With the news of a hung Parliament, doubts have been raised as to whether Brexit negotiations will see further delay.
The Brexit negotiations were a key factor in Theresa May’s snap election, who said: “Every vote for the Conservatives will make me stronger when I negotiate for Britain with the prime ministers, presidents and chancellors of the European Union.”
The Tories lost 13 seats.
The negotiations are set to start in just ten days time but this is likely to face a delay.
“We are ready to start negotiations,” said Jean-Claude Juncker, The European Commission president. “I hope that the British will be able to form as soon as possible a stable government. I don’t think that things now have become easier but we are ready.”
Whilst Brussels officials have said that the date is not set in stone, the date of the UK’s departure from the EU is. Article 50 will be triggered on March 29th 2019, whether or not a withdrawal deal has been reached.
Brexit was a key decider in last night’s election for voters. A recent YouGov poll showed that Brexit is one of the three most important issues the UK faces in the coming months according to 63 percent of Britons.
If May manages to continue with a minority government, she will continue to take on Brexit negotiations but these will likely be watered down as she will undoubtedly face hard resistance from opposition parties.
“Hard Brexit went into the rubbish bin tonight.” former Chancellor George Osborne told ITV News.
If May does choose to step down, the negotiations will likely be delayed as the Tories find a new leader.
Whether or not the talks will be delayed, many have expressed concerns that a weak government will be a threat to progress for the negotiations.
“I think it will be much messier now and negotiations will be much more difficult,” said Andrius Kubilius, former conservative prime minister of Lithuania, who sits on Lithuania’s Brexit committee.
“That’s an early thought but it depends on the internal decisions of Britain. I think there will be a greater demand for a softer Brexit now and that is to be welcomed.”