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| UK will get a tough time if May pursues hard Brexit – Hollande | UK will get a tough time if May pursues hard Brexit – Hollande |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May has been issued a warning from the French president that the EU is prepared to make things difficult for the UK if she pursues a tough approach to Brexit negotiations including a stringent clampdown on immigration. | Theresa May has been issued a warning from the French president that the EU is prepared to make things difficult for the UK if she pursues a tough approach to Brexit negotiations including a stringent clampdown on immigration. |
| “I said very firmly. Theresa May wants a hard Brexit? The negotiation will be hard,” said François Hollande at the European council meeting in Brussels – the British prime minister’s first. | “I said very firmly. Theresa May wants a hard Brexit? The negotiation will be hard,” said François Hollande at the European council meeting in Brussels – the British prime minister’s first. |
| May, who angered some with an uncompromising speech at the Conservative party conference in which she insisted that free movement would end and Britain would withdraw from the European court of justice, also faced a frosty reception from Martin Schulz. | May, who angered some with an uncompromising speech at the Conservative party conference in which she insisted that free movement would end and Britain would withdraw from the European court of justice, also faced a frosty reception from Martin Schulz. |
| The president of the European parliament used a speech to all 28 European leaders, including May, to warn that any restrictions on immigration would mean an economic cost for the UK. | The president of the European parliament used a speech to all 28 European leaders, including May, to warn that any restrictions on immigration would mean an economic cost for the UK. |
| “I refuse to imagine a Europe where lorries and hedge funds are free to cross borders but citizens are not,” he said. | “I refuse to imagine a Europe where lorries and hedge funds are free to cross borders but citizens are not,” he said. |
| Schulz argued that it would be a “serious mistake” for the European parliament to be treated as an obstacle rather than a partner in the Brexit process and said the “principle of no negotiation” until article 50 was triggered remained firm. | Schulz argued that it would be a “serious mistake” for the European parliament to be treated as an obstacle rather than a partner in the Brexit process and said the “principle of no negotiation” until article 50 was triggered remained firm. |
| “I would like to underline to you a few points on which an overwhelming majority in the European parliament expects you to stand firm when designing the EU’s future relationship with the UK,” he told the leaders. | “I would like to underline to you a few points on which an overwhelming majority in the European parliament expects you to stand firm when designing the EU’s future relationship with the UK,” he told the leaders. |
| “Firstly, a very simple principle which must be the basis for all our subsequent work: the best possible deal with the EU is membership of the EU. Any other arrangement necessarily entails trade-offs. | “Firstly, a very simple principle which must be the basis for all our subsequent work: the best possible deal with the EU is membership of the EU. Any other arrangement necessarily entails trade-offs. |
| “Secondly, the fundamental freedoms are inseparable, ie no freedom of movement for goods, capital and services, without free movement of persons.” | “Secondly, the fundamental freedoms are inseparable, ie no freedom of movement for goods, capital and services, without free movement of persons.” |
| European leaders are determined that Brexit will not feature as a major part of talks at this council meeting, which will be largely focused on the refugee crisis and tackling Russian aggression. | European leaders are determined that Brexit will not feature as a major part of talks at this council meeting, which will be largely focused on the refugee crisis and tackling Russian aggression. |
| However, May will be given just 15 minutes to discuss the issue with all her European partners on Thursday evening during their dinner of pan-fried scallops with broad bean mousseline and pearled oil, crown of lamb with roast fig and autumn vegetables, and iced vanilla parfait with a liquid honey centre and chestnut cream. The prime minister will seek to strike a firm but also conciliatory tone, insisting that there will be no rerun of Britain’s EU referendum, but also making clear that she does not want Brexit to weaken the bloc. | |
| She will also tell partners that they stand to benefit from an end to British demands for special deals. “That game is over, we are not going in for a new version of an even more special deal, we are out. We will have a different relationship and you can get on with your lives without us,” May will say. “We’ve always been probably the most difficult partner inside the EU. We are not a brake on you.” | She will also tell partners that they stand to benefit from an end to British demands for special deals. “That game is over, we are not going in for a new version of an even more special deal, we are out. We will have a different relationship and you can get on with your lives without us,” May will say. “We’ve always been probably the most difficult partner inside the EU. We are not a brake on you.” |
| Meanwhile, the leader of the Conservative group in the European parliament warned against over-interpreting the interventions of Hollande and Schulz. “This is posturing,” said Syed Kamall MEP. | Meanwhile, the leader of the Conservative group in the European parliament warned against over-interpreting the interventions of Hollande and Schulz. “This is posturing,” said Syed Kamall MEP. |
