reluctantly" asking for time beyond 12 April, so that she can try to get a deal through the Commons.
To compound the humiliation, Mrs May also confirmed that plans were underway for the UK to possibly take part in next month's European Parliament elections, despite her repeated insistence that the country would not.
Ms Foster’s intervention comes amid fraught relations between the Northern Irish unionists and the Tory Government, with the DUP having ruled out supporting the Withdrawal Agreement in its current form and in effect scuppering its chances of passing.
In a statement, the DUP leader said: “The Prime Minister’s latest plea to Brussels for an extension to Article 50 is unsurprising but unsatisfactory. It should not have been like this."
“Exiting the EU has become chaotic because of intransigence in Brussels and ineffectiveness in London.
“The United Kingdom fighting European elections almost three years after a clear majority voted to leave the EU sums up the disorganised and slapdash approach taken to negotiations by the Prime Minister.”
The withdrawal agreement has been strongly opposed by those who fear the controversial backstop mechanism to ensure an open Irish border would carve Northern Ireland off from the rest of the UK by enforcing different rules.
The former first minister said the DUP continued to support a deal “which protects the Union” and said it was “foolish” of the Prime Minister to effectively rule out supporting leaving without an agreement.
She also took aim at Mrs May’s shift in tack from trying to win over hardline Brexiteers and instead moving to find common ground with Labour that could result in a softer Brexit.
“The Prime Minister should not waste any extension by subcontracting the UK’s future to Jeremy Corbyn,” Ms Foster added.
“This time should be used to get a better deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom so the entire nation can leave the European Union together.”
Mr Corbyn meanwhile said on a visit to Newport this morning that there had been "no obvious move" from the Government that could win their support, but he confirmed that talks would continue.
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