British PM May says Brexit deal is 95% settled
- 6 years ago
British Prime Minister Theresa May has told parliament that 95 percent of the terms of Brexit have been agreed, saying she's hopeful the remaining five percent can be resolved soon.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to Ro Aram…
Aram… quite an optimistic outlook from the prime minister despite some lurid headlines in recent days.
Well Mark… she asked lawmakers on Monday for patience while the final stages of a Brexit deal are being worked out.
She also ruled out any chances of a second Brexit referendum, as demanded by thousands of the British public.
"Serving our national interest will demand that we hold our nerve through these last stages of negotiations, the hardest part of all. It will mean not giving in to those who want to stop Brexit with a politician's vote. Politicians telling the people they got it wrong the first time and should try again….."
The key sticking point in Brexit talks is how to deal with the Irish border.
European leaders want a so-called "backstop" agreement, whereby Northern Ireland would remain aligned with EU customs arrangements, thereby avoiding the need for border infrastructure.
May opposes this because, she argues, it amounts to splitting the UK into different customs zones.
As talks stall there has been proposals to extend the Brexit transition period for another year.
The prime minister said she didn't want that to happen, but noted it may be useful for certain situations.
"I see any extension, any extension or being in any form of backstop as undesirable. By far the best outcome for the UK, for Ireland and for the EU is that our future relationship is agreed and in place by the 1st of January 2021…… "And Mr. Speaker there are some limited circumstances in which it could be argued than an extension to the implementation period might be preferable if we were certain it was only for a short time."
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to Ro Aram…
Aram… quite an optimistic outlook from the prime minister despite some lurid headlines in recent days.
Well Mark… she asked lawmakers on Monday for patience while the final stages of a Brexit deal are being worked out.
She also ruled out any chances of a second Brexit referendum, as demanded by thousands of the British public.
"Serving our national interest will demand that we hold our nerve through these last stages of negotiations, the hardest part of all. It will mean not giving in to those who want to stop Brexit with a politician's vote. Politicians telling the people they got it wrong the first time and should try again….."
The key sticking point in Brexit talks is how to deal with the Irish border.
European leaders want a so-called "backstop" agreement, whereby Northern Ireland would remain aligned with EU customs arrangements, thereby avoiding the need for border infrastructure.
May opposes this because, she argues, it amounts to splitting the UK into different customs zones.
As talks stall there has been proposals to extend the Brexit transition period for another year.
The prime minister said she didn't want that to happen, but noted it may be useful for certain situations.
"I see any extension, any extension or being in any form of backstop as undesirable. By far the best outcome for the UK, for Ireland and for the EU is that our future relationship is agreed and in place by the 1st of January 2021…… "And Mr. Speaker there are some limited circumstances in which it could be argued than an extension to the implementation period might be preferable if we were certain it was only for a short time."