Germans call for Brexit to be delayed until the end of 2020

BRITAIN should delay Brexit by up to two years or a deal will fall apart, Angela Merkel’s advisers say.

In a controversial assessment that will anger Downing Street, five senior economists said Brussels should prepare for Britain to remain a member of the bloc until the end of 2020.

The economists who form the Council of Experts, also known as ‘five wise men’, told Germany’s Chancellor that an extension to negotiations would be ‘sensible’.

As part of the move they recommend the UK all but replicates its current EU membership conditions, which would likely be for two years until the current EU budget ends in 2020.

‘The Council of Experts believes a one- off extension [of Brexit negotiations] that largely preserves the status quo would be sensible,’ they said.

Such an extension would need to be requested by the UK before being agreed unanimously by other member states.

They said: ‘If [preventing Brexit] is not possible, the objective of the negotiations should be to conclude a follow-up agreement that minimises damage from both sides. It is likely more time will be needed to negotiate this kind of agreement.’

In their annual report to the German parliament, the advisers also warned about the risk of a ‘no deal’ which they said could cause significant economic upheaval in the bloc. But they add: ‘Conversely, the possibility of the UK staying in the EU can’t be completely excluded.’

UK negotiators will today reconvene in Brussels, before Brexit Secretary David Davis meets the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier tomorrow.

Progress is unlikely with the UK expected to refuse making any concessions on the Brexit divorce bill. UK officials are expected to raise concerns that the EU is blocking progress by refusing to guarantee voting rights for UK citizens who remain in Europe after Brexit.

Despite Brussels insisting that the UK Government can only negotiate with the European Commission, the UK believes it should be able to negotiate with EU countries individually on the issue.

The EU will try to use uncertainty created by the deadlock to ‘ shake the tree’ and force successful businesses to relocate to Europe, if Downing Street fails to agree on a Brexit bill, according to the Daily Telegraph.