Britain would do better to 'soften' Brexit demands, says senior MEP

Speaking out: Guy Verhofstadt
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Theresa May was today urged by a senior European official to “soften” her Brexit demands if she wants a successful deal for Britain.

Guy Verhofstadt, the Brexit co-ordinator for the European Parliament, spoke out as the Prime Minister headed to her first European Union summit since she lost her Commons majority.

Mrs May came under pressure at home for a softer Brexit too, with Chancellor Philip Hammond suggesting that “transitional arrangements” would be needed for many years.

Mr Hammond, who has emerged as the chief spokesman for Cabinet ministers opposing a hard Brexit, would not deny that the arrangements could be needed for four years or longer.

Mrs May will tonight aim to win favour from the other 27 leaders at a summit dinner by making a “bold and generous” offer to 3.2 million EU citizens in the UK of continued rights to work and live in Britain.

But her own reduced status will be clear when she leaves the dinner early so that the other leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, the French president and Europhile rising star, can discuss Brexit without her.

Speaking to the Standard, Mr Verhofstadt said that holding out for a “complex and bespoke” Brexit deal was risky. Britain would do better, he advised, in the single market and the customs union. “Any post–election softening of the UK approach in this direction would be in their interest,” he said.

“The more complex and bespoke the future agreement is, the longer it will take to agree and the greater the risk of further uncertainty.”

One solution could be an “association agreement”, a template that already covers deals with 20 countries on trade and issues such as defence, counter-terrorism and cyber-security.

Mr Verhofstadt is influential because the European Parliament will have a vote on the outcome of negotiations.

Pointing to the clear split in the Tory party, he said Mrs May’s stance should also “reflect the views of the whole population, not just the wishes of one wing of the Conservative Party”.

Mr Hammond came out fighting against the danger of a “cliff-edge” Brexit. Asked on BBC Radio 4 if transitional deals to delay and smooth out the exit from the single market and customs union could remain in place for four years “or even longer”, he replied: “All these things remain to be negotiated.”

In a remark that was mocked online, he added: “We are leaving the European Union but when you buy a house you don’t necessarily move all your furniture in on the first day you buy it.” Twitter users responded that only a person with two homes or more would not move furniture in immediately.

His comments also angered hardline Brexit backers who argue for a clean break in 2019. One claimed: “Hammond is on manoeuvres for the leadership.”

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