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UK Trade Secretary Liam Fox has, somewhat, reassured fellow citizens a no-deal Brexit will be at least \u201csurvivable.\u201d He slammed the EU as \u201cirresponsible\u201d for sticking to the old deal as Theresa May heads to Brussels to \u201cbattle.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scenario of a no-deal Brexit, which appears more and more realistic as the deadline of March 29 approaches, will hurt both the UK and the EU, Fox told Sky News in an interview broadcast Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre they really saying that they would rather not negotiate and end up in a \u2018no-deal\u2019 position?\u201d<\/em> Fox wondered.<\/p>\n It is in all our interests to get to that agreement and for the EU to say we are not going to even discuss it seems to me to be quite irresponsible.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Senior European politicians and EU bureaucrats have repeatedly said that the agreement, painstakingly reached by the UK PM Theresa May last year, would not be a subject of further negotiations \u2013 or, at least, no significant changes could be done to it.<\/p>\n While UK MPs overwhelmingly rejected May’s original deal last month, they have instructed her to return to Brussels and renegotiate the arrangements for Northern Ireland. The EU, however, has yet again rejected new talks on the so-called \u2018backstop\u2019 \u2013 an insurance policy to keep an open border between the North and the Republic of Ireland if Britain and the EU fail to reach a long-term trade agreement before the transition period ends.<\/p>\n The no-deal \u2018hard\u2019 Brexit seems to be one of the likeliest scenarios, and the uncertainty is already causing some businesses to consider fleeing<\/a>. But fear not UK citizens, as the country will \u201csurvive\u201d it, Fox said reassuringly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to me we have got to guard against two things. One is an irrational pessimism that says that everything will be a catastrophe and irrational optimism which says everything will be ok,\u201d<\/em> he said. \u201cThe truth lies between the two.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n There would be disruption to our trade but it would be survivable. We wouldn’t want to put our economy into a position of unnecessary turmoil.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The prospects of \u201csurviving\u201d<\/em> Brexit were not taken lightly and Fox’s remark drew much criticism \u2013 and mockery \u2013 online. Many users focused on other things which can be described as \u201csurvivable,\u201d<\/em> yet are not quite pleasant to be a part of.<\/p>\n Calculations indicate that some people would survive a nuclear attack. . . best to avoid it in the first place though but.<\/p>\n \u2014 Drew (@DrewGClooney) 3 \u0444\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u043b\u044f 2019 \u0433.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/center><\/div>\n Survivable? So is a car crash, but I still don\u2019t want to be in one 👍👍<\/p>\n \u2014 Mark stebbings (@mark_stebbo30) 3 \u0444\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u043b\u044f 2019 \u0433.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/center><\/div>\n So is having your arms and legs amputated, but if there\u2019s a better option go with that instead!<\/p>\n \u2014 Peter Hayton (@MorthosDbC) 3 \u0444\u0435\u0432\u0440\u0430\u043b\u044f 2019 \u0433.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/center><\/div>\n Like this story? Share it with a friend!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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