UK needs to get its act together before Brexit vote, Juncker says
Source: The Guardian
It is not up to EU to resolve problems before MPs vote on May’s deal, London told
Jean-Claude Juncker has told the UK to “get its act together” in the run-up to the delayed House of Commons vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
The European commission president said the EU could not be expected to resolve the problems that continue to make it likely the British government will suffer a heavy defeat.
“I find it entirely unreasonable for parts of the British public to believe that it is for the EU alone to propose a solution for all future British problems,” Juncker said in a wide-ranging interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. “My appeal is this. Get your act together and then tell us what it is you want. Our proposed solutions have been on the table for months.”
May is set to put her deal, including the contentious Irish backstop, to MPs in the week beginning 14 January, following a week of debate in the Commons.
The prime minister pulled a planned vote earlier this month when it became clear the government was likely to suffer a heavy defeat.
She then promised to secure “legal and political” assurances that the backstop – which would keeping the UK in a customs union with the EU to avoid a hard Irish border – would only be temporary, should it need to be triggered.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/30/brexit-eu-deal-uk-needs-to-get-its-act-together-jean-cleaude-juncker
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The EU’s 27 leaders, however, offered May little hope of any significant sweetener to the deal at a summit earlier this month. Juncker’s comments will be a fresh blow to Downing Street’s hopes of a game-changing last-minute concession.
Asked whether he would recommend a second referendum to get past the logjam in parliament, Juncker said it was up to the British people to decide. “If the House of Commons backs the withdrawal agreement in mid-January, then we should begin preparations for the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union the very next day and not wait until after the official withdrawal date of 29 March.
“I have the impression that the majority of British MPs deeply distrust both the EU and Mrs May. It is being insinuated that our aim is to keep the United Kingdom in the EU by all possible means. That is not our intention. All we want is clarity about our future relations. And we respect the result of the referendum.
“I am working on the assumption that it will leave, because that is what the people of the United Kingdom have decided.”
Basically what they are telling May and her racist "tories".......................you made your bed, now sleep in it
