'Botched Brexit would cause global downturn' Australian diplomat CALLS Brussels bluff

Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer said
the EU had to understand they have as much to lose
as Britain does from botched Brexit talks.
Speaking to Matt Frei on LBC, the Australian diplomat
said the whole world will be "setback" if the European
bloc continues to play hardball in negotiations.
Mr Downer said global players were keenly watching
the talks unfold, as he warned Brussels that if Britain
is forced to walk away , repercussions would be felt
around the world.
This comes as Conservative MPs have urged Theresa
May not to give in to Michel Barnier during Brexit
talks.
Australian High Commissioner has called out Brussels
for not taking Brexit seriously enough
The Australian diplomat said the world will be
"setback" if the bloc plays hardball
On the eve of the party conference, the British Prime
Minister has been told to walk away from talks if the
EU does not initiate trade talks before Christmas.
According to the reports, the MPs say Britain has
"nothing to fear" from a no-deal scenario and must not
be "held to ransom" by the EU.
Matt Frei quizzed the Australian diplomat, who has
been a strong advocate for a free trade deal between
his country and the UK after Brexit.
Frei pointed out: "There are pretty high stakes for the
EU. We were the second biggest economy, the second
biggest contributor to the EU budget.
"We created a balance between Northern and Southern
Europe."
Mr Downer echoed this argument during his interview
on LBC, saying that the EU should not withhold trade
talks for the sake of it.
Downer said global players were watching the talks
unfold with self-interest
The PM has been told to walk away from talks if the
EU does not initiate trade talks by Christmas
He
said:
"In the
UK the
EU's
stake
is
sometimes lost on people. But not in the rest of the
world.
"The UK and the EU represent a very large economic
entity, worldwide.
"If free trade is taken away from the EU and the UK
as a result of Britain leaving and unsuccessful
negotiations that will be a setback for the world, for
the global economy and the case for free trade.
"It is really important the EU negotiates a successful
agreement with the UK, and obviously the UK does its
part as well.
"It's not just about the UK it's also about the EU
itself."

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