Donald Tusk warns of 'no time to lose' as European Council president congratulates Theresa May on remaining Prime Minister

Warning: European Council president Donald Tusk
AFP/Getty Images
Chris Baynes9 June 2017
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Donald Tusk has written to Theresa May to warn there is "no time to lose" in negotiations over the UK's Brexit deal.

The European Council leader congratulated the Conservative leader after she announced she was to form a minority government with the backing of the Democratic Unionist Party.

European leaders had earlier cast doubt over Brexit after the snap General Election ended in a hung parliament, plunging the UK into political turmoil.

Mr Tusk tweeted on Friday morning that there was a risk Britain could be left with "no deal" if talks in Brussels were delayed by the uncertainty.

In his letter, he wrote: "On behalf of the European Council, I would like to congratulate you on your reappointment as Prime Minister.

"Our shared responsibility and urgent task now is to conduct the negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union in the best possible spirit, securing the least disruptive outcome for our citizens, businesses and countries after March 2019.

"The timeframe set by Article 50 of the Treaty leaves us with no time to lose. I am fully committed to maintaining regular and close contact at our level to facilitate the work of our negotiators."

Donald Tusk wrote to contratulate Theresa May
PA

Leaders across Europe reacted after the shock results of Thursday's vote, called by Ms May in a bid to strengthen her hand in negotiations and cement Tory power, left no party able to form a majority government.

Some warned a weakened Westminster government could undermine the Brexit process, with European Parliament's Brexit representative describing the snap General Election as "yet another own goal".

Ms May, who campaigned against Brexit last year, had demanded a clean break from the EU single market and called a snap election hoping for a big majority to strengthen her negotiating hand.

That was also the broadly desired outcome in Brussels, where leaders believed that a stronger British government would be better able to cut compromise deals with the EU and resist pressure from hardline pro-Brexit factions in her party that have called for Britain to reject EU terms and potentially walk out without a deal.

In a statement issued from Downing Street on Friday afternoon, Ms May claimed her party's deal with the Democratic Unionists offered "certainty and legitimacy commanding a majority in the House of Commons".

She ignored the weakening of her position and vowed to govern for the next five years.

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