EU leaders warn Boris NOT to rip up May’s Brexit as they gear up for brutal No Deal showdown

BRUSSELS has warned Boris Johnson not to try and rip up Theresa May’s deal – as it gears up for a brutal No Deal showdown with the incoming PM. Eurocrats believe the hard Brexiteer will deliberately table an “unacceptable” early offer of a standstill trading period and ring-fencing citizens rights. French President Emmanuel Macron said […]

BRUSSELS has warned Boris Johnson not to try and rip up Theresa May’s deal – as it gears up for a brutal No Deal showdown with the incoming PM.

Eurocrats believe the hard Brexiteer will deliberately table an “unacceptable” early offer of a standstill trading period and ring-fencing citizens rights.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would speak with Boris in the coming days.

And EU boss Michel Barnier said he would work with Mr Johnson “to facilitate the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit”.

The EU’s chief negotiator added: “We are ready also to rework the agreed declaration on a new partnership in line with EU Council guidelines.”

Jean-Claude Juncker’s deputy Frans Timmermans yesterday vowed the bloc will “stand by” the Withdrawal Agreement, including the backstop, no matter what.

And one senior eurocrat launched an extraordinary attack on Mr Johnson, questioning whether British democracy will “survive” his time in No 10.

A spokeswoman for Mr Juncker congratulated the Brexiteer on his election and said the EU chief “wants to work with the new PM in the best way possible”.

But as the result was announced, Mr Timmermans aimed a barb at the incoming PM for taking “a long time deciding whether he was for or against Brexit”.

The Dutchman said: “Now his position is clear. I think the position of the EU is also clear.

“The UK reached an agreement with the EU and the EU will stick to that. It’s the responsibility of us all to stick to that and make it work.

“A No Deal Brexit would be a tragedy for all sides, not just for the UK. We are all going to suffer if that happens.

“I don’t think there were many people in the UK, when they voted for Brexit, that intentionally voted for a no-deal Brexit, I don’t think that happened.

“There is a strong willingness in British society to come out of this in a reasonable way and the best way is on the basis of the agreement.”

Boris Johnson has vowed to leave the EU by October 31 with or without a deal.

A No Deal Brexit would be a tragedy for all sides, not just for the UK. We are all going to suffer if that happens

Frans Timmermans

And Guy Verhofstadt added that the Brexit steering group will hold an emergency meeting today to respond to Boris’ election.

He said: “The meeting will be followed by an official communication. Looking forward to defending the interest of all Europeans.”

Meanwhile the EU’s health boss, Vytenis Andriukaitis, launched a blistering attack on Mr Johnson comparing him to ex Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin.

He accused the incoming PM of making “cheap promises, simplified visions, blatantly evident incorrect statements”.

The Lithuanian eurocrat fumed: “Can democracy survive this type of politics?”

He said Mr Johnson was “similar” to Mr Yeltsin in making “many unrealistic promises, ignoring economic rationales and rational decisions”.

He said: “These decisions led to a new autocratic constitution and finally paved the way to Vladimir Putin.

“For Boris Yeltsin, the warning came true – ‘Boris, you are wrong’. Hopefully, it will not be the case for Boris Johnson.

“I can only wish him luck in ‘taking back control’, spending more money on the NHS, swiftly concluding new trade agreements.”

EU officials are now braced for the new PM travelling to Brussels and offering an “unrealistic” package of a GATT 24 trade deal plus citizens’ rights.

One senior source told The Sun: “Europe then refuses this, so Europe is the bad negotiating partner and No Deal is because of us.

“That is part of the blame game, then we’re in strategy where we’re heading towards a No Deal but deliberately.”

EPA

They added Mr Johnson would be in an even worse position than his predecessor because he’s seen as “untrustworthy” by EU leaders.

A gloomy EU diplomat added: “Whatever we give will be sufficient if this is about preservation of the Tory party. Nothing will suffice except No Deal.”

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