Emmanuel Macron: Those around PM are 'bluffing' about no deal Brexit

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the press at the end of the EU leaders' summit
AFP/Getty Images
Sarah Collins20 October 2017
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French president Emanuel Macron has said those around the prime minister are “bluffing” about a 'no deal’ Brexit.

"There is one negotiator on the British side, who is under the political authority of Mrs May. At no point has she mentioned 'no deal' as an option,” he said.

“There may be some noise, bluffing, fake news, secondary characters or spectators to these discussions - this, if I may say, is the media’s business. But this is not part of our discussions."

Speaking to reporters after an EU summit in Brussels, he also said the future Brexit bill - the central issue blocking talks from moving on to transition and trade - would be “substantial”.

Mr Macron said the UK would have to cover not only outstanding payments to the EU’s 2019 and 2020 budgets "all the commitments undertaken up to the end of 2020”.

“When you look look at all these all the commitments made by the UK up to 2020 - when we look at them in a rigorous way, taking into account our own collective interests and what Prime Minister Theresa May promised in her Florence speech - we haven’t even gone half of the way.”

EU leaders agreed on Friday to start “internal” talks on a transition period and future trade deal, but to delay opening talks with the UK until at least December.

They agreed that they will use their December meeting to take another look at progress on citizens’ rights, money and the Irish border before making a decision.

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