MNI: UK PM May Denies Ramping Up Brexit 'No Deal' Rhetoric

By Kieran Williams

     LONDON (MNI) - UK Prime Minister Theresa May faced her first PMQ session

following the party conference season Wednesday and again told the House of

Commons that preparations had already begun that address the eventuality of 'no

deal' in Brexit negotiations.

     When pressed for assurances that all funds necessary to address a 'no deal'

contingency would be committed, May responded by confirming that all money

necessary for this eventuality would be spent, reiterating a point already made

by Chancellor Philip Hammond in front of the Treasury Select Committee earlier.

Hammond said then that stg 250 million of new money had already been allocated

to departments, some of which would need to be spent before legislation has gone

through the house and that the treasury would write to the public accounts

committee explaining this process shortly.

     May was accused of ramping up the 'no deal' rhetoric on Brexit in a bid to

play up to the more extreme Eurosceptic elements of her party, backtracking on

previously made commitments to stay in the single market during transition,

adding that the British people deserve better than a PM who is "running scared".

     The Prime Minister responded that the premise "could not be more wrong",

positing instead that the UK was actively working with the EU to get the right

deal for Britain and again referred to the vision set out in her Florence

speech.

     May reiterated that when the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 the UK will not

be part of the single market and customs union, and that during the

"implementation period" the UK would seek to enjoy the same benefits as being

part of the single market, but this not the same as full membership.

     May also ruled out extending the Brexit deadline, insisting that the UK

wants a deal by March 2019 when it will officially leave the EU. The point was

raised by Conservative MP Peter Bone who said that the terms of Article 50

allowed Brexit talks to be extended, but this suggestion was firmly rebuffed by

May.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3809; email: kieran.williams@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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