Theresa May has refused to say whether she wants the United Kingdom to remain within the European single market, telling MPs she will not reveal her Brexit negotiating hand “prematurely”.
Advertisement
But May is under strong pressure at home to define what a post-Brexit world would look like, and one of her key challenges would be renegotiating Britain’s access to world markets – an issue that Brussels now undertakes on its behalf. May, who became prime minister in July following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, and Mr. Tusk to establish a good working relationship.
May has signaled that she is in no rush to trigger the formal two-year round of exit talks with the other 27 members of the EU.
Brundtland served as Norway’s prime minister on three separate occasions (1981, 1986-89, and 1990-96) and campaigned to get Norway into the EU.
The PM and her ministers were accused of “waffle” by SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, while First Minister Nicola Sturgeon slammed them for using a “meaningless tautological soundbite” over concrete policy regarding Brexit.
May has insisted she will not reveal her negotiating hand “prematurely”.
Earlier this week the Prime Minister distanced herself from Brexit Secretary David Davis’s suggestion that it is “very improbable” the United Kingdom can regain control over its own borders while remaining part of the European single market.
“What we would like.is to have as full bilateral access to the European market as close as possible to what we have at the moment”, Browne said.
The president of the European council has told Theresa May “the ball is now in your court” as the pair discussed the Brexit process at Downing Street. In an article this morning he wrote: “I’m sorry to say that in her first PMQs in July, you put Theresa May under no pressure at all”.
Britain should start talks to leave the European Union as soon as possible, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday, adding weight to calls for Prime Minister Theresa May to get on with the formal divorce procedure.
“But we also want to get the best deal possible for trade in goods and services with the European Union, and I intend to go out there and be ambitious”.
Brundtland, who was unsure on the exact figures, said she expected the United Kingdom will have to pay up to twice as much as Norway to negotiate similar deals within the European Economic Area.
Asked whether the fact that Mr Davis was speaking at the despatch box meant his comments reflected Government policy, the spokeswoman said: “Saying something is probable or improbable I don’t think is necessarily a policy”.
May also told MPs that India, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore were also keen to remove trade barriers.
Advertisement
“You know what, I think 27 of the 28 member states are delighted that the United Kingdom buggers off from the European Union because you’re such a pain in the bottom, honestly, you’re a pain in the bottom”.
