Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
World
Home / World / Europe

May demands 'respect' from EU over Brexit talks

By Wang Mingjie in London | China Daily | Updated: 2018-09-21 20:15
Share
Share - WeChat
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement on Brexit negotiations with the European Union at Number 10 Downing Street, London Sept 21, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

British Prime Minister Theresa May has demanded that the European Union treat the United Kingdom with "respect" in the on-going Brexit negotiations, as she delivered a statement at Downing Street the day after the Salzburg summit, where EU leaders rejected her proposals for Britain's exit from the bloc, known as the Chequers plan.

May also defended the result of the 2016 public referendum which put Britain on the path to Brexit, and rejected any suggestion that Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom but not part of the British mainland, should remain in any kind of customs union post-Brexit.

"Throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it," she said.

"At this late stage in the negotiations, it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side's proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals."

Her lack of success so far has seen some opponents call for a second referendum, or a public vote on whatever Brexit terms the government can come up with, but she defended the outcome of the 2016 vote, where 52 percent of those who took part voted for the country to leave the EU, an issue which has dominated British politics ever since.

"The referendum was the largest democratic exercise this country has ever undergone. To deny its legitimacy or frustrate its result threatens public trust in our democracy," she said.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the back entrance of 10 Downing Street in London, Sept 21, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

One of the main sticking points of Brexit talks has been the issue of Northern Ireland, which shares a border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member.

There is currently no hard border between the two territories, but this will be a major issue when Britain has left. However, May was quick to dismiss the EU's proposal to keep Northern Ireland inside any post-Brexit customs union. "As I have already said, that is unacceptable," she said. "We will never agree to it. It would mean breaking up our country. We will set out our alternative that preserves the integrity of the UK."

Among other British political parties, the Liberal Democrats were the first to respond to the statement. Tom Brake, the party's Brexit spokesman, said: "Instead of pontificating to television cameras, May must now recall Parliament to explain how she got the country into this terrible mess, what her plan is to get us out of it, and when we can have a people’s vote and an exit from Brexit."

May faces plenty of opposition to her Brexit proposals from within her own Conservative Party, most notably from a so-called hard Brexit group, known as the European Research Group.

"It is time for the government to start putting forward as its plan a Canada-style free trade agreement for the whole of the UK," said the group's chair, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

"This is the most realistic approach and similar to the EU's proposal. On the matter of the UK's border with Ireland, the EU can have the solutions proposed by the European Reform Group that respect the integrity of the single market and which have been supported by the Democratic Unionists (the Northern Irish party who support May's minority government)," he said.

Business leaders greeted May's announcement with caution. Carolyn Fairbairn, director of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "Rejection of Chequers helps nobody. Pragmatism must come before politics. Every day lost in rhetoric is lost investment and lost jobs."

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "While the Prime Minister's determination to reach a deal is appreciated, businesses tell us over and over that the time for posturing from both sides is over.

Chequers Brexit fudge is sold on a stand during the UKIP party conference in Birmingham, Britain Sept 21, 2018. [Photo/Agencies]

"Many firms are hugely worried about a messy and disorderly outcome, and the potential impact on their ability to trade and grow. Others could be caught flat-footed. Both sides must make every effort to avoid this scenario," he added.

Laura Kuenssberg, BBC's Political Editor, said May has demonstrated "stern tone, strong words", demanding respect, but she is not convinced that the rhetoric will do much to change the situation with the EU. Kuenssberg believes tougher tone will please some in her party, who criticized May for a lack of leadership.

On the currency markets, May's comment that negotiations with the EU had reached an "impasse" saw the pound suffer, being down 1.5 percent against the dollar at one point, and on course for its biggest one-day slump of the year so far.

Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 久久91精品国产91久久| 国产一区二区三区手机在线观看 | xxxcom在线观看| 欧美va天堂在线影院| 办公室开档情趣内衣做爽视频| 日韩在线视频精品| 四虎影院永久免费观看| 18禁无遮挡羞羞污污污污免费| 岛国精品在线观看| 久久精品视频久久| 波多野结衣影视作品| 又粗又长又色又爽视频| 麻豆精品一区二区三区免费| 国产香港明星裸体XXXX视频| 一级毛片直接看| 日本精品少妇一区二区三区 | 免费动漫人物扑克软件网站| 蜜桃成熟时1997在线看免费看 | 中文字幕无线码一区二区| 极品粉嫩嫩模大尺度无码视频| 亚洲美女黄视频| 精品视频一区二区三区免费| 国产在线国偷精品免费看| 5566中文字幕| 天天干天天操天天干| 中文乱码人妻系列一区二区| 日韩欧美一区二区三区免费观看| 亚洲成av人片高潮喷水| 玉蒲团之偷情宝鉴电影| 嘿嘿嘿视频免费网站在线观看| 麻豆md传媒md00中国| 国产精品久久香蕉免费播放| 99久久精品国产一区二区三区| 巨胸喷奶水视频www免费视频| 久久亚洲中文字幕精品有坂深雪 | 日本精品一二三区| 成人高清毛片a| 国产人妖XXXX做受视频| 免费观看午夜在线欧差毛片| 亚洲校园春色另类激情| 久久精品99国产精品日本|