Theresa May says Brexit talks to start next week as French president suggests time is of the essence if decision is to be reversed

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has claimed the door to the EU will remain open to Britain during Brexit negotiations that get underway next week.

In remarks that will be taken as an encouraging sign by opponents of a hard Brexit that there may be room for compromise, the newly elected French leader said the decision to leave the EU could still be reversed if the UK wished to do so.

EU door remains open until UK departs, Macron tells May – politics live Read more

Speaking in the gardens of the Élysée Palace in Paris in a joint press conference with Theresa May, Macron made it clear that he respected the sovereign decision of the British people. However, he added: “Until negotiations come to an end there is always a chance to reopen the door.”

And Macron suggested that time was of the essence, saying: “As the negotiations go on it will be more and more difficult to go backwards.”

The prime minister’s first foreign visit following the general election last Thursday in which she hoped to win a landslide should have been a triumphant occasion. Instead, her visit to the French capital was overshadowed by the disappointment of the election result and ongoing haggling with the DUP to create stability in the British government.

Asked whether her failure to secure a majority in last week’s election, which resulted in a hung parliament, would lead Britain towards a softer Brexit, May said she remained determined to make a success of Brexit but wished to maintain a “deep and special partnership” with the EU.

She said she wanted an outcome that would be in the interests of both the UK and the EU27. But as officials across Whitehall race to finalise Britain’s position before talks begin next week, there were signs that the definition of that outcome could be shifting.

Ahead of a critical session of the Brexit subcommittee on Thursday, chancellor Philip Hammond and business secretary Greg Clark are pushing hard to ensure that the UK is seeking a jobs and business-first deal. Insiders have admitted that “parliamentary mathematics” makes it likely that the government will now pursue a softer deal.

Others at the meeting will include Brexit secretary David Davis and the home secretary, Amber Rudd.

May understands the need to consider the policy positions on Brexit of other parties including Labour, given her failure to secure a majority, but is also under pressure from Brexiters on her own backbenches who could pull the rug from her leadership if she fails to deliver on their expectations.

Meanwhile, criticism of the decision to enter talks with the DUP from Sir John Major, the former Tory prime minister, who claimed that a deal could put peace in Northern Ireland at risk, presented May with a further problem. She remained tight-lipped during the press conference about her morning of talks at No 10 with DUP leader Arlene Foster, but said that Major was incorrect.

“We as a government remain absolutely steadfast in our commitment to the Belfast agreement and the subsequent agreements,” she said, saying the government’s commitment to devolution in Northern Ireland was “absolute”.

She said the electoral pact with the DUP was about providing stable government. “We stand at a critical time with those Brexit negotiations starting only next week, I think that stability is important. We have worked as a party with the DUP before and those are productive talks.”

In a move to ensure unity, the prime minister had earlier appointed prominent pro-Brexit MP Steve Baker – who chairs the influential European Research Group of Tory backbenchers – as a minister in the department for exiting the European Union.



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However, he opted for conciliatory language before his appointment, claiming the language of hard or soft Brexit “is so misleading”, and added: “We need the ‘softest’ exit consistent with actually leaving and controlling laws, money, borders and trade.”

It came as alliances across parliament among those wanting to press for a close relationship with the EU began to build up, with conversations even taking place between members of the cabinet and Labour MPs. It is thought that the Conservatives are preparing to back amendments laid down by other parties as a means of influencing policy towards Brexit.

Labour backbencher Pat McFadden said he was unaware of any cross-party talks but called for parliament to urgently revive the Brexit select committee, amid fears that its formation could be delayed for some time.

“The talks are going to begin in a matter of days,” he said. “It is important that we get the Brexit select committee up and running as soon as possible. If ministers are reexamining some of their pre-election positions, for example on the customs union, then parliament must be in a position to scrutinise that.”

The Guardian understands that a number of issues are being mooted at the top of government including the idea of full membership of the customs union, dropping the language of “no deal being better than a bad deal” and even a more flexible approach to immigration – although no decisions have been taken. Sources told that the Guardian that one of the key issues on the table was legislation around the customs union with Hammond pushing for continued membership while May has so far suggested Britain would be at least partially out. The DUP arrangement could make it more likely for customs integration given the questions around the Irish border - although the fear of Brexiteers would be any move that prevents Britain signing new trade deals.

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Chuka Umunna, a Labour MP who is a strong proponent of soft Brexit, said May would need to reach out across party lines. “I do not see how the prime minister is going to get not only a deal but all legislation needed to be implemented to give effect to our withdrawal from the EU without a commanding cross-party agreement. Otherwise every single vote is going to be subject to five or six MPs who may take an objection to it because of a particular constituency interest,” he said.

He said Conservative remainers had been emboldened by the election result, claiming a negative atmosphere towards them has now dissipated. “The Tory remainers have a licence to speak and act in a way they did not before.”

May’s French trip is part of projecting a warmer image to MPs in her party who had been furious about the election result but are now seemingly rallying behind their leader.

After greeting each other in front of the palace, with Macron kissing May on both cheeks, the prime minister and president sat down to a dinner of duck liver pâté with summer truffles, monkfish steamed in Provençal rosé, served with potatoes and carrots, followed by cake and red fruits.

The two leaders then left the Élysée to see England play France in the football friendly at the Stade de France, where a minute’s silence was held to remember the victims of the Manchester and London attacks. The republican guard played Oasis song Don’t Look Back in Anger as the pair arrived at the match, a song that has become a tribute to victims of the Manchester Arena bombing.