‘You’re a PUSHOVER!’ EU chiefs will be tougher on Brexit after NI U-turn RAGES Andrew Neil
BBC HOST Andrew Neil raged EU Brexit negotiators will use the UK Government’s “capitulation” over National Insurance to strengthen the bloc’s position.
Andrew Neil RAGES at 'pushover' May for NI U-turn
Neil quizzed Tory MP Oliver Letwin over Theresa May’s image within the bloc after a Government U-turn on the tax hike.
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the major u-turn on his Budget on Wednesday by scrapping the rise on self-employed workers.
Speaking on Daily Politics, the host suggested the move would play into EU Brexit negotiators’ hands.
“If you were Michel Barnier heading up the Commission Brexit talks or Jean-Claude Juncker or any of the other negotiators you would look at this and say ‘hey this Government’s a pushover. Give them pressure and they capitulate,” he said.
Andrew Neil questioned Theresa May's image within the EU
Give them pressure and they capitulate
“This hardly suggests when you get to something that really matters like the Brexit negotiations that you’re going to be able to stand up.”
But the former minister for Government Policy from 2010 to 2016 argued it would be “a very serious mistake” if EU chiefs did underestimate the Prime Minister or her team.
He said: “First of all I think if that is the mistake that the EU negotiators make, they will make a very serious mistake because Theresa’s no pushover at all.
“Secondly, actually, when she was challenged by the House of Lords, which is a much bigger issue, a much, much bigger issue, she robustly stood up for the position she was taking and the House of Lords backed down and so, if you’re asking the question will Theresa May stick up for her position on the EU Brexit, my answer is she certainly will do and very powerfully too.”
The Queen has now signed the Article 50 Brexit Bill into law, officially clearing the way for Mrs May to formally start talks to leave the European Union.
After navigating the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the bill was given royal assent by the Queen shortly before 11am on Thursday - the last hurdle before the EU exit begins.
The Prime Minister now has the ability to trigger Article 50, which she is expected to do during the last week of this month.