In an ambush while the cameras were rolling inside Downing Street the European Council President said he was ‘not happy’ with the Prime Minister’s policy on Northern Ireland
EU BOSS Donald Tusk yesterday implored Theresa May to water down her EU red lines to win an easier trade deal.
The EU Council president came to Downing Street to be briefed by the PM on her trade deal blueprint, which she unveils today.
While being greeted by Mrs May, ex-Polish premier Mr Tusk was overheard telling her “I’m not happy” with the her long-stated Brexit red lines to regain full control of Britain’s borders, laws, money and trade deals.
Earlier, Mr Tusk warned in a tweet: “UK red lines will determine shape of our future relationship. Let’s be clear: there can be no frictionless trade outside the customs union and Single Market.
He also demanded Mrs May didn’t prey on any divisions among the 27 member staes over what to offer the UK, adding: “I would like to underline here again that Mr Barnier has the full support of both the EU institutions and the EU27”.
The euro chief will next week present EU leaders’ key draft guidelines for the trade deal negotiation, that will start after an EU summit in three weeks time.
The PM and Mr Tusk also locked horns over how she plans to solve the Irish border dilemma during the talks over a working lunch of poached fillet of lemon sole with brown shrimp.
Mrs May this week threw out an EU backstop demand for Ulster to sign up to all Brussels regulations – a move that would split up the UK.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Tusk said: “I’ll be asking in London whether the UK Government has a better idea that would be as effective in preventing a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland”.
After their meeting, a No10 spokesman hit back to say: “The PM reiterated that both she and the Taoiseach have said that their priority is to resolve the border question through the overall relationship between the UK and the EU”.
