INTRO
The British Prime Minister Theresa May has released a statement after facing a humiliating defeat in the most recent round of Brexit negotiations with the European Union.
Britain is expected to leave the EU on 29th March 2019, but many are speculating that the chances of that happening without a deal being reached is now a real possibility.
The Prime Minister has hit back at EU leaders, saying their inability to produce counter proposals is unacceptable.
UK Correspondent Natalie Powell reports.
DUR: 2'55
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0921brexit-np-pkg-generic.mp3
It was a strong and almost angry response from UK Prime Minster Theresa May on her return from the latest round of Brexit Negotiations in Salzburg, Austria
SOT: THERESA MAY, UK PRIME MNISTER
"I have worked day and night to deliver a deal that sees the UK leave the EU, I've worked to bring people with me even when that has not always seemed possible. No-one wants a good deal more than me, but the EU should be clear, I will not overturn the results of the referendum, nor will I break up my country."
Her proposals were rejected by the other 27 EU leaders… And on her return to London, Mrs May hit back, saying it was unacceptable that at this late stage in negotiations, the EU would reject proposals without thorough explanation and without offering any counter proposal.
There are two major sticking points causing somewhat of a stalemate between the two parties as they try to negotiate the UK's Exit from the European Union Bloc.
They are the future economic relationship between the two sides
And the issue of the Irish border.
There has so far been months of deadlock on both issues - and with the prime minister coming home empty handed from Austria, there seems to be no let up.
The Brussels Director of Open Europe, Pieter Cleppe explains why Britain is not willing to back down from these issues.
SOT: PIETER CLEPPE, BRUSSELS DIRECTOR, OPEN EUROPE
"This is something that is absolutely a red line for anyone in British politics, the British parliament adopted this as a red line without even voting on it, for labour this is something that cannot even be discussed, a customs border with in the UK and still he EU thinks it can be convinced of that."
Sentiments that were also echoed by the prime minster herself:
SOT: THERESA MAY, UK PRIME MINISTER
"We both agree that the withdrawal agreement needs to include a bakeshop to ensure that if there is a delay in implementing our new relationship there still won't be a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. But the EU is proposing to achieve this by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union. As I have already said, this is unacceptable"
The UK's proposal hand't been a particularly popular one within Theresa May's Party
And the opposition Labour Party responded to the failure to reach an agreement on it in Salzburg, calling it a 'disaster' whilst criticising the government's negotiation skills.
And the EU's rejection of the latest proposals bring the possibility of a No Deal by the end of the negotiation period - which is the 29th March, even closer.
The Prime Minister herself saying she would rather a no deal than a bad deal for her country
SOC
+44 (0) 7970 367 841