This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hard-brexit-no-latest-soft-eu-referendum-donald-tusk-theresa-may-britain-a7360406.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hard Brexit or no Brexit are only options, says EU council president You can have 'hard Brexit' or no Brexit at all, EU council president warns UK
(about 13 hours later)
The only alternative to a “hard Brexit” is no Brexit, European Council president Donald Tusk has warned Theresa May. Britain has to choose between a "hard Brexit" or no Brexit at all, the president of the European Council has warned, dismissing one of the key claims of the Leave campaign that the UK could "have its cake and eat it".
In a strongly-worded intervention, Mr Tusk insisted that the UK would not be able to retain the benefits of EU membership after Brexit and the only alternative is the UK remaining within the EU. Donald Tusk set out "the brutal truth" of what the decision of the June referendum meant for the continent's future, describing the push against Theresa May by MPs in the House of Commons for a "soft Brexit" as "useless".
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Tusk said the proposals for leaving the European Union outlined in the referendum campaign meant radically loosening ties with the rest of the bloc - a “de facto hard Brexit”. He said there could be "no compromises" on retaining benefits such as access to the single market and customs union, while rejecting the free movement of people. Mr Tusk will be the chair of all summits between EU leaders to discuss Brexit negotiations.
He warned that the process would be “painful” and predicted both the UK and EU would lose out as a result of Brexit. "In my opinion the only real alternative to a hard Brexit is no Brexit, even if today hardly anyone believes in such a possibility," Mr Tusk told policymakers in Brussels.
But he insisted there could be “no compromises” over single-market access, stressing that freedom of movement would remain a condition - despite claims from Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson that he expected European leaders to back down. The speech at the European Policy Centre appeared to be aimed largely at worried EU leadership, who have made clear that Britain must suffer from its decision to leave if the rest of the bloc is to survive.
Mr Tusk told the European Policy Centre that the Brexit campaign's demand to “take back control” - with the UK outside EU jurisdiction, no freedom of movement and no contributions to Brussels' budget - had “definitive consequences” for the Government and the negotiation process. Mr Tusk said the process would indeed be "in the first instance, painful for Britons", but he also said it will be "a loss for everyone" concerned.
“This means a de facto will to radically loosen relations with the EU, something that goes by the name of hard Brexit. Speaking at the European Policy Centre, he said the Leave campaign's mantra of "take back control" had “definitive consequences” for the Government and the negotiation process.
“This scenario will, in the first instance, be painful for Britons.” “This means a de facto will to radically loosen relations with the EU, something that goes by the name of hard Brexit," he said.
He dismissed Mr Johnson's “cake philosophy” - being “pro-having it and pro-eating it” - as “pure illusion”. He dismissed the now-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's “cake philosophy” - being “pro-having it and pro-eating it” - as “pure illusion”.
“The brutal truth is that Brexit will be a loss for all of us,” Mr Tusk said. “There will be no cakes on the table for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.”“The brutal truth is that Brexit will be a loss for all of us,” Mr Tusk said. “There will be no cakes on the table for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.”
Mr Tusk said it was “useless to speculate about soft Brexit”, where the UK would retain the closest possible ties to the bloc after leaving.Mr Tusk said it was “useless to speculate about soft Brexit”, where the UK would retain the closest possible ties to the bloc after leaving.
“In my opinion the only real alternative to a hard Brexit is no Brexit, even if today hardly anyone believes in such a possibility,” he told the European Policy Centre.
He said he would defend the interests of the 27 remaining members of the EU but “I am afraid that no such outcome exists that will benefit either side”.He said he would defend the interests of the 27 remaining members of the EU but “I am afraid that no such outcome exists that will benefit either side”.
Mr Tusk held open the possibility of the UK going back on the referendum result, saying it would be for the UK to assess the outcome of the negotiations and “determine if Brexit is really in their interest”. And in an extraordinary intervention, he seemed to suggest there was still hope for Britain to reverse the referendum decision.
The council president added that other EU leaders would be sympathetic if the UK Government reversed the Brexit decision. Mr Tusk said it would be for the UK to assess the outcome of the negotiations and “determine if Brexit is really in their interest”.
The council president added that other EU leaders would be sympathetic if the Government decided to climb down from the Brexit brink.
