David Davis hails Theresa May for hitting back against Eurocrats who leaked Brexit talks
The Brexit Secretary also joked that people shouldn't play poker with the PM because she 'takes two weeks to make her mind up'
DAVID Davis today admitted having a ‘skirmish’ with EU bosses over Brexit – but hailed ‘the boss’ Theresa May for facing down top Eurocrats.
The Brexit Secretary expressed optimism over Britain’s chances of hashing out a free-trade deal with Europe despite the early difficulties.
But he added that he had a team of civil servants preparing for the possibility of failing to get a deal.
Mr Davis also warned that Mrs May ‘takes about two weeks to make her mind up’ on any serious issue – and expressed horror at the possibility of the PM teaming up with Jeremy Corbyn for Carpool Karaoke.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the Tory minister made a reference to the recent EU dinner summit which erupted into a two-day war of words after Brussels officials leaked details of furious rows with Britain.
Mr Davis said: “We’ve had our first skirmish with EU officials over the famous dinner which they briefed.
“We let it go for 48 hours, but then we said ‘this has gone far enough’ and the boss, Theresa May, slapped it down.
“Now we’re beginning to see a sensible response.”
After the dinner, EU boss Jean-Claude Juncker was said to have described Mrs May as being from a “different galaxy”.
Asked if Britain was prepared for the possibility of failing to reach an exit deal, the Brexit Secretary insisted he was ready for any eventuality.
He said: “I’ve got a whole unit planning for every possible option and every opportunity too, but my aim and my expectation is that we’re going to get a free trade agreement.”
Mr Davis’ interviewers asked him about Tory plans to overhaul social care by ensuring that elderly people will be allowed to keep at least £100,000 of their savings.
He told the programme: “It is difficult, nobody should kid themselves about that. Theresa May takes on difficult issues – she takes her time.
“Don’t play poker with Theresa May, she takes about two weeks to make her mind up.”
And he defended proposals to remove the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners, claiming that many of his wealthier constituents have told him they do not want the £300-a-year handout.
When the programme’s hosts jokingly suggested that Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn should team up for Carpool Karaoke, Mr Davis reacted with horror.
He said: “I think I’d kill myself.”