This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/22/second-brexit-referendum-eight-eu-pms-deny-backing-liberal-democrats

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
EU leaders deny statement backing second Brexit referendum Lib Dems embarrassed as EU leaders deny Brexit statement
(about 4 hours later)
Eight liberal prime ministers have denied issuing a provocative joint statement put out by the Liberal Democrats, backing a referendum on the final Brexit deal. Vince Cable has faced embarrassment in Brussels as eight liberal prime ministers denied issuing a provocative joint statement put out by the Liberal Democrats that backed a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
The party said the prime ministers, including the Netherlands’ Mark Rutte and Belgium’s Charles Michel, had met the Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable, in Brussels before the EU summit and agreed an extraordinary joint statement backing the Lib Dem policy that the British public should be given the chance to vote on whatever deal Theresa May reaches with the EU. The party said the prime ministers, including the Netherlands’ Mark Rutte and Belgium’s Charles Michel, had met Cable before the EU summit and agreed an extraordinary joint statement backing the Lib Dem policy that the British public should be given the chance to vote on whatever deal Theresa May reaches with the EU.
However, shortly after the statement was released, the ALDE group of liberal parties in Europe said: “No statement has been agreed upon or released.” However, shortly after the statement was released, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) of liberal parties in Europe said: “No statement has been agreed upon or released.”
Cable was in Brussels as Theresa May arrived to urge EU leaders to adopt a “dynamic” new approach to Brexit talks.
The Lib Dems said the statement had been signed by Rutte and Michel as well as Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel. It is understood that Michel did not attend the meeting with Cable.The Lib Dems said the statement had been signed by Rutte and Michel as well as Luxembourg’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel. It is understood that Michel did not attend the meeting with Cable.
The Czech Republic’s Andrej Babiš, Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Estonia’s Jüri Ratas and Finland’s Juha Sipilä were also reported to have signed. The Lib Dems also cited Slovenia’s Miro Cerar, who recently resigned as prime minister. The Czech Republic’s Andrej Babiš, Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Estonia’s Jüri Ratas and Finland’s Juha Sipilä were reported to have signed too. The Lib Dems also cited Slovenia’s Miro Cerar, who recently resigned as prime minister.
The statement said the leaders “regret Brexit” and said they “acknowledge and support the Liberal Democrats’ call for the British people to have the final say on the Brexit deal”.The statement said the leaders “regret Brexit” and said they “acknowledge and support the Liberal Democrats’ call for the British people to have the final say on the Brexit deal”.
Cable, who had a working lunch with the leaders in Brussels, had heralded the statement as the clearest signal yet that Brexit was “not inevitable” and European countries would allow the UK to withdraw from the Brexit process, though there is no sign Britain would pursue that and May has repeatedly ruled out a further referendum. Cable, who had a working lunch with the leaders in Brussels, heralded the statement as the clearest signal yet that Brexit was “not inevitable” and European countries would allow the UK to withdraw from the Brexit process, though there is no sign Britain would pursue that and May has repeatedly ruled out a further referendum.
“Polls show that there is a growing desire among the British public for a vote on the terms of the deal,” Cable said. “People can now be reassured that there is no desire among EU leaders to punish us if we decided to remain in the bloc.“Trump is expected to back down from trade sanctions on Europe – this shows the negotiating power of sticking together with EU member states. The throwaway phrase of ‘going it alone’ is a nonsense.” Rutte told reporters after his meeting with Cable that if Britainchanged its position on leaving the EU, it would be highly welcomed by “almost everyone in the European Union”.
Rutte told reporters after his meeting with Cable that “if Britain would decide to change its position it would be highly welcome by all the Liberal prime ministers, my impression is also almost everyone in the European Union”. He added: “Of course, whether that happens is up to the UK itself and UK politicians, but I am very happy my friend Vince Cable and his party are very much pleading for a discussion with the UK to make that happen.”
“Of course, whether that happens is up to the UK itself and UK politicians, but I am very happy my friend Vince Cable and his party are very much pleading for a discussion with the UK to make that happen,” he added. Lib Dem sources said Cable had gained a verbal agreement from the EU leaders at the meeting and believed they had agreed to a joint statement. However, in a statement less than an hour later, ALDE said that although leaders had showed their support for Cable, nothing formal had been agreed.
Lib Dem sources said Cable had gained a verbal agreement from the EU leaders at the meeting and believed they had agreed to a joint statement.
However, in a statement less than an hour later, the ALDE group said that although leaders had showed their support for Cable, nothing formal had been agreed.
“If there would have been such a statement issued by the ALDE party, it would have been done in their capacity as party leaders, not as prime ministers,” ALDE said.“If there would have been such a statement issued by the ALDE party, it would have been done in their capacity as party leaders, not as prime ministers,” ALDE said.
Meanwhile UK officials insisted there would be no second referendum, and Brexit would go ahead as planned in March 2019.
Leaders of the EU27 were expected to confirm formally on Friday that they have agreed the Brexit transition deal, allowing talks to move on to Britain’s future relationship.
May told her fellow leaders over dinner: “We have the chance, now, to create a new dynamic in the talks. To work together to explore workable solutions – in Northern Ireland, in our future security cooperation, and in order to secure the future prosperity of our people.”
Officials also insisted they are confident a deal can be reached on avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland, once negotiations move beyond the withdrawal agreement.
“Once we move on to talking about the future partnership that is where we believe the solution for Northern Ireland will be found,” a UK official said. But they rejected reports that the EU has set a three-month deadline for resolving it.
“Both the EU and ourselves have said that we’re working towards October.”
The prime minister planned to leave Brussels on Thursday night, with discussions on Brexit continuing in her absence on Friday.
BrexitBrexit
Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats
Vince CableVince Cable
European UnionEuropean Union
Foreign policyForeign policy
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content