Eurosceptics have confessed they are “growing very fond” of Emmanuel Macron after the French president fought against a delay to Brexit.
A number of influential Brexiteers have said the French premier’s intervention at Wednesday’s late-night European Council summit in Brussels was “remarkable” and, according to Tory MP Marcus Fysh, showed “what real friendship consists of”.
Macron also won praise from Brexit-backing MP Simon Clarke after the Frenchman appeared to pour cold water on Labour’s key demand for a customs union with a say on trade deals.
German chancellor and EC president Donald Tusk had been pushing for a delay to Article 50 of up to a year after Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to request a flexible extension to June 30.
But Macron, who heads the “hardline” camp of EU leaders on Brexit, reportedly wanted Britain to be ejected in less than a month and for any longer delay to include ‘behaviour reviews’.
The 27 leaders eventually settled on an October 31 extension, with the option for the UK to leave should a deal be reached.
Opinion across Europe on the UK’s approach to Brexit is increasingly split. Power-holders have watched on in horror as the PM’s own withdrawal agreement was three times rejected by parliament and MPs rejected every one of the options during the ‘indicative votes’ process.
Macron reportedly wants the EU to press on with its own post-Brexit agenda, and is emerging as a key champion of British no-deal advocates.
Jeremy Corbyn, who is attempting to thrash out a Brexit compromise with May, believes the UK can have a say over trade negotiations as part of a deal on customs.
But Macron told reporters in Brussels last night the “autonomy of EU decision-making” must be protected, in a boost for Tory Brexiteers.
Tory MP Simon Clarke said “well done”, claiming Macron had suggested a customs union, the plan which has the most support with Remainers, would be a “disaster”.
Fellow MP Marcus Fysh added “have to say I like this honesty” from Macron.
Ryan Bourne, chair of economics at the pro-Brexit free market think tank the Cato Institute, said it was “remarkable” that Macron voiced the “downsides” of a customs union, while May had been silent.
Brexiteer economist Andrew Lilico, meanwhile, agreed Macron was “right”.
Pro-Brexit pundit and Talk Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer seemed happy that Macron was pushing back against a longer delay.
Prime Minister Theresa May is due to make a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon setting out the way forward.
Number 10 has previously said that talks with Labour will continue.