‘Can’t let go!’ Brexiteer savages ‘imperial’ EU refusing to accept UK as independent state

Brexit: EU ‘struggling to let go’ of the UK says Hannan

UK Board of Trade Member Daniel Hannan made the comments during a talkRADIO interview with host Mike Graham. The Brexiteer argued the EU was “struggling to let go” of the UK, adding that he has “absolute confidence” in Boris Johnson and his team to come to the right judgement in Brexit negotiations.

The former MEP suggested the Brussels bloc was refusing to give the UK what it wanted with a trade agreement because it was trying to assert dominance over Britain.

He said: “The reason that the EU is treating Britain very differently from the way it’s treated Japan or Canada or Korea or any other country that has done trade deals with is because deep down it is struggling to let go.

“It’s still the imperial power trying to deal with a renegade province and trying to assert some kind of continuing control over our sovereignty so that they don’t have to face the fact that we’ve truly become an independent country.”

Host Mr Graham agreed, saying: “I think it’s an ideological chasm now which can never really be breached.”

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It comes as talks on a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU reach a crucial stage, with Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreeing to extend talks until the last minute as the December 31 transition period deadline fast approaches.

Ms von der Leyen on Wednesday issued an update on the deal, claiming the path to an agreement was emerging.

The European Commission President said: “I can tell you that there is a path to an agreement now.

“The path may be very narrow but it is there.

“On standards, we have agreed a strong mechanism of non-regression. That’s a big step forward.”

“I am glad to report that issues linked to governance now have largely been resolved.

“The next days are going to be decisive.”

Her claim on governance was immediately refuted by Downing Street, with a UK official stating the two positions remained “very far apart”.

They said: “We’ve made some progress, but we are still very far apart in key areas. Still not there.”