Brexit: Chequers plan nonetheless credible, says minister

Theresa May’s Chequers plan was rejected by EU leaders at their Salzburg summit

The UK government insists Theresa May’s Brexit proposal is a “workable, credible” deal, regardless of being rejected by EU leaders at a summit in Salzburg.

Minister James Brokenshire mentioned “tough words” had been to be expected close to the tip of negotiations however the government was “resolute” in its bid to get a deal.

He mentioned the so-called Chequers plan “does deliver” and it was now for the EU to “be specific” about its issues.

The UK is because of depart the EU on 29 March 2019.

Prime Minister Theresa May says her plan for the UK and EU to share a “common rulebook” for items, however not companies, is the one credible method to keep away from a tough border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

But it’s opposed by some inside her personal occasion who argue it could compromise the UK’s sovereignty, and received a cool reception at this week’s EU summit in Salzburg, Austria. Mrs May described her talks there with European Council President Donald Tusk as “frank”.

In a information convention, Mr Tusk mentioned that whereas there have been some “positive elements” within the Chequers plan, EU leaders had agreed that the proposals wanted to be redrawn: “The suggested framework for economic co-operation will not work, not least because it is undermining the single market.”

He adopted it up by posting {a photograph} on Instagram of he and Mrs May desserts with the caption: “A piece of cake, perhaps? Sorry, no cherries.”

The EU has argued that the UK can not “cherry-pick” components from its rulebook.

On Friday, Communities Secretary Mr Brokenshire, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, advised BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The Chequers deal is a workable, credible deal to satisfy our ambitions.

“They [the EU] have mentioned that it is concerning the integrity of the one market and we consider the Chequers deal responds to that, and it is for the EU to interact with what’s on the desk.”

But former cupboard minister Iain Duncan Smith, who campaigned for Brexit, questioned why the UK had gone for a plan which “was so obviously not going to cut the mustard with the EU”.

He added that the EU had “behaved appallingly” in the direction of Mrs May and he described Mr Tusk’s Instagram {photograph} as “quite insulting”.

The UK and EU try to get to a deal in time and wish to keep away from a tough border – bodily infrastructure like cameras or guard posts – between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic however can not agree on how.

The EU insists by itself “legally binding Irish backstop” – what it describes as an insurance coverage policy to prevent a tough border, if no different answer could be discovered.