‘Level heads WILL prevail’ EU won’t DARE punish UK with harsh Brexit deal, says think tank
BRUSSELS would be incredible irresponsible to push for a ‘punishment deal’ for Britain during exit negotiations, an Irish think tank has declared.
Theresa May will be able to secure a good Brexit deal for Britain
The European Union (EU) was merely “posturing” by claiming Britain will suffer - and “level heads” would prevail, the Dublin-based Hibernia Forum said.
Co-founder Keith Redmond, who is also a councillor on the Fingal County Council, said it was Britain, not the EU, who held the upper hand.
He ridiculed threats from Brussels – which has consistently warned Britain must be made worse off outside the bloc to stop any other countries following suit.
Mr Redmond told Express.co.uk: “I think level heads will have to prevail. They will only be cutting off their nose to spite their face.
“There will be an awful not of posturing but a very sensible deal will be done.”
Keith Redmond of Dublin think tank Hibernia Forum said EU would give the UK a good deal
He highlighted the importance of the British economy and said a more likely end result was a good deal for the UK off-set with an “annual fee” to the EU.
Regardless of the exact criteria of the exit deal, Mr Redmond said Britain’s decision to leave the union could have a huge knock-on effect across the EU - particularly in Ireland.
EU negotiators including Guy Verhofstadt will give the UK a good deal, Mr Redmond said
He said: “I had no great interest in what happened in the UK - that was for their people to decide.
“But I hoped it would be at least act as a wake up call for Europhiles in Brussels, and at best spark waves [of Euroscepticism] across Europe.”
He compared it to pulling a card from a house of cards, resulting in “the rest tumbling down”.
David Davis rejected claims the UK was in trouble
David Davis, Secretary of State for Leaving the European Union, yesterday said people needed to calm down regarding the effects of leaving the EU negotiating table with no deal.
He said: “It's not as frightening frankly as some people think, but it's not as simple as some people think.”
David Davis: Brexit is not as frightening as people think
Mr Davis admitted no Brexit deal would be “not as good an outcome” as the comprehensive free trade deal Mrs May is hoping to reach with the EU, adding: “Which is why we're trying for that.”