Last week, newly-elected UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it clear that if the EU does not compromise, London should “get ready for a no-deal Brexit”. Earlier, Johnson signalled Britain’s readiness to leave the bloc by the 31 October deadline with or without a deal.
Brussels has accepted a “working hypothesis” of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph quoted unnamed diplomatic sources as saying.
“It was clear the UK does not have another plan. No intention to negotiate, which would require a plan. A no-deal now appears to be the UK government’s central scenario,” one of the sources claimed.
The statement comes as an unnamed UK government official was cited by Reuters as saying that London is still interested in clinching a new deal with the EU.
The official also bemoaned the fact that “they [the EU] don’t want to negotiate with us”.
“The fact that the Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected by large margins by the House of Commons on three occasions means that, if there’s going to be a deal, they have to be prepared to renegotiate. We’re ready and willing to do so,” the source pointed out.
This comes just a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesperson emphasised that “the United Kingdom will be leaving the European Union on 31 October whatever the circumstances”.
The spokesperson refused to comment on any hypothetical questions, such as what if Johnson were to face a no-confidence or no-deal vote during general elections, or whether the Prime Minister would change his course if the parliament voted to stop or delay Brexit.