May’s political deal has ‘unicorns in place of facts’
Prime minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street Photo: PA / David Mirzoeff - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
By hook and probably by crook, Theresa May has finally secured a deal with the European Union.
The proposed political declaration on future EU/UK relations has been agreed in draft form and given the nod 'in principle at political level'.
The announcement clears the way for a special Brexit summit to go ahead in Brussels on Sunday, when leaders of the 27 remaining EU states are expected to give their stamp of approval to the declaration alongside the 585-page withdrawal agreement setting out the terms of the UK's departure.
READ: 'Dud's Army!' - ERG's panel of 'old white men' had combined age of 458
But the agreement got far from a rousing reception. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said 'lots of unicorns taking the place of facts about the future relationship'.
'Fair play to the EU for pushing it as far as possible, but it adds up to a blindfold Brexit,' she added.
You may also want to watch:
'Difficult issues unresolved - so extended transition/backstop almost certain.'
It follows a meeting in Brussels between the prime minister and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, and is the first indication that the pair reached political agreement in principle on the text.
Most Read
- 1 Nigel Farage loses nearly 50,000 followers after Twitter suspends QAnon accounts
- 2 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
- 3 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 4 What Auf Wiedersehen, Pet teaches us about Britain and Europe
- 5 Fifteen ways to fix Britain
- 6 The rocky road to Rejoin
- 7 Michel Barnier tells UK to be 'very careful' in Brexit diplomatic status row
- 8 The polling that signals the plight of the Union
- 9 ‘Don’t haste ye back’ - Nicola Sturgeon's perfect farewell message to Donald Trump
- 10 Brexiteer says he'd never have voted for Brexit 'if we knew we'd lose our jobs'
Downing Street has repeatedly made clear that agreement is needed on the future framework – setting out aspirations in areas like trade and security co-operation and believed to run to a few dozen pages - in order to press ahead with the legally-binding withdrawal agreement.
In a tweet, Tusk said: 'I have just sent to EU27 a draft Political Declaration on the Future Relationship between EU and UK.
'The commission president has informed me that it has been agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level, subject to the endorsement of the leaders.'
Speaking outside Number 10, May said: 'This is the right deal for the UK. It delivers on the vote of the referendum, it brings back control of our borders, our money and our laws and it does so while protecting jobs, protecting our security and protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom.'
MORE: Lib Dem MP: 'I will back Theresa May's Brexit deal'
MORE: IAIN DALE: I voted Leave but would rather stay in the EU than accept this awful deal
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
