The European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness claimed the European Union shared none of the blame - an answer met with silence from the audience - for the Brexit impasse after being quizzed on Question Time. BBC presenter Fiona Bruce asked the European Union chief if the bloc could have done more as the Prime Minister has been forced to enter talks with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to try to deliver Britain’s exit from the bloc. Bruce said: “One of the criticisms of Theresa May is that she triggered Article 50 too soon, but also that was something that came from the EU.
“The EU was not prepared to negotiate until Article 50 was triggered. That was made completely explicit.
“Obviously there is a lot of criticism of Theresa May and her Government, does the EU share any of the responsibility for the mess we are in now, because of that?”
Ms McGuinness replied: “Frankly, no.”
The host quickly interrupted: “Because if we hadn’t triggered Article 50, some might argue we might have been able to reach a consensus and then trigger Article 50.”
BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce quizzed Mairead McGuinness (Image: BBC)
That would be disrespecting the treaty, and rules matter
Mairead McGuinness
Ms McGuinness said: “That would be disrespecting the treaty, and rules matter.
“Before we even get to Theresa May, David Cameron came to Europe before he had the referendum, he got concessions which he completely refused, if you like failed to communicate, and he went for a referendum that frankly I knew he couldn’t win, because I didn’t think he was