May’s vow: Brexit transition WILL end before next election in 2022

THERESA May yesterday insisted Britain would be fully out of the EU before the next general election in 2022 – amid claims Brexit could be delayed until the end of that year.

The Prime Minister said it was ‘important’ to the British people that the transition period was brought to an end before the election. Under the terms of her draft Brexit agreement, the transition is due to last until December 31, 2020.

However, the text states the period may be extended to ‘20XX’ if more time is needed to complete a trade deal. The EU is now suggesting this date should be the end of 2022.

The date will be negotiated on this week. A 2022 limit could cause a political headache as under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act the next general election will be held in May of that year.

Brexiteer Tories believe it is important that when the party next goes to the polls the country is fully out of any transitional Brexit period.

Business Secretary Greg Clark yesterday signalled he was open to an extension of the transition, but former Tory leader Lord Howard warned it would only amount to ‘kicking the can down the line’.

Mrs May yesterday declared: ‘I think it is important in delivering for the British people that we are out of the implementation period before the next general election.’