In a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, European Council President Donald Tusk reiterated that the EU won’t re-open Brexit withdrawal agreement negotiation. Though he hoped that UK Prime Minister Theresa May would bring “realistic suggestions” to Brussels tomorrow. Tusk also emphasized that EU won’t “gamble with peace” by accepting a time limit on the Irish border. He admitted that Brexit will clearly happen as there no “leadership for remain. The priority now is to avoid no-deal, and safeguard an open Irish border.
Tusk also said “I’ve been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan on how to carry it out safely.” Brexiteer Nigel Farage responded: “After Brexit we will be free of unelected, arrogant bullies like you – sounds like heaven to me.”
Separately, UK Trade Minister Liam Fox said a no-deal Brexit could force the government to drop all import tariffs in key sectors. The government have to consider the options to keep prices down for consumers and balance the impact on the job markets. For example, Fox said “in the agricultural sector it’s very clear what the impact would be were we to move to zero tariffs.”
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said that extending Article 50 would ” simply defer the need for this house … to face up to some difficult decisions”.
