The UK can still make a success of Brexit if it tumbles out of the European Union without a deal, Prime Minister Theresa May said, striking an upbeat tone as the clock ticks down on Britain’s departure from the bloc.
Speaking to reporters on the plane as she headed to South Africa on a five-day visit to three African nations, May twice cited World Trade Organization Chief Roberto Azevedo, who told BBC radio last week that trade was not going to stop if Britain and the EU failed to strike a deal. The UK last week published 24 documents outlining preparations for such a scenario, Bloomberg reported.
The pound weakened against the dollar after May’s comments, falling as much as 0.2%.
“He said about a no-deal situation that it would not be a walk in the park, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world,” May said, referring to Azevedo. “I’ve said right from the beginning that no deal is better than a bad deal.”
As Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU on March 29 draws closer, the government is trying to show that it is prepared for all eventualities.
The government is “putting in place the preparations such that if we’re in that situation, we can make a success of it,” May said, reiterating that she still thinks Britain will be able to get a “good deal”.
“There are certain things that I’ve made clear are non-negotiable,” she said. “An end to free movement is one of them.”
Asked if Britain’s immigration system will look markedly different after Brexit, she replied that “by definition it will, because free movement will end.”
CAPTION: Theresa May
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