A statement by GUE/NGL President and member of the Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, Gabi Zimmer

The overwhelming rejection of the Brexit deal in the House of Commons is deeply frustrating.

We have been negotiating for years and campaigning on behalf for our citizens. We listened to our British friends and their concerns but once again, they threw away this last chance.

We are witnessing a parliament that is paralysed by party divisions and internal bickering. British citizens will have to pick up this mess because a hard Brexit now looks inevitable.

To date, British MPs have never been able to tell us what they truly want. For us, it had been clear from the start that the EU must not allow the return of a hard border or border control on the island of Ireland. There is no other way to protect The Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts.

Frankly, the easiest solution would be to have no border in Ireland. Brexit hardliners would then have no problem with the backstop, no Irish border and a smooth Brexit from the EU.

Unfortunately, every single suggestion has been rejected by the British.