Davis says he is getting ready for no-deal Brexit

Brexit Secretary David Davis has said Britain will be ready for its EU withdrawal, even if talks in Brussels fail to produce a good deal.

He told the Tory conference in Manchester that work was under way at Whitehall “devoted to contingency arrangements so that we are ready for any outcome”.

He said: “We are aiming for a good deal, and that is what we expect to achieve.

“However, if the outcome of the negotiation falls short of the deal that Britain needs, we will be ready for the alternative... anything else would be a dereliction of duty.”

Mr Davis accused Labour of offering “government without the hard bits” by opposing Brexit at every step. And he aimed a jibe at Boris Johnson, adding: “We train the best diplomats and put them to the test by sending them to work for the Foreign Secretary.” Reports yesterday claimed Mr Davis was planning to retire in 2019.

Trade Secretary Liam Fox called for an end to the “selfdefeating pessimism” and criticised “naysayers” for prefacing good news with the phrase “despite Brexit”.