Advertisement

Donald Tusk says he still hopes Brexit can be reversed

European Council president Donald Tusk has given fresh hope to Remainers by saying that the door remains open for the UK to stay in the EU.

Despite Brexit talks officially starting this week, Mr Tusk (above, with Theresa May) signalled that it does not definitively mean the divorce is inevitable.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Mr Tusk said: “You can hear different predictions coming from different people about the possible outcome of these negotiations – hard Brexit, soft Brexit or no deal.

Brexit Secretary David Davis begun official EU divorce talks this week (Rex)
Brexit Secretary David Davis begun official EU divorce talks this week (Rex)

“Some of my British friends have even asked me whether Brexit could be reversed and whether I could imagine an outcome where the UK stays part of the EU.

“I told them that, in fact, the European Union was built on dreams that seemed impossible to achieve.”

Quoting John Lennon’s Imagine, he added: “So, who knows. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

MORE: Chancellor Philip Hammond attacked for bizarre Brexit ‘house moving’ analogy
MORE: Leaving the European Union with no deal ‘no longer an option’

France’s new president Emmanuel Macron also restated his view that the UK could perform a U-turn on Brexit, and acknowledged the need to address the problems caused by free movement of people – one of the triggers for the Leave vote.

He told the Guardian: “The door is open until the moment you walk through it. It’s not up to me to say it’s closed.

“But from the moment things are engaged with a timescale and an objective, it’s very hard to go back, we can’t lie to ourselves.”

Top pic: Rex