British PM's post-Brexit deal with EU faces strong resistance from UK lawmakers
- 5 years ago
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is insisting a final Brexit deal is within reach after Britain and the EU agreed on a draft text outlining post-Brexit ties.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… An upbeat tone from the prime minister, but the same can't be said for British lawmakers.
That's right Mark… May has always been very optimistic about her Brexit plans, but she is facing strong criticism from skeptical lawmakers.
May told parliament that the outlines for the future help protect jobs, end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK, give British fishermen more control and avoid the return of a hard Irish border.
"Mr Speaker, the text we have now agreed would create a new free trade area with the European Union with no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions. This would be the first such agreement between the EU and any advanced economy in the world, which will be good for jobs…. Crucially the text we have agreed also has an explicit reference to development of an independent trade policy by the UK beyond its partnership with the EU."
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, launched a scathing attack on the draft agreement.
"These 26 pages are a testament to the failure of the Tories bungled negotiations. Nineteen extra pages but nothing has changed. The only certainty contained within these pages is that the transition period will have to be extended or we will end up with a backstop and no exit. It represents the worst of all worlds, no say over the rules that will continue to apply and no certainty for the future."
May will travel to Brussels over the weekend for further Brexit meetings and she hopes to formally sign off the post-Brexit declaration and the divorce agreement with her EU counterpart.
British parliament is expected to vote on the Brexit plan next month, but many MPs from both sides of the aisle have already said they will vote it down.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… An upbeat tone from the prime minister, but the same can't be said for British lawmakers.
That's right Mark… May has always been very optimistic about her Brexit plans, but she is facing strong criticism from skeptical lawmakers.
May told parliament that the outlines for the future help protect jobs, end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK, give British fishermen more control and avoid the return of a hard Irish border.
"Mr Speaker, the text we have now agreed would create a new free trade area with the European Union with no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions. This would be the first such agreement between the EU and any advanced economy in the world, which will be good for jobs…. Crucially the text we have agreed also has an explicit reference to development of an independent trade policy by the UK beyond its partnership with the EU."
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, launched a scathing attack on the draft agreement.
"These 26 pages are a testament to the failure of the Tories bungled negotiations. Nineteen extra pages but nothing has changed. The only certainty contained within these pages is that the transition period will have to be extended or we will end up with a backstop and no exit. It represents the worst of all worlds, no say over the rules that will continue to apply and no certainty for the future."
May will travel to Brussels over the weekend for further Brexit meetings and she hopes to formally sign off the post-Brexit declaration and the divorce agreement with her EU counterpart.
British parliament is expected to vote on the Brexit plan next month, but many MPs from both sides of the aisle have already said they will vote it down.