EU told: UK will quit Brexit talks before agreeing to 11th hour deal
BRITAIN will walk away from Brexit talks rather than hang on for an “11th hour” deal, Brussels was warned yesterday.
Cabinet Office minister Penny Mordaunt said there would be no point in striking a last-minute agreement because it would leave businesses scrambling to prepare for the changes.
The Paymaster General said the UK is pushing for negotiations on future relations to be speeded up and will not agree to extend the transition period.
Ms Mordaunt told MPs progress has stalled, but she remains confident a deal can be struck. She said: “There is no point in us arriving at an agreement at the 11th hour.
“We have to arrive at agreement to enable it to be implemented, ratified, but also for our citizens and businesses to prepare.
“That is what is dictating the timetable. That is why we must have renewed focus.
“We are talking to the EU about a change of format, about how we can increase the pace of negotiations, get the focus where we need it to be and get a deal done for both of our sakes.”
Ms Mordaunt and Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will hold talks on Friday with their EU counterparts on a joint Brexit committee.
Ms Mordaunt said that despite political bluster by Brussels during the transitions talks she believes there is still good faith on both sides.
But she warned the current demands by the bloc would bind us into EU law and would be unacceptable.
Ms Mordaunt told the Commons the fourth round of talks between the UK and EU last week were constructive.
But she said there was no movement on the most difficult areas including fisheries, governance and arrangements for a level playing field. Meanwhile Tory former cabinet ministers warned that businesses need to be better prepared for the impact of leaving the single market and customs union.
Ex-Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith said many firms have not realised the consequences of coming out of both and the Government “can start preparing them for that reality”.
Former Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said “whatever the outcome of the negotiations” changes will come into force on January 1 and businesses must be prepared.