Brexit: EU ‘isn’t in space’ to accept UK is leaving says Dowden

On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned there was now a “strong possibility” the UK will fail to agree a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU and told the nation to prepare for a no-deal outcome. He did, however, insist British negotiators would go the “extra mile” in trying to strike an agreement before the transition period ends on December 31. Nicola Sturgeon told CNN a no-deal is now the “overwhelming likelihood” and accused Mr Johnson of “actually now almost planning for that”

She warned the Prime Minister was getting closer to taking the UK “down a very, very damaging road, and for Scotland that is made all the worse, because we didn’t vote for it”.

But her comments sparked a furious reaction online, with several social media users lashing out at the SNP leader.

One person tweeted: “What absolute garbage!

“Sturgeon claims she’s worried about a no-deal Brexit, but the SNP have already stated that if Boris gets a deal, they will vote against it, regardless.”

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

A second Twitter user wrote: “Why does Sturgeon hate Brexit so much when it’s going to deliver everything she ever wanted?

“I’ll give you two clues – currency and fishing!”

A third person commented: “They’re using Brexit as a grievance.

“Even they must know that there’s no chance of an independent Scotland being allowed into the EU as it would be a financial basket case.”

Another Twitter user wrote: “A no-deal Brexit is going to hammer Ireland, so no wonder Sturgeon is upset.

“Being independent from an influential country may not be all it’s cracked up to be.”

Ms Sturgeon also said while the chances of a trade deal with the EU were “not non-existent”, they were however now “almost vanishingly small”.

She also lashed out at Mr Johnson for not delivering the guaranteed Brexit deal he had initially promised, warning it would inflict huge damage to Scotland as the country never actually voted to leave the EU during the referendum of 2016.

DON’T MISS
How to prepare for no-deal Brexit – PM’s Brexit transition tips [ANALYSIS]
BBC clash erupts as Today host accuses Labour of siding with the EU [VIDEO]
Von der Leyen tells EU leaders no deal almost inevitable [COMMENT]

The First Minister said: “I think the chances of a deal now are almost vanishingly small. They’re not non-existent, and I remain hopeful I guess, because no-deal would be catastrophic.

“But I’m starting to worry not just that no-deal is now the overwhelming likelihood, but that Boris Johnson is actually now almost planning for that.

“Exactly a year ago right now, the UK general election took place, and he fought that election to be elected as prime minister, basically saying that his deal with the European Union was off and ready.

“He later said that no-deal would be a failure of statecraft, and it was a million-to-one chance against that happening.

“Now, today, he’s saying it is very highly probable.

“It seems to me that all of that is because Boris Johnson is failing to grasp or accept that responsible, independent countries in the modern world have to collaborate and work with others, and at times pool sovereignty for the greater good, for the greater well-being and prosperity of their populations.

“And, you know, I think he’s about to take the UK down a very, very damaging road, and for Scotland that is made all the worse, because we didn’t vote for it.”

On Wednesday evening, Mr Johnson held crunch trade talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, but their three-hour meeting failed to break the deadlock in negotiations.

Just 24 hours later, he warned a no-deal outcome was a “strong possibility” and told his Cabinet to “get on and make those preparations” for a departure on terms like Australia’s, which does not have a trade deal with Europe.

The Prime Minister said: “I do think we need to be very, very clear, there is now a strong possibility – a strong possibility – that we will have a solution that is much more like an Australian relationship with the EU than a Canadian relationship with the EU,” he said.

“So, what I told the Cabinet this evening is to get on and make those preparations.

“We’re not stopping talks. We’ll continue to negotiate but looking at where we are I do think it’s vital that everyone now gets ready for that Australian option.”

Source: Read Full Article