Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May hasn’t asked the EU for anything more than she did last time.
Camera IconBritain's Prime Minister Theresa May hasn’t asked the EU for anything more than she did last time. Credit: AFP

Brexit: Theresa May baffles EU by asking for nothing

The SunNews Corp Australia Network

Theresa May has stunned her European counterparts by failing to make any new Brexit demands — despite her own plan being overwhelmingly rejected by MPs.

The Sun reports that the under-fire PM left EU diplomats in a state of “disbelief” by not changing her doomed stance in the light of the humiliating loss.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has failed to ask for anything different from the EU.
Camera IconBritain's Prime Minister Theresa May has failed to ask for anything different from the EU. Credit: AFP

Mrs May suffered the biggest Commons defeat in history on Tuesday night when her Brexit deal was rejected by a thumping 230 votes.

However, the Telegraph reports the Tory leader seems to be sticking to her guns and has since issued the “same set of demands” from the EU.

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British Prime minister Theresa May (L) is welcomed by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
Camera IconBritish Prime minister Theresa May (L) is welcomed by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. Credit: AFP

Her requests are believed to still focus around either a binding time-limit for the Irish backstop; a right for Britain to unilaterally withdraw, or a commitment to an agreed trade deal before 2021.

These demands were firmly rejected by the EU in December after leaders expressed doubts they would be backed by Westminster.

British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) stands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R).
Camera IconBritish Prime Minister Theresa May (L) stands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R). Credit: AFP

Senior sources within the EU say her unchanged stance, and the fact she didn’t make any new demands, was “greeted with incredulity” following a call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“It was the same old story — the same set of demands — all unchanged despite the defeat,” said once insider.

Mrs May is understood to have repeated her demands in phone talks with French president Emmanuel Macron, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

It’s reported her approach has sparked “diplomatic eye-rolling” in political circles in Brussels.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May (L).
Camera IconFrench President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May (L). Credit: AFP

The news comes as the Dutch and German governments signalled their opposition to any new concessions for Britain.

CALLS FOR AN ‘OPEN AND FRANK DEBATE’

Mrs May now has just days to save Brexit with a Plan B that can secure a Commons majority on January 29.

Meanwhile, Labour is calling for an “open and frank debate” to break the Commons deadlock over Brexit.

A protester against a second EU referendum protests outside the Houses of Parliament in central London.
Camera IconA protester against a second EU referendum protests outside the Houses of Parliament in central London. Credit: AFP, Supplied

Following the crushing defeat of Mrs May’s EU withdrawal plan, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer will say there are “no easy routes” out of the current crisis.

In a speech to the Fabian Society new year conference in London later today, he will say it is now up to parliament to take the “difficult decisions” needed to end the impasse.

Opposition Labour Party Shadow-Brexit secretary Keir Starmer.
Camera IconOpposition Labour Party Shadow-Brexit secretary Keir Starmer. Credit: AFP

His call comes after Jeremy Corbyn reaffirmed his refusal to meet Mrs May for talks to discuss the way forward unless she takes the possibility of a no-deal Brexit off the table.

The Labour leader said the talks were “not genuine” after No 10 made clear she would not accept a customs union with the EU, a measure which he said was “necessary” for any new proposal to command the support of parliament.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and is republished here with permission

Originally published as May baffles EU by asking for nothing