Theresa May denies accusations she is playing ‘divide and rule’ with EU states over Brexit and trying to split eastern states from France and Germany
THERESA May has insisted she is not playing “divide and rule” over Brexit to split eastern states from France and Germany.
Angry MEPs accused the PM yesterday of trying to sew divisions between the 27 remaining members.
Fuelling their suspicions, Brexit Secretary David Davis embarked on a two day trip to woo the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with pledges of military help against Russia.
The European Parliament’s chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt said: “Any attempts by UK ministers to divide EU countries will only slow down and complicate negotiations.
“The EU will negotiate as a united bloc.”
Other MEPs warned Britain could be left with no deal at all if the 27 were so split they couldn’t agree.
Quizzed on if the claim is right, Downing Street insisted: “Quite simply no”.
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The PM’s official spokesman added: “We want to see a deal that works with both sides.
“It’s clear that our allies want a better sense of our plans, so that’s what David Davis is doing.”
Downing Street also insisted yesterday that the EU’s chief negotiator was wrong to claim a divorce deal had to be agreed first before talks about a trade deal could begin.
Michel Barnier has also claimed the first half the exit talks could last as long as Christmas, it emerged yesterday.
But the PM’s official spokesman insisted that “both elements can take place in parallel”, and claimed powerful Germany boss Angela Merkel backed the PM on that.
Speaking in Estonia’s capital Tallinn yesterday, Mr Davis said the UK will continue to be a “good European citizen” after leaving the EU.
Mr Davis added: “We want to see both a constructive discussion, a constructive negotiation leading to a long-term constructive partnership.”