If Brussels grandstanding derails Brexit history will judge the EU, Jeremy Hunt warns
Theresa May will today appeal to Brussels to help her get a Brexit deal over the line
BRUSSELS will be condemned by history if EU hardliners kill off the Brexit deal, Jeremy Hunt warned today.
The Foreign Secretary said European leaders must be "flexible" to get a deal which can make it through Parliament.
And Brexiteers threaten a "day of reckoning" if Remainers manage to keep Britain in the EU past the March 29 deadline.
This afternoon Theresa May will make a public appeal to the EU to fix the existing deal so the UK doesn't get trapped in the "Irish backstop".
She's expected to say: "The decisions that the European Union makes over the next few days will have a big impact on the outcome of the vote."
Mr Hunt told the BBC: "History will judge both sides very badly if we get this wrong.
"We want to remain the best of friends with the EU. That means getting this agreement through in a way that doesn't inject poison into our relations for many years to come.
"That's what the UK has said we want to do, it's what most people in the UK want and feel very strongly about.
History will judge both sides very badly if we get this wrong
Jeremy Hunt
"But it does need the EU also to be flexible in these negotiations and understand that we now have a very, very clear ask.
"We know what it would take to get a deal through the House of Commons, and that is for a significant change to allow the Attorney General to change his advice to the Government and say we couldn't be trapped in a customs union forever.
"Frankly I think future generations, if this ends in acrimony, will say that the EU got this moment wrong. And I really hope they don't."
Government law chief Geoffrey Cox has run into trouble during talks in Brussels after EU officials rejected his demands for a fix to the backstop.
'ESTABLISHMENT STITCH-UP'
Ex-Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab last night warned that voters will revolt against any attempt to wreck our EU exit.
Appearing on Question Time, he blasted: "Are we going to effectively be put in the position that it’s either a bad deal or no Brexit?
"Frankly, I think if there’s that kind of establishment stitch-up to try and frustrate the process of Brexit, there will be a day of reckoning with the voters.
"Because I think the one thing people expect is to get Brexit done and dusted on March 29."
MPs will vote for a second time on Mrs May's deal on Tuesday.
If the withdrawal agreement is defeated, they will then have a choice between a No Deal Brexit and delaying our departure date.
Today George Eustice, who quit as a minister over Brexit, insisted the country is ready to leave without a deal in three weeks' time.
He said Britain and the EU could enter a nine-month transition period where the UK kept European rules to avoid interrupting trade.
The two sides would then use that time to put permanent arrangements in place for a free-trade agreement.
Major and Brown both call for year-long delay to Brexit
TWO former PMs are calling for a year-long delay to Brexit as Commons chaos continues.
John Major and Gordon Brown have both demanded an extension of the Article 50 process to consult the public on how to carry out Brexit.
In separate interventions, they both suggested a three-month delay wouldn't be enough for MPs to reach agreement on a deal.
Mr Brown told Sky News: "I regret to say this but Parliament has, unfortunately, proved itself totally incapable of resolving the Brexit issue.
"The only way to deal with this impasse is to have an extension of the negotiating period.
"But an extension for three months would be inadequate because it would just be the same old squabbling."
And Sir John wrote in a letter to The Times: "Leaving the EU would be turbulent.
"But logic, common sense and the national interest suggest that an extension of one year would give us the time to depart with dignity and grace, and in good order."
Of the other two living ex-PMs, Tony Blair backs a second referendum while David Cameron has remained loyal to Theresa May and supports her deal.
Theresa May is fighting to fix her Brexit deal
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