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The Prime Minister said during her statement at Downing Street today that the Brexit negotiations were at an “impasse”.
She said: “Yesterday, Donald Tusk said our proposals would undermine the single market.
“He didn’t explain how in any detail or make any counter-proposal.
“So we are at an impasse.”
What does an impasse mean?
An impasse is a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement.
In other words an impasse is a deadlock.
What did Ms May mean in her speech?
The Prime Minister warned the EU that she would continue preparations for a “no-deal” Brexit.
Mrs May said: “Yesterday, I was in Salzburg for talks with European leaders.
“I have always said that these negotiations would be tough – and they were always bound to be toughest in the final straight.
“While both sides want a deal, we have to face up to the fact that – despite the progress we have made – there are two big issues where we remain a long way apart.
Mrs May said the first issue was Britain’s economic relationship with the EU after Brexit.
She said: ”Here the EU is still only offering us two options. The first option would involve the UK staying in the European Economic Area and a customs union with the EU.
“In plain English, this would mean we’d still have to abide by all EU rules: uncontrolled immigration from the EU would continue and we couldn’t do trade deals we want with other countries.
“That would make a mockery of the referendum we had two years ago.”
The second issue involved the commitment to no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister said: “We both agree that the Withdrawal Agreement needs to include a backstop to ensure that if there’s 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.
She added: “I have treated the EU with nothing but respect, the UK expects the same”.
“The EU should be clear: I will not overturn the result of the referendum, nor will I break up my country.”
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