A plea to the EU – don't cave in to Boris Johnson's rogue government and cherry-picked demands

It has been a shameful week in Westminster. Not only was the prime minister found to have broken the law, but he continues to use deliberately divisive language in order to try and force through Brexit at any cost—even if that cost is abuse against parliamentarians that could result in political violence.

In this context, millions of British pro-Europeans will be left feeling dismayed by the apparent determination of EU leaders to work with Boris Johnson to secure a botched Brexit deal, potentially leaving our MPs faced with a Hobson’s choice between his deal and no deal.

In a recent interview, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, haughtily declared that “Brexit will happen” and “we can have a deal”.

While his statements are part of the Brexit blame game, they leave a bad taste in the mouth for those of us who have campaigned and fought so hard over the past three years to keep Britain inside the EU.

Johnson and others appear oblivious to the fact that the UK parliament recently legislated for an extension and clearly specified that the UK does not want to leave the EU without a deal. The European Parliament then added its support for that extension last week, with 544 MEPs voting in favour of it.

It is understandable that Juncker and others feel that they have no choice but to negotiate with the government of the day. After all, the European Union still primarily functions as a club of member states.

But leaders of European institutions would do well to remember that Johnson leads an unstable minority government that could soon be ejected from power in a general election.

A deal with Johnson is unlikely to succeed after Theresa May's failed. Nor will it limit the spread of populism that infects both British politics and that of other EU member states. A show of solidarity with pro-European Brits could pay dividends for other EU countries fighting similar battles, now and in future.

European leaders should avoid the temptation to capitulate now based on the assumption that will in any way end a seemingly interminable Brexit process. It will instead ensure that the next phase of the Brexit negotiations, on the future relationship, are fraught and protracted.

The only way now to ensure a close EU-UK partnership is for the EU to support cross-party efforts within the British Parliament to ensure we do not leave on chaotic, damaging terms.

If anything, those of us fighting to preserve the fundamental European value of liberal, parliamentary democracy should be the ones receiving support.

The European Commission chose to stay out of the referendum on the UK's European Union membership. Juncker has since said that decision was a mistake, and has even suggested that more EU involvement might have produced a different outcome. It would be perverse and unwise for him and others to involve themselves in British politics to help deliver a Brexit deal that has no mandate.

Since opposition MPs in Britain have taken no deal off the table, it is hard to see why it is in the interests of the European Union to consider caving in to Boris Johnson's unrealistic, cherry-picking demands. First, this would undermine the founding principles of the EU. Secondly, Johnson’s reckless approach risks destroying the integrity of the United Kingdom – an outcome which is clearly not in the long-term strategic interests of the European Union.

Many of the colleagues I sit alongside in the European Parliament do not now see Brexit as inevitable. They understand that public opinion in the UK is shifting, evidenced by the election of 16 Liberal Democrat MEPs just a few months ago on a clear mandate to stop Brexit.

A reversal of Brexit, whether by a People's Vote or a general election that installs a Liberal Democrat Government, ready to revoke Article 50 on day one, is within grasp. This is an opportunity for the European Union. Granting the UK more time is worth it when the potential end result is for Britain to come out of it as a sincere, committed member of the EU.

At the very least, the European Commission and EU capitals should give those of us who still believe in a shared European future a fighting chance. We haven't given up on Europe; Europe must not now give up on us.

Luisa Porritt is the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament and MEP for London