Tuesday, 26 Nov 2024

Laura Kuenssberg tears Hunt’s Brexit plans apart with brutal quip – ‘That’s a wish’

BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg called out Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt suggesting he had no “concrete plan” on how to deliver on Brexit. Mr Hunt has been vying for the position of Prime Minister against Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership contest and has pledged his commitment to reopening discussions with the European Union to secure a deal. But Ms Kuenssberg dismissed his campaign pledge during an interview with Mr Hunt on Tuesday: “Listening to you talking about your plans is actually very similar to talking to Boris Johnson about his Brexit plans.

“High on ambition, low on concrete detail.”

Mr Hunt defended his position, insisting he had been “very clear” on how he would proceed if elected Prime Minister to ensure Brexit is delivered.

The senior BBC reporter however dismissed his proposals as “a wish” as she demanded to discuss the evidence he had to justify claims he would be able to resolve the Brexit debacle.

She added: “You were clear about what you would like to do. That’s a wish. What’s the evidence you can actually get this done?”

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Mr Hunt said: “This is the starting point for any deal. You’ve got to be absolutely clear about what you want and its’ different to what Theresa May was negotiating.

“Both Boris and I want to change that deal and the judgment is who is the person you trust as Prime Minister to go to Brussels and bring back that deal.

“It’s about the personality of the Prime Minister. If you choose someone where there’s going to be no trust, there’s going to be no negotiation and no deal.”

Asked about his view on the Irish backstop, one of the most contentious aspects of the negotiation with Brussels, the Foreign Secretary claimed a solution “is ready” but said the bloc had not listened to alternative proposals.

He continued: “I think it is ready but the EU has not wanted to accept this kind of solution because their hope is we might stay in this thing called the customs union where we have to stick to their tariffs.

“But I think they know now that won’t get through to Parliament.”

He added: “This is a negotiation and they obviously are going to negotiate for something that for them is the best outcome.

“The reality is we ended up with a deal that’s not going to go through Parliament. When I talk to people in the EU, they understand that.

“They are keen to see if there is a way through.”

But despite both Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson insisting they will seek to pressure Brussels into reopening talks on the existing withdrawal agreement, top figures across the Union have repeatedly rejected the suggestion.

European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker insisted the bloc will not agree to any changes in the agreement and urged any future Prime Minister to respect the agreement Mrs May struck with the bloc.

Mr Juncker said: “We’ve concluded with Theresa May the withdrawal agreement.

“This isn’t a treaty between May and Juncker, this is a treaty between the UK and the EU.

“It has to be respected by whomsoever will be the next British prime minister.”

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