| In an interview with the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, Kamall admitted that European colleagues had asked about the tough tone of the Conservative conference, but insisted that many understood May was addressing her political party. | In an interview with the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, Kamall admitted that European colleagues had asked about the tough tone of the Conservative conference, but insisted that many understood May was addressing her political party. |
| “There are always politicians like Hollande playing to a domestic audience and then they come here, sit in a room and get on with negotiations in an amicable way,” he said. | “There are always politicians like Hollande playing to a domestic audience and then they come here, sit in a room and get on with negotiations in an amicable way,” he said. |
| Kamall said there had been a mix of views from colleagues across Europe on how best to respond to Britain’s decision to withdraw from the bloc. Some had told him they felt the UK was not likely to actually leave the EU. “And that is why Theresa May keeps saying Brexit means Brexit,” he said. | Kamall said there had been a mix of views from colleagues across Europe on how best to respond to Britain’s decision to withdraw from the bloc. Some had told him they felt the UK was not likely to actually leave the EU. “And that is why Theresa May keeps saying Brexit means Brexit,” he said. |
| There were others who reacted bullishly, arguing that they did not want to enter constructive talks, Kamall said. But he added that most politicians were prepared to have sensible discussions about reaching an outcome that would benefit both the EU and UK. | There were others who reacted bullishly, arguing that they did not want to enter constructive talks, Kamall said. But he added that most politicians were prepared to have sensible discussions about reaching an outcome that would benefit both the EU and UK. |
| In comments that placed the MEP at odds with the chancellor, Philip Hammond, he also said it was inevitable that Britain would withdraw from the customs union, suggesting it was necessary for Liam Fox’s cabinet role to be worthwhile. | In comments that placed the MEP at odds with the chancellor, Philip Hammond, he also said it was inevitable that Britain would withdraw from the customs union, suggesting it was necessary for Liam Fox’s cabinet role to be worthwhile. |
| “Because there would be no point in a department for international trade if we were to remain part of the customs union … If you are going to trade with the rest of the world, by definition you will not be part of the customs union,” he said. | “Because there would be no point in a department for international trade if we were to remain part of the customs union … If you are going to trade with the rest of the world, by definition you will not be part of the customs union,” he said. |
| He also said he was one of a number of figures in his party “outraged” by the suggestion at the Tory conference that companies should be made to list foreign workers. | He also said he was one of a number of figures in his party “outraged” by the suggestion at the Tory conference that companies should be made to list foreign workers. |
| Kamall said his response to the policy put forward by the home secretary, Amber Rudd, was to ask: “Where does this ridiculous idea come from? Was that her trying to prove how tough she was? Was that misreading the mood music of the referendum?” | Kamall said his response to the policy put forward by the home secretary, Amber Rudd, was to ask: “Where does this ridiculous idea come from? Was that her trying to prove how tough she was? Was that misreading the mood music of the referendum?” |
| He claimed that many Tories had expressed their anger directly to Rudd about the controversial policy, which has since been watered down. An initial suggestion that there would be “naming and shaming” of companies has been withdrawn and figures will only be held privately by the government. | He claimed that many Tories had expressed their anger directly to Rudd about the controversial policy, which has since been watered down. An initial suggestion that there would be “naming and shaming” of companies has been withdrawn and figures will only be held privately by the government. |
| “What was really heartening was how many fellow Conservatives were outraged by that speech, and actually I know she has had a lot of representations from Conservatives – either associations or MPs or even other cabinet ministers – asking her what her intention was behind that speech. It is interesting that has not been repeated,” Kamall added. | “What was really heartening was how many fellow Conservatives were outraged by that speech, and actually I know she has had a lot of representations from Conservatives – either associations or MPs or even other cabinet ministers – asking her what her intention was behind that speech. It is interesting that has not been repeated,” Kamall added. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was also in Brussels meeting his party’s MEPs, the Swedish prime minister and socialist counterparts from other countries. He said he was inviting leftwing leaders from across Europe to an alternative meeting on Brexit in London, arguing that he was disappointed by the lack of clarity from the government over Britain’s plans. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was also in Brussels meeting his party’s MEPs, the Swedish prime minister and socialist counterparts from other countries. He said he was inviting leftwing leaders from across Europe to an alternative meeting on Brexit in London, arguing that he was disappointed by the lack of clarity from the government over Britain’s plans. |
| “I’ve been trying to reach out to European leaders to say we want the closest possible relationship with Europe in the future while respecting the result of referendum,” he told Sky News. “We particularly want trade access, we particularly want to protect jobs in Britain. | “I’ve been trying to reach out to European leaders to say we want the closest possible relationship with Europe in the future while respecting the result of referendum,” he told Sky News. “We particularly want trade access, we particularly want to protect jobs in Britain. |