Davis refuses to back May as ‘writer of Brexit final chapter’
DAVID DAVIS has said he does not expect another election within the next five years but he declined to confirm that Theresa May would “write the final chapter in Brexit”.
At a speech in Washington, the Brexit Secretary also admitted that the latest round of Brussels talks had been “tense” and added that he expected more “turbulent” times ahead.
Asked how long the current Government will remain in power and whether the Prime Minister would write the final chapter as the UK leaves the EU, Mr Davis said it is his “expectation” that there will not be another snap election.
He told the US Chamber of Commerce: “We have changed our structure recently. It used to be prime ministers would call the election whenever they like. Now we have a five-year [term] which makes it actually quite difficult.”
But in response to the second part of the question the Brexit Secretary gave a garbled response.
“The real issue on Brexit is mostly practical. What deal we need, what can we sell to the other European countries, what’s in the mutual best interest of all of us? And that’s the driver. It’s the same driver within the parliamentary… there is a majority to carry through Brexit in the UK Parliament and it will get done,” he said.
The response will prompt questions about whether Mrs May can, as she announced in Japan this week, lead the Conservatives into the next election.
Mr Davis also revealed he was “proud” of being called a “charming b------” after a confrontational press conference with the EU’S chief negotiator Michel Barnier. “I have said from the beginning it will be turbulent.”