Number Ten hits back at EU over Brexit ‘fantasy’ remarks
2 min read
Number Ten has warned against “anonymous briefings” around Brexit talks, just days after an unnamed EU official branded Britain’s negotiating terms a “fantasy”.
A spokesman for Theresa May today urged those involved in talks to keep interactions “constructive,” following a bad-tempered exchange over the progress of discussions last week.
Following the latest round of negotiations, a Brussels source told the BBC: "I'm a bit concerned because the precondition for fruitful discussions has to be the UK accepts the consequences of its own choices.
“The sooner we move beyond 'let's just keep everything we have now'… the sooner we move away from this fantasy, then the quicker we can make progress."
A British official responded by accusing the EU of "trying to insult us".
In a briefing to journalists today, the spokesman said: “We need to approach these discussions with the interests of our citizens at heart.
“That means focussing on holding constructive talks inside the negotiating room. We also need to be constructive outside of the room, which means looking beyond soundbites and negative anonymous briefings.”
The spokesman also dismissed claims that the Government was unprepared to walk away from the EU without a Brexit deal.
He said: “We take the issue seriously and as a responsible Government we continue to plan for a range of scenarios.”
This comes after senior officials told The Financial Times that work on planning for the UK to walk away from talks with the EU had come to a standstill.
One government insider told the paper: “Our preparedness for no deal is virtually non-existent. Our ability to deliver a ‘no deal’ outcome recedes with every week that passes."
Eurosceptic Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun: “Planning for no deal ought to be an essential part of the negotiations strategy."
He added: “To show we could easily walk away would worry the EU, strengthening our position and failing to do so would be both incompetent and weak.”
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