Donald Tusk has come down on the side of hard Brexiteers in favouring a ‘Canada-style’ Brexit deal
Mr Tusk said the 'Canada-style' agreement is an unprecedented offer in trade an security and a 'true sign of respect'
BRUSSELS boss Donald Tusk last night sided with hard Brexiteers as he piled more pressure on Theresa May to chuck Chequers in favour of a Canada-style deal.
In a stark message the EU Council chief warned time was running out fast to strike an agreement and the PM needed to “get down to business”.
He said Britain should accept the bloc’s offer of an unprecedented trade and security pact, calling it a “true sign of respect”.
His remarks were met with jubilation by eurosceptics including ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who said they proved the PM’s soft Brexit plan was now a dead duck.
The Polish eurocrat told Mrs May she has just two weeks to seal an exit package after holding talks with in Brussels yesterday.
He said: “From the very beginning, the EU offer has been not just a Canada deal, but a Canada plus plus plus deal.
“Much further-reaching on trade, on internal security and on foreign policy cooperation.
“This is a true measure of respect.
And this offer remains in place.
The EU is serious about getting the best possible deal.”
Mr Tusk said the EU needs to see “maximum progress” at a summit starting on October 17 if the two sides are to reach a deal.
He added: “Now the Tory party conference is over we should get down to business.”
A key stumbling bloc to a Canada-style deal is the requirement the UK accepts a backstop that carves Northern Ireland out of its customs and regulatory sphere.
But senior eurosceptics still leapt on the EU chief’s remarks and warned Mrs May she will end up with no deal at all if she perseveres with Chequers.
![Ex Ukip Leader, Nigel Farage has asked Mrs May to 'bite [Mr Tusk's] hand off'](http://mcb777.site/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NINTCHDBPICT000438278122.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: “Tusk’s Canada plus plus plus offer shows there is a superb way forward that can solve the Irish border problem and deliver a free trade based partnership that works well for both sides of the Channel - as I set out last week in my plan for a better Brexit.”
Ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis added that it showed Downing Street was “wrong” to claim there is “no alternative to Chequers”.
Referring to Mr Tusk, ex Ukip leader Nigel Farage implored the PM: “Please Mrs May, bite his hand off.”
EU officials told The Sun that Mrs May will be given the chance to deliver a make-or-break pitch to leaders before they discuss Brexit over dinner.
Speaking alongside the Council chief, Irish PM Leo Varadkar called for “a trading relationship with the UK after Brexit that’s as close as possible”.
But just hours after his meeting with Mr Tusk the Irish PM appeared to pour cold water on the idea of a Canada-style trade deal.
He said: “I don’t know what Canada plus plus plus means.
It’s just a concept at this stage.
The Sun says
DONALD Tusk wasted no time in raining on Theresa May’s post-Conference parade.
And we’re not surprised. This patronising plonker misses no opportunity to insult our Prime Minister.
He knows full well that we will not accept a deal which splits up the UK.
And he also knows his comments yesterday make life more difficult for Mrs May — who he pretends to “respect”.
And spare us the faux outrage about Jeremy Hunt’s comments. At least the Foreign Secretary is elected by voters, not bureaucrats.
Tusk is a walking and talking reminder that we’re better off out.
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“There is a possibility that an agreement of that nature, which would be unique, will take more than the transition period to do.”
Mr Varadkar also demanded that Britain comes up with a new backstop proposal “well in advance” of the next Council summit.
And he dismissed a key possible compromise that Mrs May could offer to keep the whole of the UK in the customs union as a fallback option.
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