I’m not sad about leaving EU, Theresa May tells emotional European leaders

‘We will remain friends until the end of days, and a day longer,’ European Council president says

Theresa May has said she is not sad about leaving the EU, after a string of the bloc’s leaders gave emotional goodbyes to Britain.

The prime minister met with EU leaders on Sunday in Brussels for the final signoff of her Brexit deal, which was described by one senior EU official as “dignified, solemn, measured, composed”.

Asked whether she shared the views of people like European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker who had branded today a “sad day”, the prime minister said: “No: but I recognise that others do; I recognise that some European leaders are sad at this moment.”

She added that she understood that some in the UK would also be sad.

Mr Juncker’s counterpart Donald Tusk, the European Council president said: “We will remain friends until the end of days, and a day longer.”

French president Emmanuel Macron took a contrary view of the situation, telling reporters on the doorstep of the summit: “It’s not a day when we should celebrate, nor a day of mourning. It is the choice of a sovereign people.”

Speaking at a press conference after the signoff, the prime minister said she had rejected the “council of despair” of those who said no deal could be good for both the UK and EU.

She claimed the deal would get rid of vast annual payments, and give Britain control of its border and laws – despite criticisms that it would tie the UK into EU rules and require a massive divorce bill.

She insisted the public would also swing behind the plan, which polls suggest is unpopular across the political spectrum.

“When they look at this deal they will see that it is a good one for our country and that it is in the national interest for everyone to get behind it,” she said, adding that her focus now was on getting MPs to back it.

But she ruled out giving the public a final say on the deal, suggesting another referendum would be undemocratic.