02:24France: 'No one wants a long extension' - UK FM Hunt on Brexit
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that neither the United Kingdom nor the European Union want a long delay to Brexit, during a media freedom event on the sidelines of a G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Dinard, France on Friday.
"No one wants a long extension. I don't think the EU member states want a long extension. We certainly don't want a long extension and that's why we are seeking to resolve this and resolve this quickly," said Hunt.
In the event of a long extension the UK would be forced to take part in the upcoming European parliamentary elections, but Hunt stated that "there is zero appetite in the UK for fighting EP elections."
The Foreign Secretary also said that a no-deal Brexit would be harmful for both the UK and the EU and could plunge both into recession.
A "no deal outcome is bad for the UK, is also very bad for the European Union. None of our economies are growing fast enough to guarantee that a no-deal scenario wouldn't put us into recession. So it's a bad outcome all around," he commented.
During the event, Hunt appointed Amal Clooney, the international human rights lawyer, to act as the UK foreign secretary's special envoy on media freedom.
02:24British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that neither the United Kingdom nor the European Union want a long delay to Brexit, during a media freedom event on the sidelines of a G7 meeting of foreign ministers in Dinard, France on Friday.
"No one wants a long extension. I don't think the EU member states want a long extension. We certainly don't want a long extension and that's why we are seeking to resolve this and resolve this quickly," said Hunt.
In the event of a long extension the UK would be forced to take part in the upcoming European parliamentary elections, but Hunt stated that "there is zero appetite in the UK for fighting EP elections."
The Foreign Secretary also said that a no-deal Brexit would be harmful for both the UK and the EU and could plunge both into recession.
A "no deal outcome is bad for the UK, is also very bad for the European Union. None of our economies are growing fast enough to guarantee that a no-deal scenario wouldn't put us into recession. So it's a bad outcome all around," he commented.
During the event, Hunt appointed Amal Clooney, the international human rights lawyer, to act as the UK foreign secretary's special envoy on media freedom.