Rees-Mogg dismantles ‘PERFECTLY RIDICULOUS’ EU over threats of Galileo expulsion
JACOB Rees-Mogg has confronted the "perfectly ridiculous" European Union for threatening to kick out the United Kingdom from the Galileo satellite programme after Brexit.
Jacob Rees-Mogg says the EU is being 'ridiculous' over Galileo
Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted Britain will be able to "do it for ourselves" in a show of defiance towards the European Union's threat to kick the UK out from the Galielo programme.
The EU claimed Britain would no longer be allowed to collaborate and use the satellite system because of perceived security threats to the programme after Brexit.
But speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the Brexiteer MP reminded Brussels it needs British expertise for Galileo to stay in business: "I think the EU is being perfectly ridiculous about it.
"They need our expertise to make Galileo work and if they don’t have our expertise, we can do it for ourselves. I’m happy either way."
Despite contributing £1billion to the £8.5billion costs of the project, which when fully operational will rival the US government's Global Positioning System (GPS), Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier suggested the UK faces being cut off after leaving the bloc next year.
Mr Rees-Mogg argued Britain is not planning to "pull back" from all cooperation with Brussels – especially on matters concerning security – but that he would be ready for the UK to stand alone if the EU signalled its disinterest in working together.
He continued: "I’m keen to cooperate with our friends in Europe once we have left, I don’t think we’d pull back from every form of cooperation – particularly on security matters when the threat is from Russia and we need to watch very carefully.
"But if they don’t want to cooperate with us then we must do things for ourselves and do more with our American allies."
Galileo: Brexit is stopping UK involvement says Graham Turnock
They need our expertise to make Galileo work and if they don’t have our expertise, we can do it for ourselves
The UK Space Agency announced in August the launch of a £92 billion feasibility study on an alternative system to Galileo.
Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement: "We've been clear that the UK wants to remain involved in the EU’s Galileo satellite programme.
"But we cannot be an ‘end user’, shut out from security discussions and contracts, and without critical information about the system’s security.
"Use of something we are unable to rely on has little value, and we cannot justify paying towards that."
She added: "So unless we receive assurance that we can collaborate on a close basis in the future - like the close security partners we aspire to be - we are clear that we will withdraw UK support for Galileo and pursue our own sovereign satellite system.
"And this is not an idle threat to achieve our negotiating objectives."