No 10 made clear that during the negotiations “she was clear, both in public and in private, that the UK may leave without a deal”. The Prime Minister hit back after the Brussels’ chief negotiator claimed the Prime Minister always knew the EU has “never been impressed” by such a demand. He also insisted the Withdrawal Agreement was the only way to leave in an “orderly manner” and said the UK would have to “face the consequences” if it crashed out. In an interview for last night’s BBC Panorama, recorded in May, Mr Barnier was asked if the PM or her negotiators had ever threatened a no-deal Brexit. He replied: “No, no, I never listened to such a sentence.” He also said he believed the UK knew the EU would not respond to no-deal threats.
