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May says no protection for UK expats should Brexit talks fail
| Published: | 11 Oct at 6 PM |
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The British Prime Minister has finally admitted she has no idea what may happen to UK expats living in Europe should Brexit negotiations fail.
In an admission which illustrates the total lack of preparedness of the British Brexit negotiating team, Therese May has stated she has no idea what the fate of British expats in EU countries will be if negotiators don’t agree on a deal. She warned over a million Britons would be at the mercy of EU member state governments as there is no plan to secure their rights to remain should a no-deal Brexit happen.
Her comments formed part of an LBC radio phone-in hosted by Iain Dale, during which she refused to answer his question on how she would vote should another referendum be held. After her reply stating she wouldn’t answer hypothetical questions, she said she was determined to deliver Brexit for all the British people, adding she was being open and honest. She also denied the possibility of another referendum.
May’s radio interview took place as UK officials in Brussels were vigorously denying reports from their EU counterparts that scheduled negotiations would not take place due to the UK team’s unavailability. At the same time, the European Council president Donald Tusk all but ruled out the possibility of opening trade relationship talks during next week’s meeting of EU leaders. Tusk’s position on trade talks is that sufficient progress on other issues must be made, with December the earliest possible start date.
Should the negotiations result in a no-deal scenario, only one thing is certain, in that all EU-conferred rights to remain enjoyed by British expats in the EU would simply cease to exist the moment Brexit is finalised. May’s comment that those affected would have to rely on the generosity of their host countries doesn’t reassure the millions of Britons living in Europe, nor does it given any indication of possible strategies to ensure their security.
In an admission which illustrates the total lack of preparedness of the British Brexit negotiating team, Therese May has stated she has no idea what the fate of British expats in EU countries will be if negotiators don’t agree on a deal. She warned over a million Britons would be at the mercy of EU member state governments as there is no plan to secure their rights to remain should a no-deal Brexit happen.
Her comments formed part of an LBC radio phone-in hosted by Iain Dale, during which she refused to answer his question on how she would vote should another referendum be held. After her reply stating she wouldn’t answer hypothetical questions, she said she was determined to deliver Brexit for all the British people, adding she was being open and honest. She also denied the possibility of another referendum.
May’s radio interview took place as UK officials in Brussels were vigorously denying reports from their EU counterparts that scheduled negotiations would not take place due to the UK team’s unavailability. At the same time, the European Council president Donald Tusk all but ruled out the possibility of opening trade relationship talks during next week’s meeting of EU leaders. Tusk’s position on trade talks is that sufficient progress on other issues must be made, with December the earliest possible start date.
Should the negotiations result in a no-deal scenario, only one thing is certain, in that all EU-conferred rights to remain enjoyed by British expats in the EU would simply cease to exist the moment Brexit is finalised. May’s comment that those affected would have to rely on the generosity of their host countries doesn’t reassure the millions of Britons living in Europe, nor does it given any indication of possible strategies to ensure their security.
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