No-deal Brexit would 'cause enormous damage': Polish deputy FM

Konrad Szymański said British Prime Minister Theresa May was waging a “heroic battle” to persuade UK lawmakers to back an exit deal she has struck with EU leaders.

In a last-ditch attempt to sway opponents, May on Wednesday offered to step down if her Brexit deal was finally passed by the parliament in London.

Britain had been due to leave the bloc this Friday, March 29, but EU leaders meeting in Brussels last week agreed to delay Brexit.

The UK's departure will be postponed to May 22 if the British parliament approves a withdrawal agreement this week.

If UK lawmakers fail to back the deal, Britain will have until April 12 to suggest an alternative to EU leaders or leave without a deal.

Szymański, who is Poland's deputy foreign minister in charge of European affairs, has previously said that Poles living and working in Britain are safe even if there is a "hard" Brexit.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters in Brussels last week that a no-deal Brexit would be a bad scenario for both the UK and the EU.

Around 1 million Poles live in the UK, constituting that country’s largest minority community.

May at the end of last year told Poles living in her country that they were welcome and would be able to stay in the UK after Brexit.

(gs/pk)

Source: PAP, TVN24