- Title: Brexit minister Barclay says Britain may have to leave EU without deal
- Date: 19th September 2019
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) BREXIT MINISTER STEPHEN BARCLAY AT PRESS BREAKFAST (SOUNDBITE) (English) BREXIT MINISTER STEPHEN BARCLAY SAYING: "So whilst we seek a deal, we recognise that we may not be able to agree a deal and in that instance we will leave with no deal." PRESS BREAKFAST IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BREXIT MINISTER STEPHEN BARCLAY SAYING: "The foreign minister returned from talks with President Juncker in Luxembourg on Monday with assurances that negotiations will intensify. And I will meet with Michel Barnier. I met him at the same time, but I'll meet him again tomorrow. I was in Cyprus yesterday and I will be travelling across Europe next week." PRESS BREAKFAST IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BREXIT MINISTER STEPHEN BARCLAY SAYING: "The clock is ticking for us all, so let's work creatively to secure a deal, a deal that UK is committed to getting. A deal without a backstop, a deal evolving all terms of arrangements. A deal which gives at businesses and citizens the certainty they desperately need and a deal which indeed will pass both UK parliament and the European parliament. I think that is a price that warrants creativity and flexibility and we stand ready to work with you as a business community and with the Spanish government to ensure we do secure a deal which is in both sides of mutual interest. Thank you." BARCLAY AT PRESS BREAKFAST WITH MODERATOR
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2019 09:08
- Keywords: Stephen Barclay Brexit Madrid Britain
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AXBPXDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:British Brexit minister Stephen Barclay said on Thursday (September 19) the so called backstop on the Irish border as part of a divorce deal with the European Union "has to go," and that while his government wanted a deal, Britain may have to leave the European Union without one at the end of October.
"We recognise that we may not be able to agree a deal and in that instance we will leave with no deal," he said.
Barclay was speaking to journalists and business people in Madrid just six weeks before the October 31 deadline by which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a deal.
The UK Brexit minister also urged both sides to use creativity and flexibility to secure a mutually beneficial deal.
"The clock is ticking for us all, so let's work creatively to secure a deal, a deal that UK is committed to getting," he said.
Barclay said he will meet the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday (September 20).
(Production: Guillermo Martinez, Miguel Gutierrez) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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