Britain CAN'T have 'Á LA CARTE' Brexit and cherry-pick EU benefits, François Fillon blasts
FRENCH presidential candidate Francois Fillon has claimed Britain cannot expect to hold on to parts of its European Union membership after Brexit.
Francois Fillon has claimed Britain cannot expect to hold on to parts of its EU membership
Mr Fillon said the UK cannot have "one foot in and one foot out" of Brussels after Theresa May formally triggered Article 50 today and vowed to put the interests of the EU first if he becomes French president.
Before the Prime Minister signed the letter notifying Brussels of the UK's intention to leave, the centre-right candidate said: “If the French entrust me with the presidency, I will put their interests and the interests of the European Union first in Brexit talks.
Mr Fillon said that Britain could not hope for an "à la carte" Brexit deal
But Britain cannot have one foot in and one foot out of the EU
“We must respect the sovereign choice of the British people… But Britain cannot have one foot in and one foot out of the EU. You cannot have full access to the single market if you do not adhere to its rules."
Mr Fillon added that Britain could not hope for an “à la carte” Brexit deal and that the UK could not cherry-pick EU benefits.
'Britain cannot have one foot in and one foot out of the EU'
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He said: “A country must accept the EU’s four fundamental freedoms if it to retain access to the single market. You cannot accept one and reject another. You must accept all four.”
The hardline conservative and self-confessed Thatcherite did, however, say that he would maintain “strong bilateral relations” with post-Brexit Britain if he won the upcoming two-round presidential election, which will be staged in April and May.
Mr Fillon pledged to renegotiate the Le Touquet accord
Mr Fillon also pledged to renegotiate the Le Touquet accord, the controversial border deal between France and Britain that keeps border checks – and thousands of UK-bound migrants – on the French side of the Channel, in the northern port town of Calais.
He warned: “We must renegotiate the border deal. The UK has chosen to leave the EU, and it is time for it to face up to the migrant crisis in Calais. Dealing with UK-bound migrants is not France’s responsibility."