Humiliated May is embraced by the same EU leaders who helped kill her Brexit dream and cost her PM job
HUMILIATED Theresa May was today embraced by the same EU leaders who helped destroy her Brexit dream.
The lame duck Prime Minister met a host of EU bigwigs in Brussels today for her last summit as Conservative leader.
Arriving for the summit, May was all smiles as she insisted it’s no longer her responsibility to sort how we leave the EU.
But she warned her successor might find it no easier than she did to push a deal through Parliament thanks to squabbling MPs.
The PM was much cheerier than just four days ago when she broke down in tears while delivering her resignation speech in Downing Street.
She insisted she will “fulfil the duties and obligations of the office” while she’s still Prime Minister – and despite now being powerless she was forced to hold one-on-one meetings with EU bosses Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker.
Arriving at the European Council in Brussels this evening, Mrs May said: “It’s a matter of great regret to me that I haven’t been able to deliver Brexit.
“Of course that’s a matter for my successor and they will have to find a way of addressing the very strongly held views on both sides of this issue and to get a majority in Parliament.
“As I said on Friday, that will require compromise.”
Asked if she is alarmed that Tory leadership contenders back a No Deal Brexit, the PM said: “I’ve always taken the view that the best option for the UK is to leave the EU with a deal.
“I’m not going to comment on the views of individual candidates.”
They will have to find a way of addressing the very strongly held views on both sides of this issue and to get a majority in Parliament
Theresa May
And she insisted that the Euro election result on Sunday night shows that if Brexit doesn’t happen both main parties will be in serious trouble.
Mrs May said: “Of course the European elections were deeply disappointing for my party.
“But the Labour party also saw significant losses and I think what it shows is the importance of actually delivering on Brexit.
“I hope that those election results will focus Parliament on the need to deliver Brexit.”
Mr Juncker insisted it would not be possible to rewrite the existing withdrawal agreement after meeting Mrs May.
But Nigel Farage, who was also in Brussels today, said it was up to the EU to give us a better offer if they want to stop a No Deal Brexit.
The PM will kickstart the Tory leadership election next Friday when she formally steps down as Conservative leader.
But she will continue as interim Prime Minister until her successor is in place at the end of July.
Tonight Mrs May meets other European leaders at a Brussels dinner – but they won’t discuss Brexit.
The heads of government are set to have a huge row over who should replace Jean-Claude Juncker at the head of the EU’s bureaucracy.
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