UK’s Hunt says Britain can flourish without Brexit deal

TOKYO (AP) — British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said yesterday that the UK will flourish with or without an agreement on its relationship with the European Union after it leaves the grouping next year.

A “no-deal” Brexit is possible, he said in an interview in Tokyo, “but I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest for that to happen. So that’s why we are cautiously optimistic we will get a deal. But there’s a lot of work to do to get there.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Salzburg, Austria today to meet other EU leaders.

She needs to win over both the European Union and critics of her Brexit proposal within her own Conservative Party.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29.

Japanese companies with operations in Britain are among those worried about the impact of a “no-deal” Brexit, in particular on their ability to export from the UK to the rest of Europe without tariffs or other trade restrictions.

Under a no-deal scenario, the UK would leave the EU without establishing rules for future trade between Britain and the 27 remaining EU mem- ber countries.

“The UK will flourish and prosper as one of the strongest economies in the world whatever the outcome of these talks,” Hunt said, noting its business-friendly environment and strong universities.

He defended the May government’s proposed Brexit deal, which has been roundly attacked by his predecessor, Boris Johnson.

Hunt succeeded Johnson as foreign secretary in July.

“British politics is littered with the graveyards of people who have predicted the demise of Theresa May and been proved wrong,” he said.