Yahoo News MEP accuses British politicians of being 'deluded' in Brexit rant
An MEP has launching a scathing attack on MPs as politicians attempt to work out a solution for Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts, who sits on the European Parliament’s Brexit steering group, said MPs were “deluding themselves” if they thought the Malthouse Compromise would work.
The compromise is essentially two choices to offer to the EU: Plan A is similar to the Theresa May’s thrice-defeeated Withdrawal Agreement, but with changes to the Irish backstop and the implementation period.
Plan B assumes that agreement on the Withdrawal Agreement is not possible and creates a “transitional standstill period”.
Mr Lamberts said: “They are deluding themselves – I have seen too much of that over the last two years in Westminster.
“I’m afraid the harsh reality is quite different and if people cannot come to terms with reality then the wake-up will be difficult.”
On the Northern Irish border he said “quite obviously” it would need to be policed and “it is not the EU that has created the problem”.
It comes as Emmanuel Macron said that credible justifications for an Article 50 extension could include an election, second referendum or alternative proposals for the future relationship, such as a customs union.
The EU would be “open” to such proposals, but it was for London to put them forward, he said.
“A long extension involving the participation of the UK in European elections and European institutions is far from evident and certainly not (to be taken) for granted.
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“Our priority shall be the good functioning of the EU and the single market. The EU cannot sustainably be the hostage to the solution to a political crisis in the UK.”
He added: “We cannot spend the coming months sorting out yet again the terms of our divorce and dealing with the past.”
On Wednesday Theresa May met with her Cabinet in a five-hour meeting, three of which were politicians only with speculation discussions would involved the Tory leadership and prospects of a general election, despite Chancellor Philip Hammond warning the UK could not afford one.
