EU President: Theresa May’s Chequers plan ‘will not work’

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, has rubbished the Prime Minister's proposed Brexit deal

The President of the European Council says Theresa May's Chequers plan "will not work." Donald Tusk said the UK's suggested framework for an economic relationship with the EU would undermine the single market. The President was meeting the EU's 27 leaders, without Theresa May, for lunch to discuss the state of the Brexit talks. Although the EU leader said there were positive elements to the Prime Minister's Chequers proposal, others were unacceptable. Tusk said: "At our EU27 working lunch today we had a good discussion on Brexit which once again confirmed our full unity. "First we confirmed that there would be no withdrawal agreement without a solid and legally binding Irish backstop and we continue to fully support Michel Barnier in his efforts to find such a model. "Second we agreed to have a joint political declaration which provides as much clarity as possible on the future relations, everybody shared the view that while there are positive elements in the Chequers proposal the suggested framework for economic cooperation will not work, not least because it risks undermining the single market. "Third we also discussed the timetable for further negotiations. The moment of truth for Brexit negotiations will be the October European council. In October we expect maximum progress in the Brexit talks. "Then we will decide whether conditions are there to call an extra summit in November to finalise and formalise the deal."