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| Merkel and Hollande warn May that UK faces 'rough' ride with hard Brexit | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Theresa May has been given a stark warning from both Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande that Britain faces a “rough” and “hard” negotiation as she pursues a tough approach to Brexit negotiations including a clampdown on immigration. | Theresa May has been given a stark warning from both Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande that Britain faces a “rough” and “hard” negotiation as she pursues a tough approach to Brexit negotiations including a clampdown on immigration. |
| The prime minister updated her fellow leaders with a short speech on Britain’s plans for leaving the EU after a dinner of scallops, lamb and iced vanilla parfait in Brussels that had been dominated by a tense debate on Russia. | The prime minister updated her fellow leaders with a short speech on Britain’s plans for leaving the EU after a dinner of scallops, lamb and iced vanilla parfait in Brussels that had been dominated by a tense debate on Russia. |
| No EU leader responded to May, following the lead of the European council president, Donald Tusk, who had wanted to avoid discussion of Brexit. | No EU leader responded to May, following the lead of the European council president, Donald Tusk, who had wanted to avoid discussion of Brexit. |
| Speaking after the summit, Merkel said the speech repeated what EU leaders already knew but was nevertheless important. | Speaking after the summit, Merkel said the speech repeated what EU leaders already knew but was nevertheless important. |
| “As long as Great Britain hadn’t concluded the negotiations it will continue to be a member with all the rights and duties that entails and that was a very good piece of news for us,” she said. | “As long as Great Britain hadn’t concluded the negotiations it will continue to be a member with all the rights and duties that entails and that was a very good piece of news for us,” she said. |
| But she added a warning on negotiations: “It is going to be rough going I think. It will not be that easy. But what she said today is OK.” | But she added a warning on negotiations: “It is going to be rough going I think. It will not be that easy. But what she said today is OK.” |
| Earlier in the day the French president said the EU was prepared to make things difficult for the UK if May pursued a tough approach to Brexit negotiations. | Earlier in the day the French president said the EU was prepared to make things difficult for the UK if May pursued a tough approach to Brexit negotiations. |
| “I said very firmly: Theresa May wants a hard Brexit? The negotiation will be hard,” said Hollande. | “I said very firmly: Theresa May wants a hard Brexit? The negotiation will be hard,” said Hollande. |
| Tusk repeated the EU’s well-worn line that no negotiations would start until May triggered article 50, the EU exit process. He made clear he would prefer the UK to remain in the union, while stressing he respected the decision of British voters. | Tusk repeated the EU’s well-worn line that no negotiations would start until May triggered article 50, the EU exit process. He made clear he would prefer the UK to remain in the union, while stressing he respected the decision of British voters. |
| The question of whether Brexit was reversible or not was in British hands, he said. “I’d be the happiest one if it is reversible but now we have to start our formal works and negotiations.” | The question of whether Brexit was reversible or not was in British hands, he said. “I’d be the happiest one if it is reversible but now we have to start our formal works and negotiations.” |
| But the British prime minister and Conservative leader, who angered some EU leaders with her uncompromising party conference speech, received a frostier reception from Martin Schulz. | But the British prime minister and Conservative leader, who angered some EU leaders with her uncompromising party conference speech, received a frostier 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 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 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. |
| May was given just 15 minutes to discuss the issue with all her European partners on Thursday evening during their dinner. The prime minister had been expected to strike a firm but also conciliatory tone, insisting there would be no rerun of Britain’s EU referendum while also making clear she did not want Brexit to weaken the bloc. | May was given just 15 minutes to discuss the issue with all her European partners on Thursday evening during their dinner. The prime minister had been expected to strike a firm but also conciliatory tone, insisting there would be no rerun of Britain’s EU referendum while also making clear she did not want Brexit to weaken the bloc. |
| She was expected to also tell partners they stood 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 was slated to say. “We’ve always been probably the most difficult partner inside the EU. We are not a brake on you.” | She was expected to also tell partners they stood 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 was slated to 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 European colleagues had asked about the tough tone of the Conservative conference but insisted many understood May had been addressing her own political party. | In an interview with the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, Kamall admitted European colleagues had asked about the tough tone of the Conservative conference but insisted many understood May had been addressing her own 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 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 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. |