Face of Nation : The Dutch leader was confronted by the BBC editor on the proposition the controversial backstop protocol included in Theresa May’s Brexit deal could have a time limit agreed between Brussels and the next UK Prime Minister to unlock the political impasse by October 31. Mr Rutte dismissed the proposal as he argued a five to six years time limit to the backstop process aimed at avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would eventually lead to the end of the Good Friday Agreement as the EU would not be able to agree to a trade deal with the UK in that amount of time.
He said: “Let’s go through that idea. You would have a time limit for the backstop.
“That means that in four or five, six years time, if there is no other solution for the border issue – and I don’t think there will be or we will be able to have anything in place in the next four, five or six years, purely technically and logistically – with the present position of the present UK Government there will be a hard border in your scenario in four or five years.
“And do we want that? I don’t think so because it would be the end of the Good Friday Agreement.”
But the BBC editor hit the Dutch leader back with the obvious alternative to his staunch position against the UK.
As Mr Rutte replied he “hated” the idea of a hard Brexit “from every angle”, Dr Adler promptly pointed out: “It would be very bad for the Netherlands, right?”
The Dutch leader admitted: “Yes, it will have a bad impact on the economy here, in Ireland, in parts of France, in Belgium, in Denmark, yes it will have.
“But it will first of all a huge impact on the United Kingdom.
“With a hard Brexit, or even with a normal Brexit the UK will be a different country.
“It will be a diminished country. It is unavoidable.
“Because you will no longer part of the European Union and you will not be big enough to have an important position, important enough on the stage of the world. And of that, I am pretty convinced.”
He added: “But with a hard Brexit, the economic impact is even bigger so I don’t want it.
“But I cannot make changes to the UK negotiating position.”
Mr Rutte also made clear that there could not be a transition period if a withdrawal agreement was not in place, telling the BBC editor: “As Boris Johnson would say, Brexit is Brexit.
“I would say a hard Brexit is a hard Brexit.
“I don’t see how you can sweeten it.”
Mr Rutte’s comments come in the midst of the Tory leadership race to replace Theresa May and re-open the Brexit negotiations with the EU.
In Wednesday’s ballot, Boris Johnson received 143 votes, up from 126 on Tuesday, with Mr Hunt on 54, up from 46.
Michael Gove was in third place, up 10 from 41 to 51 votes, while Sajid Javid picked up five extra votes to reach 38.
Rory Stewart was eliminated from the contest after his tally fell from 37 to 27 and he suggested there had been “shenanigans” in the run-up to the ballot.
But after the result, he told Peston: “I don’t think it was dirty tricks by Boris.
“I think what happened is that somehow some combination of my message and momentum convinced the other camps to tighten up, so I think most of my votes will have gone to Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and some to Sajid.”
