Brexit: Conservatives must be as united as EU, says Hunt

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Reuters

Jeremy Hunt urged Conservative MPs to join Theresa May – despite hostile reactions to suggestions, the transition period to Brexit could be extended.

The foreign secretary said the "great strength" of other EU countries was that they remained united in the negotiations – and he urged the conservatives to do the same.

The Prime Minister had to "maximize his bargaining power in Brussels," he added.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has expressed concern over a longer transition period with No. 10.

Former leader Iain Duncan Smith said that he would see the UK pay the European Union "tens of billions" more.

He told BBC's Newsnight that he could not understand an extension when the UK "still got nothing in return" and said the negotiations "looked more like a capitulation. ".

The famous Brexiteer also claimed that the UK should participate in the next EU budget, adding: "It would be very difficult to tell the British people that we would extend the phase of the year or more. of implementation, and then we will pay tens of billions of pounds while we claim to need it for other national programs. "

But Mr Hunt said it was precisely because Ms May had not "capitulated" to the EU's demands, which had stated that no agreement had been reached. was found at this week's European Council summit.

And he told BBC Radio 4's Today show: "The EU's great strength in these negotiations lies in the fact that the 27 countries of the EU have remained united. do the same behind Theresa May to maximize her bargaining power in Brussels ".

Ms. May will later expose her vision of a UK-based Brexit to Asian leaders.

The Stena Line ferry company warned that a Brexit without an agreement could affect food supplies and allow traders to bypass Britain.

The current plan provides for a 21-month transition period to facilitate Brexit's move to the UK and future permanent EU relations.

However, as the two sides failed to reach an agreement after the EU summit of all its leaders this week, Ms May said the arrangement could be extended "by a few months", if necessary.

She also said that this could constitute an "additional solution" for seeking a "reinforcement" in order to avoid any hard borders in Ireland – a major point of disagreement in the negotiations.

The President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk, said "sure [EU] leaders would be willing to consider [an extension] positively "if the UK wants it.

& # 39; Breaking the ranks & # 39;

The PoliticsHome website reports that Mr Mundell became the prime minister to "break ranks" with his letter to the Prime Minister, warning against the extension if it meant forcing the UK to continue to respect the EU fishing rules longer.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Johnny Mercer criticized the current state of the government, describing it as a "shitty show".

In an interview with The House magazine, the former army officer stated that he would not have reported to the deputation "if the situation was such as now" and that "it was not good enough". he was no longer sure that his "values ​​and his spirit" were still "aligned with the conservative party".

What is the solution?

The UK must leave the EU on March 29, 2019, and the transition period, which Ms. May prefers to call the implementation period, is designed to facilitate the transition to future permanent relationships.

During this transition period, which is expected to end on 31 December 2020, relations between the United Kingdom and the EU will remain largely the same.

The UK has endorsed the principle of setting up a "backstop" at the Irish border – an insurance policy designed to avoid the need for customs controls – in case there is a gap between the transition period and the coming into force of the future permanent relationship.

The problem is that both sides have yet to agree on the form and duration of security.

Thursday. the plan was condemned by members of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland – whose government needs support in key votes – saying it would not change the "fundamental problem" of the support plan from the EU.

This is due to the fact that Northern Ireland must remain in line with EU rules, which the DUP – and the UK government – consider unacceptable, as this creates a new frontier in the sea of ​​Europe. # 39; Ireland.

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Representatives of Brexiteers were not impressed either, conservative backbench MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who told Sky News that it was "in doubt". 39, a rather mediocre attempt to set the bar further down the road. "

The remaining MEPs were also unhappy, former Minister Nicky Morgan saying that an extension would be "useless" and leave the UK in a "Brexit Maintaining Scheme".

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labor Party, said: "The Prime Minister has found herself in this impasse by not reaching any meaningful agreement with the EU".