Donald Tusk says there's 'a lot of space' in hell for people pushing no-deal Brexit
Richard Hartley-ParkinsonFriday 22 Mar 2019 6:47 am
European Council president Donald Tusk said there was 'a lot of space' in hell when asked about comments on those who promoted Brexit without a plan.
He was speaking alongside European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker after plans to push back Britain's departure from the European Union were approved.
Mr Tusk was asked about comments he made last month in which he said he had been 'wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan with how to carry it (out) safely'.
Donald Tusk said there was 'a lot of space' in hell when asked about comments on those who promoted Brexit without a plan (Picture: Getty)
He was quizzed about whether this 'special place' should be extended to MPs who vote against the Withdrawal Agreement next week.
'According to our pope, hell is still empty, it means there is a lot of space,' he replied.
Mr Juncker then added 'Don't go to hell!' as the press conference drew to a close.
Meanwhile, Theresa May ruled out cancelling Brexit after a petition passed two million signatures.
The Prime Minister said she did not believe in halting the deadline after the EU offered a delay plan, adding: 'I do not believe that we should be revoking Article 50.'
With the highest sign-up rate on record, more 2,000,000 people had pledged their support by the time she fielded questions from reporters in Brussels on Thursday.
Theresa May has refused to acknowledge a petition signed by 2million people calling for Article 50 to be revoked (Picture: Reuters)
The Prime Minister said she did not believe in halting the deadline after the EU offered a delay plan (Picture: Getty)
Asked whether she thought the public's view had shifted towards revoking Article 50, Mrs May said: 'If you look back to what happened in the referendum, we saw the biggest democratic exercise in our history.
'And there was a clear result that we should leave the European Union. We said here's the vote, what is your decision, and we will deliver on it.
'And I believe it's our duty as a Government and as a Parliament to deliver on that vote.'
The petition on the Parliament website quickly gained support in the wake of the Prime Minister's speech on Wednesday night and Revoke Article 50 started to trend on Twitter.
As of 6am today, nearly 2.3 million people had pledged their support to the cause.
Data from the petitions website shows support for the petition concentrated in London and constituencies around Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Oxford and Edinburgh.
In the 2016 referendum, these six cities were also in favour of Remain.
Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker pictured heading to a media conference at yesterday's EU summit (Picture: AP)
The original tweet that caused a backlash (Picture: Donald Tusk)
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