On Wednesday, May’s spokeswoman said the two leaders would not only talk Brexit, but would also discuss issues on the agenda for the October meeting of European Union leaders, suggesting that Britain still plans to play a role.
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The talks at No 10 come after the Prime Minister faced accusations of vagueness and contradiction over the Government’s position on remaining in the European single market.
British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Union president Donald Tusk on Thursday held their first formal bilateral meeting on the country s exit from the bloc, with the United Kingdom leader reaffirming she will not launch Brexit talks this year.
In a speech made on Monday in the House of Commons, David Davis – the Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union – confirmed that following the vote by the British population to leave the EU, the United Kingdom will not “attempt to stay in the EU by the back door”.
May also told Tusk that Britain would be a “strong player” while it remained in the European Union, and would continue to stand firm on sanctions against Russian Federation over its action in neighbouring Ukraine.
Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn said there was “huge uncertainty” and an “extraordinary lack of planning”, warning also about rising levels of hate crimes against European Union immigrants.
Britain has set up a trade working group with India to press ahead with its post-Brexit negotiations, United Kingdom minister for worldwide trade Liam Fox said today.
While the government says it can do the groundwork, Britain cannot formally sign trade agreements until it leaves the EU, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said EU member states should not even negotiate deals while still part of the bloc.
“And let me be clear: I don’t believe there is any deal that [UK Prime Minister Theresa] May can do that will be better for Britain than being a member of the EU”.
Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, has told United Kingdom prime minister Theresa May to invoke Article 50 as soon as possible so the two parties can begin formal negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU. “We will not take decisions until we are ready, we will not reveal our hand prematurely, and we will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of negotiation”. “I was asked about the viability of negotiating a separate trade deal between the US and the U.K”.
“That relationship will include control of the movement of people coming to the U.K. And it will include the right deal for trade in goods and services”.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May will face a grilling from MPs today following concerns over an agreed Brexit strategy.
Mr Duncan Smith yesterday demanded that the Government does not compromise on immigration controls during the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “This Government isn’t concealing its hand – it hasn’t got a hand or, it would appear, a clue”.
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“It is in all our interests that there is a smooth departure, that we continue to work together, albeit with the United Kingdom on the outside, about how we can deliver economic growth, make sure that economic benefits are being spread around the country”, her spokeswoman said.