“If we have a chance to reverse this negative process, we will find allies,” he said.“If we have a chance to reverse this negative process, we will find allies,” he said.
 
Mr Tusk said the Article 50 process could be halted by Ms May's Government even once it had been triggered.Mr Tusk said the Article 50 process could be halted by Ms May's Government even once it had been triggered.
His comments came as Mr Johnson came under fire after suggesting that Britain can get a Brexit trade deal that is “of greater value” to the UK economy than access to the EU single market.His comments came as Mr Johnson came under fire after suggesting that Britain can get a Brexit trade deal that is “of greater value” to the UK economy than access to the EU single market.
The Foreign Secretary told MPs that the concept of the single market was “increasingly useless”, as the UK sought to extend its trade links around the world.The Foreign Secretary told MPs that the concept of the single market was “increasingly useless”, as the UK sought to extend its trade links around the world.
But critics of “hard Brexit” warned that loss of access would harm British businesses by denying them a marketplace of 500 million consumers free of tariffs and regulatory obstacles to trade.But critics of “hard Brexit” warned that loss of access would harm British businesses by denying them a marketplace of 500 million consumers free of tariffs and regulatory obstacles to trade.
Giving evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Johnson conceded that negotiating a new relationship might take longer than the two years envisaged under Article 50 of the EU treaties. But he insisted he was “absolutely confident” that a good deal would be reached.Giving evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Johnson conceded that negotiating a new relationship might take longer than the two years envisaged under Article 50 of the EU treaties. But he insisted he was “absolutely confident” that a good deal would be reached.
Mr Tusk also suggested the timetable was “optimistic”, adding “I think the process will be much longer than two years.”Mr Tusk also suggested the timetable was “optimistic”, adding “I think the process will be much longer than two years.”
Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, Conservative former minister Anna Soubry, of the Open Britain campaign, said: “If there's a deal of 'greater value' out there than single market membership, then businesses and economists have not come across it. The Government needs to provide concrete evidence before it pulls us out of our home market of 500 million customers.”Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, Conservative former minister Anna Soubry, of the Open Britain campaign, said: “If there's a deal of 'greater value' out there than single market membership, then businesses and economists have not come across it. The Government needs to provide concrete evidence before it pulls us out of our home market of 500 million customers.”
Mr Johnson said he thought Britain had done “the right thing” in voting to leave the EU on June 23, and told the committee: “I think those who prophesied doom before the referendum have been proved wrong and I think they will continue to be proved wrong.Mr Johnson said he thought Britain had done “the right thing” in voting to leave the EU on June 23, and told the committee: “I think those who prophesied doom before the referendum have been proved wrong and I think they will continue to be proved wrong.
“Obviously it will take time before the full benefits of Brexit appear.”“Obviously it will take time before the full benefits of Brexit appear.”
He insisted that Britain can remain a “lodestar and magnet” for talented migrants from around the globe even after it introduces tougher immigration rules following Brexit.He insisted that Britain can remain a “lodestar and magnet” for talented migrants from around the globe even after it introduces tougher immigration rules following Brexit.
And he suggested he expects European leaders to back down on their insistence that access to the single market is dependent on allowing free movement of people.And he suggested he expects European leaders to back down on their insistence that access to the single market is dependent on allowing free movement of people.
“The idea that the Brownian movement of individuals, of citizens across the surface of Europe, is somehow there on tablets of stone in Brussels is a complete nonsense,” said Mr Johnson. “It's a fiction.“The idea that the Brownian movement of individuals, of citizens across the surface of Europe, is somehow there on tablets of stone in Brussels is a complete nonsense,” said Mr Johnson. “It's a fiction.
“We are taking back control of our borders as we said we would, and that's what we will do.“We are taking back control of our borders as we said we would, and that's what we will do.
“It doesn't mean that we are going to be hostile to people of talent who want to live and work here. I think it is extremely important that we continue to send out a signal of openness and welcome to the many brilliant people who help to drive the London economy and the UK economy.”“It doesn't mean that we are going to be hostile to people of talent who want to live and work here. I think it is extremely important that we continue to send out a signal of openness and welcome to the many brilliant people who help to drive the London economy and the UK economy.”
Press Association Additional reporting by agencies