‘No deal Brexit will NOT cause chaos’ Macron’s minister REFUSES to back down over claim
Nathalie Loiseau has refused to back down in the face of pressure over her controversial remarks that a no deal Brexit would be better than Theresa May’s Chequers plan.
The shock remark won support among Brexiteers, who champion a clean, hard Brexit and have urged the Prime Minister to «chuck Chequers».
The French Europe minister reiterated her claim during an interview on France24 yesterday, and added: «Of course, there won’t be any chaos.»
Earlier this week, Ms Loiseau even referred to a Brexiteer mantra, now championed by Theresa May, insisting that «no deal is better than a bad deal». Ms Loiseau put forward a bill on Wednesday that would allow France to maintain border controls with Britain, keep cross-channel trains running and give French subsidiaries of British companies the right to operate.
The bill also guarantees the rights of British citizens living in France, who would otherwise immediately become illegal migrants in a no-deal Brexit.
President Macron’s administration has also already laid the groundwork for a no-deal Brexit by hiring 700 extra customs officers.
On Friday, the French minister did not back down, telling the national broadcaster: «The decrees that I presented to the council of ministers this week, I wish I will not have to use them. Of course, we will be ready and of course, there won’t be chaos Nathalie Loiseau «But in the case that there is no withdrawal agreement, I have to be ready to protect the interests of the French citizens, of the British citizens in France, and of the freedom of circulation between the UK and France across the channel.
«Of course, we will be ready and of course, there won’t be chaos.»
She has previously told Radio Classique: «No deal would be better than a bad deal. A good deal is still possible, but time is running out.» However, Mrs May has consistently argued that the only choice for the EU is between Chequers or a no-deal Brexit — raising the prospect of Britain crashing out next March.
Other EU countries with strong trade links with Britain had also made similar preparations.
The Netherlands has been hiring nearly 1,000 customs officers for its hub airport at Schiphol and major port at Rotterdam.