EU’s Tusk: Idea of Britain ‘having cake and eating it’ on Brexit is finished

Donald Tusk has said Theresa May’s Florence speech shows the idea of Britain "having a cake and eating it" on Brexit is finished.

Speaking outside Downing Street following talks with Mrs May, the European Council president also said there was not yet sufficient progress to move the exit negotiations on to the next stage, the future trading relationship.

Mr Tusk welcomed what he said was a new "constructive" and "realistic" tone from London, saying this made him feel "cautiously optimistic" about the divorce talks.

He added: "This shows that the philosophy of having a cake and eating it is finally coming to an end … at least I hope so. That’s good news."

The reference was a clear dig at Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has claimed Britain could have its cake and eat it when it comes to leaving the EU.

On the progress of the negotiations, Mr Tusk said Brexit was an exercise in "damage control", adding: "I feel now we will discuss our future relations with the UK once there is so-called sufficient progress.

"The two sides are working and we will work hard at it.

"But if you ask me, and if today member states ask me, I would say there is no sufficient progress yet. But we will work."

Arriving at Number 10 earlier, Mr Tusk described the PM’s address in Florence last week as "excellent".

In the speech she set out plans for a two-year transition period before Brexit takes full effect and promised the UK would "honour its commitments" on the EU budget.

Mr Tusk told the PM: "After your excellent speech in Florence I am much more optimistic. Of course, still we have to do something maybe more substantive."

Mrs May said the pair agreed that "things have moved on" in the Brexit process.

She stressed the need for a "good economic and security partnership" between the UK and EU once the divorce is finalised.

The PM said: "I set out in my speech last week in Florence the hope for working together to that deep and special partnership I think we want to create with the European Union once we leave the European Union.

"And the commitment we have to looking for a really good economic partnership.

"I think that by being creative in the ways that we approach these issues we can find solutions that work both for the remaining 27 but also for the UK and maintain that co-operation and partnership between the UK and the EU."

Mr Tusk discussed progress in the exit negotiations with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier before heading to London.

The fourth round of talks began in Brussels on Monday, with Brexit Secretary David Davis insisting there are "no excuses" for blocking progress.

Mr Davis said the PM’s speech set out "concrete proposals" and a breakthrough was now needed.

But Mr Barnier insisted real progress on citizens’ rights, the Irish border and the so-called "exit bill" was "essential" to move discussions to the next phase.

He said he was "keen and eager" to see how Mrs May’s speech would be turned into a negotiating strategy.

(c) Sky News 2017: EU’s Tusk: Idea of Britain ‘having cake and eating it’ on Brexit is finished