Britain's exit from the EU: the new British prime minister will not change the withdrawal deal - Coveney

The deputy prime minister of Ireland has ruled out any renegotiation of the Brexit withdrawal deal if Theresa May was replaced as UK prime minister.

Speaking to RTÉ, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that "the person may change but the facts are not".

He described Mrs. May as a "decent person" and strongly criticized conservative MPs in Westminster.

May promised to set a timetable for the election of his successor after Brexit's next vote.

Mr Coveney describes political events in Westminster as "unusual", as he asks the logic of politicians who believe that the change of leader delivers changes to the agreement stabbed by Mrs. May.

He said that conservative MPs were "impossible" in the issue of Brexit.

"The EU has stated very clearly that the withdrawal agreement has been negotiated for two and a half years, it agrees with the British government and the British cabinet and is not up for renegotiation, though there is a new British prime minister, "he said.

He told RTE's This Week that many British politicians "do not understand, quite frankly, the complexity of politics in Northern Ireland."

"They tried to ignore this debate in a simplified argument under which Britain versus the EU, in exchange for two friends who are complicated by the complexity of a very difficult agreement."

Mr Coveney also said the Irish government will continue to focus considerable efforts and financial resources to plan the UK exit scenario from the EU after the collapse of Britain's exit talks from the European Union on Friday.

He said time was crucial for the UK to reach an agreement through parliament, adding that he was concerned that Britain would "not work together during the summer" and leave without agreement.

On Wednesday, Ms. May announced that members of Parliament would vote on a bill that would pave the way for Brixette in the week of June 3.

If the bill is not passed, the default position is that the UK will leave the EU on October 31 without a deal.

Britain's exit from the European Union was on March 29.

But the United Kingdom was granted an extension until October 31 after deputies voted three times on the withdrawal agreement that Ms. May negotiated with the EU - with 230, 149 and 58 votes.