LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday that she wanted to end the anxiety of European Union nationals fearful of their future after Brexit, promising to protect their rights and saying: “We want you to stay.” But she was heckled by critics in the House of Commons, while opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said her plan was “too little, too late.” The futures of 3.2 million EU citizens living […]
Tag: Brexit
Merkel says EU future more important than Brexit talks
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that the European Union’s future took priority over Brexit talks, in a rebuke to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans to bring the negotiations up at a Brussels summit. “For me, the future of the (remaining) 27 member-states comes before the exit negotiations with Great Britain” said Merkel as she arrived for the two-day meeting. “We want to conduct these negotiations in a good spirit,” she […]
May presents bills in Queen Elizabeth’s speech to take Britain out of EU
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday presented eight draft laws to take Britain out of the European Union in a legislative program read out in parliament by Queen Elizabeth II. The laws include the “Great Repeal Bill” to overhaul existing EU legislation and separate bills on customs, trade, immigration, fisheries and agriculture. The queen said the “Great Repeal Bill” would repeal the European Communities Act, the 1972 legislation that enshrined […]
UK, EU kick off Brexit negotiations in Brussels
BELGIUM (Reuters) – The United Kingdom and the European Union have taken the first step towards starting the formal negotiations over the UK’s breakaway from the EU, chief negotiators from both sides announced on Monday. The announcement was made at a press conference following the first meeting between the two lead negotiators – Michel Barnier on behalf of the EU and David Davis on behalf of the UK, at the EU headquarters in Brussels on […]
UK economy faces slowdown on political turmoil, Brexit: CBI
by Roland JACKSON Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain’s economy will slow in the coming years, the CBI business lobby warned Tuesday, blaming domestic political turmoil — and the impact of Brexit one day after EU divorce talks began. The economy will expand by 1.6 percent this year before slowing to 1.4 percent in 2018, according to upgraded forecasts from the Confederation of British Industry, after 1.8-percent growth in 2016. The CBI, […]
Merkel urges speedy Brexit talks after UK vote
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Britain Friday to quickly launch Brexit talks with the European Union after Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a harsh election setback. “We are ready for the negotiations. We want to do it quickly, respecting the calendar,” Merkel said during a visit to Mexico. She said talks with Britain on its withdrawal from what will now be the 27-member EU would start “in the coming days.” […]
EU warns of ‘no deal’ if vote delays Brexit talks
by Danny Kemp Agence France Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Union warned Britain Friday that delaying Brexit negotiations after Prime Minister Theresa May failed to win a majority in elections could wreck the chance of securing a divorce deal. Brussels had set June 19 as the start date for talks, but the bloc’s leaders said that was now in doubt after Prime Minister Theresa May’s gamble to strengthen her parliamentary mandate backfired. […]
British PM loses majority
by Alice Ritchie LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader will be unable to form a government and could even be forced out of office after a troubled campaign overshadowed by two terror attacks. After being re-elected with an increased majority in the London […]
Eurosceptics see Macron win as bad news for Brexit
by Dario THUBURN Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom – British eurosceptics reacted angrily on Monday to Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France saying the election of a pro-EU president was bad news for the Brexit negotiations but experts said a stronger Europe could ease the talks. Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage said Macron would be European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker’s “puppet” while the Leave.EU campaign group compared his election win on Sunday to France’s surrender to Nazi […]
UK ex-finance minister quits parliament before snap election
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Former British finance minister George Osborne, a key opponent of Brexit, said Wednesday he was quitting parliament but would “go on fighting” for Britain as editor of London’s Evening Standard newspaper. “I am stepping down from the House of Commons — for now,” Osborne wrote in a letter to his constituents, leaving the door open for a potential comeback. “I will go on fighting for that Britain I love from […]
EU says Brexit negotiations will start after British election
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Union’s “real political” negotiations on Britain’s exit from the bloc will start after the snap British election in June, an EU spokesperson said Wednesday. “The real political negotiations on article 50 with the (United Kingdom) will start after the elections foreseen for the 8th of June,” European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas told a press conference.
May calls for June 8 election before Brexit talks
by Dario Thuburn and Alice Ritchie Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May called Tuesday for a snap election on June 8, in a shock move as she seeks to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the European Union. May is apparently aiming to cash in on her 20-point lead over the main opposition Labour party to increase her majority and give her a stronger hand in […]





