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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| General election 2019: Don't give up on stopping Brexit - Tusk | General election 2019: Don't give up on stopping Brexit - Tusk |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk has urged British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit. | Outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk has urged British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit. |
| As campaigning ramps up ahead of next month's general election, he warned that leaving the EU would leave the UK a "second-rate player". | As campaigning ramps up ahead of next month's general election, he warned that leaving the EU would leave the UK a "second-rate player". |
| In a speech, he also said Brexit would likely mark the "real end of the British Empire". | In a speech, he also said Brexit would likely mark the "real end of the British Empire". |
| He is due to step down from his role next month, having held the post for five years. | He is due to step down from his role next month, having held the post for five years. |
| Mr Tusk's intervention comes as Conservative leader Boris Johnson said the UK Parliament was "paralysed" and had refused "time and again to honour the mandate of the people and to deliver Brexit". | Mr Tusk's intervention comes as Conservative leader Boris Johnson said the UK Parliament was "paralysed" and had refused "time and again to honour the mandate of the people and to deliver Brexit". |
| Meanwhile, the UK has continued to refuse to put forward a candidate for the next European Commission, which is due to take office next month if approved by MEPs. | Meanwhile, the UK has continued to refuse to put forward a candidate for the next European Commission, which is due to take office next month if approved by MEPs. |
| The BBC understands the UK's EU ambassador has written to the Commission saying that a candidate will not be put forward due to the election. | The BBC understands the UK's EU ambassador has written to the Commission saying that a candidate will not be put forward due to the election. |
| In the letter, Sir Tim Barrow is understood to say pre-election rules prevented ministers from putting forward nominees for jobs at EU institutions until after polling day. | In the letter, Sir Tim Barrow is understood to say pre-election rules prevented ministers from putting forward nominees for jobs at EU institutions until after polling day. |
| However, he is understood to have insisted the UK does not want to stop the Commission being formed as soon as possible. | However, he is understood to have insisted the UK does not want to stop the Commission being formed as soon as possible. |
| Mr Johnson is hoping to win a majority in 12 December's election so that he can take the UK out of the EU on 31 January with the deal he negotiated with Brussels. | |
| But Labour is promising to renegotiate that deal and put it to a referendum, with the option of remaining in the EU, if it wins the election - and smaller opposition parties are campaigning to Remain. | But Labour is promising to renegotiate that deal and put it to a referendum, with the option of remaining in the EU, if it wins the election - and smaller opposition parties are campaigning to Remain. |
| Brexit 'extra time' | Brexit 'extra time' |
| Speaking at the College of Europe in Bruges, Mr Tusk said: "Brexit may happen at the beginning of next year. | Speaking at the College of Europe in Bruges, Mr Tusk said: "Brexit may happen at the beginning of next year. |
| "I did everything in my power to avoid the confrontational no-deal scenario and extend the time for reflection and a possible British change of heart". | "I did everything in my power to avoid the confrontational no-deal scenario and extend the time for reflection and a possible British change of heart". |
| "The UK election takes place in one month. Can things still be turned around? | "The UK election takes place in one month. Can things still be turned around? |
| "The only words that come to my mind today are simply: Don't give up. | "The only words that come to my mind today are simply: Don't give up. |
| "In this match, we had added time, we are already in extra time, perhaps it will even go to penalties?" | "In this match, we had added time, we are already in extra time, perhaps it will even go to penalties?" |
| Donald Tusk's term of office ends in a few weeks' time. | Donald Tusk's term of office ends in a few weeks' time. |
| Which means he's prepared to brave accusations that he's interfering in the general election. | Which means he's prepared to brave accusations that he's interfering in the general election. |
| And that he feels free to challenge the sense developing among the rest of the EU, that it would be better if the UK left as soon as possible. | And that he feels free to challenge the sense developing among the rest of the EU, that it would be better if the UK left as soon as possible. |
| Speaking at the College of Europe in Bruges tonight, he quoted the philosopher Hannah Arendt to encourage those campaigning for Britain to remain. | Speaking at the College of Europe in Bruges tonight, he quoted the philosopher Hannah Arendt to encourage those campaigning for Britain to remain. |
| His message was simply not to give up. | His message was simply not to give up. |
| The EU has accepted an extension to the Brexit deadline, meaning the UK is now due to leave at the end of January 2020. | The EU has accepted an extension to the Brexit deadline, meaning the UK is now due to leave at the end of January 2020. |
| Mr Tusk has repeatedly hinted he would like to see the UK stay in the bloc - but his comments, in the midst of an election campaign - are likely to be controversial. | Mr Tusk has repeatedly hinted he would like to see the UK stay in the bloc - but his comments, in the midst of an election campaign - are likely to be controversial. |
| He acknowledged this in his speech, adding his remarks were "something I wouldn't have dared to say a few months ago, as I could be fired for being too frank". | He acknowledged this in his speech, adding his remarks were "something I wouldn't have dared to say a few months ago, as I could be fired for being too frank". |
| He added that a "longing for the Empire" could be heard in the voices of Brexiteers who strive to make the UK "global again" through leaving the EU. | He added that a "longing for the Empire" could be heard in the voices of Brexiteers who strive to make the UK "global again" through leaving the EU. |
| "But the reality is exactly the opposite. Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role," he added. | "But the reality is exactly the opposite. Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role," he added. |
| "One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy that Brexit is the real end of the British Empire." | "One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy that Brexit is the real end of the British Empire." |
| Mr Tusk is due to stand down from his role on 1 December, when he will be replaced by former Belgian PM Charles Michel. | Mr Tusk is due to stand down from his role on 1 December, when he will be replaced by former Belgian PM Charles Michel. |