Donald Trump Suggested I Sue EU over Brexit: Theresa May

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK, the British Prime Minister Theresa May revealed that her American counterpart had suggested she "sue" the European Union instead of negotiating with the 28-member economic bloc on Brexit.

During a joint press conference at the British Prime Minister's Chequers retreat on Friday, Trump had told reporters that he had given May a suggestion on how to deal with the EU but she probably found that "brutal" and "too tough".

In an interview with the BBC, May said, "He told me I should sue the EU - not go into negotiations," on being asked what that suggestion was.

During the interview, May laughed off the president's legal action suggestion, saying she would carry on with negotiations, but added: "Interestingly, what the president also said at that press conference was 'don't walk away'.

"Don't walk away from those negotiations because then you'll be stuck. So I want us to be able to sit down to negotiate the best deal for Britain."

Trump had declined to spell out what his advice to May had been, in an interview with U.S. TV network CBS, but added: "Maybe she'll take it, it's something she could do if she wanted to. "But it was strong advice. And I think it probably would have worked," Trump said.

The UK voted in 2016 to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019.

Days ahead of Trump's visit, Prime Minister May faced a major political crisis when her Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned, saying the deal the Cabinet was working on, would not deliver the Brexit people voted for in the 2016 referendum.

May's comments comes at a politically perilous moment for the prime minister, who is facing calls for a confidence vote over her leadership of the Conservative party, The Guardian commented.

Meanwhile, May went on to defend her controversial new White Paper for Brexit, which has shaken up her government with high-profile Cabinet resignations, and urged critics, both in and out of her own Conservative party, to back it.

"Interestingly, what the President also said at that press conference was 'don't walk away'. Don't walk away from those negotiations because then you'll be stuck. So, I want us to be able to sit down to negotiate the best deal for Britain," she said, urging people to "keep their eye on the prize" of Brexit.

Her message comes ahead of crucial votes in the House of Commons on trade and customs policy in the coming week, during which the government is likely to be under pressure to get them through Parliament.

Trump, who began a four-day visit to the UK on Thursday, will conclude the private leg of his tour in Scotland today to head to Finland for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki tomorrow. "The weather is beautiful and this place is incredible. Tomorrow I go to Helsinki for a meeting with Vladimir Putin," he said in a message on Twitter.

The U.S. President played a few rounds of golf at his Turnberry golf course on the Ayrshire coast, where he arrived on Saturday after tea with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 15, 2018 11:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).