PM Theresa May says EU must respect UK in Brexit talks

EU leaders rejecting her plan with no alternative at this “late stage of negotiations” was “not acceptable”

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said the EU must treat the UK with more “respect” in Brexit negotiations.

In a statement at Downing Street she said for EU leaders to reject her plan with no alternative at this “late stage of negotiations” was “not acceptable”.

She said talks had reached an “impasse” and could only be unblocked with “serious engagement” from the EU side.

At an EU summit on Thursday, European Council President Donald Tusk said Mrs May’s plan “will not work”.

The two sides are trying to reach a deal by November so it can be ratified in time.

They want to avoid a hard border – physical infrastructure like cameras or guard posts – between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic but cannot agree on how.

Mrs May says her plan for the UK and EU to share a “common rulebook” for goods, but not services, is the only credible way to avoid a hard border.

She tried to sell the plan directly to EU leaders at a summit in Salzburg, Austria, this week.

source: bbc.com