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Hunt: We would regret no-deal Brexit for generations | Hunt: We would regret no-deal Brexit for generations |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said a no-deal Brexit "would be a mistake we would regret for generations", after a working tour of northern Europe. | Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said a no-deal Brexit "would be a mistake we would regret for generations", after a working tour of northern Europe. |
But he said he believed that other countries wanted to "engage seriously" to try to get a "pragmatic outcome". | But he said he believed that other countries wanted to "engage seriously" to try to get a "pragmatic outcome". |
He also told ITV News he did not rule out the UK accepting EU environmental and social legislation, in order to help get a free trade deal. | He also told ITV News he did not rule out the UK accepting EU environmental and social legislation, in order to help get a free trade deal. |
It comes as Brexit talks resumed in Brussels between UK and EU officials. | It comes as Brexit talks resumed in Brussels between UK and EU officials. |
There has been growing speculation about the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal in March 2019. | There has been growing speculation about the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal in March 2019. |
Mr Hunt later tweeted: "Important not to misrepresent my words. Britain would survive and prosper without a deal... but it would be a big mistake for Europe because of inevitable impact on long term partnership with UK." | |
He added that the UK would only sign up to a deal that respected the referendum result. | |
Bank of England governor Mark Carney said this month the possibility of the UK and EU failing to reach agreement on the terms of departure was "uncomfortably high". | Bank of England governor Mark Carney said this month the possibility of the UK and EU failing to reach agreement on the terms of departure was "uncomfortably high". |
He was criticised as "the high priest of Project Fear" by Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads the Tory pro-Brexit European Research Group. | He was criticised as "the high priest of Project Fear" by Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads the Tory pro-Brexit European Research Group. |
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a leading Brexiteer, has put the chance of failing to come to an agreement at "60-40", blaming the "intransigence" of the European Commission. | International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a leading Brexiteer, has put the chance of failing to come to an agreement at "60-40", blaming the "intransigence" of the European Commission. |
Mr Hunt told ITV he believed the government's plan was the "framework on which I believe the ultimate deal will be based". | Mr Hunt told ITV he believed the government's plan was the "framework on which I believe the ultimate deal will be based". |
But he said, although the UK must be "prepared for all outcomes", if the UK were to leave without a negotiated deal: "It would be a mistake we would regret for generations, if we were to see a fissure, if we had a messy, ugly divorce. | But he said, although the UK must be "prepared for all outcomes", if the UK were to leave without a negotiated deal: "It would be a mistake we would regret for generations, if we were to see a fissure, if we had a messy, ugly divorce. |
"Inevitably that would change British attitudes towards Europe." | "Inevitably that would change British attitudes towards Europe." |
He also said it was his job as foreign secretary to tell other governments that "the implications of not getting a deal are profound in terms of our friendship and co-operation with foreign countries across a whole range of areas". | He also said it was his job as foreign secretary to tell other governments that "the implications of not getting a deal are profound in terms of our friendship and co-operation with foreign countries across a whole range of areas". |
Asked if the UK would consider EU proposals that the UK should accept EU environmental and social legislation he said: "I think we have to see what their proposal was, some of those things can have an impact on the level playing field, some won't." | Asked if the UK would consider EU proposals that the UK should accept EU environmental and social legislation he said: "I think we have to see what their proposal was, some of those things can have an impact on the level playing field, some won't." |
The government has been touting its plans for Brexit agreed in July at Chequers - the prime minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire - to the EU and its leaders, including the French President Emmanuel Macron, whom Theresa May met at his summer retreat. | The government has been touting its plans for Brexit agreed in July at Chequers - the prime minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire - to the EU and its leaders, including the French President Emmanuel Macron, whom Theresa May met at his summer retreat. |
But the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier appeared to rule out a key UK proposal - allowing the UK to collect EU customs duties on its behalf - in July. | But the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier appeared to rule out a key UK proposal - allowing the UK to collect EU customs duties on its behalf - in July. |
Liam Fox said earlier this month: "It's up to the EU27 to determine whether they want the EU Commission's ideological purity to be maintained at the expense of their real economies." | Liam Fox said earlier this month: "It's up to the EU27 to determine whether they want the EU Commission's ideological purity to be maintained at the expense of their real economies." |
Brexit talks resumed in Brussels this week between UK and EU officials, focused on the Irish border - a key sticking point - and future relations. | Brexit talks resumed in Brussels this week between UK and EU officials, focused on the Irish border - a key sticking point - and future relations. |
A European Commission spokesman said: "As this week's round is at technical level there won't be a meeting between Michel Barnier and Dominic Raab. | A European Commission spokesman said: "As this week's round is at technical level there won't be a meeting between Michel Barnier and Dominic Raab. |
"We will confirm in due course whether a subsequent meeting has been arranged." | "We will confirm in due course whether a subsequent meeting has been arranged." |