EU talks delayed:

Uncertainty over Queen’s speech and doubts surround drive for hard Brexit

BREXIT SECRETARY David Davis has signalled that negotiations over the UK’s exit from the EU will not begin next Monday, amid uncertainty over the date of the Queens Speech.

The Secretary of State confirmed discussions with EU leaders will take place next week, but could be pushed back to accommodate the State Opening of Parliament, which is itself facing a threat of delay.

The revelation followed reports that some pro-EU members of the Cabinet are manoeuvring to press for a “softer” Brexit, including reaching out to Labour MPs.

It also came amid fresh confusion over Labour’s own Brexit strategy, after a Shadow Cabinet member appeared to suggest the party could keep Britain in the single market.

The prospect of negotiations with Brussels beginning on June 19 was a running theme in the Conservative election campaign.

Mrs May and other senior Tories frequently warned voters that talks would get under way “just 11 days” after the polls closed, as they sought to play up their party’s readiness to stand up to the EU and secure a “good deal” for Britain.

But speaking to Sky News yesterday, Mr Davis revealed the first official meeting with European officials “may not be on the Monday” but instead sometime “next week”.

He blamed the delay on the Queen’s Speech, in which he was expected to take a leading role.

It later emerged that the speech itself could be postponed, with some sources claiming this was because the special parchment on which the address is written takes too long to dry.

But it is widely understood that the real issue is ongoing uncertainty over talks between the Government and the DUP.

The reduction in Mrs May’s majority following last week’s election has led her critics to suggest her mandate for a hard Brexit has been weakened. According to reports in the

Evening Standard, pro-Remain Cabinet members are planning to work with Labour MPs and European leaders to push for new a deal which will protect the UK economy.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman claimed there has been “no change” in the Government’s plans for Brexit, which include leaving the single market and European Courts.

Mr Davis yesterday confirmed that leaving the single market

The first bit of negotiations... includes European citizens in the UK. Secretary of State for Brexit David Davis on the forthcoming talks with the EU.

and customs union remain “fundamentals”.

However, he indicated that the government is willing to accept the European Union’s proposed framework for talks, which includes reaching an agreement on the conditions surrounding Britain’s withdrawal ahead of discussions of a new trade deal.

“The first bit of (negotiations)... includes European citizens in the UK. It includes money – they want to talk about that, we think it should come later – and Northern Ireland,” he said.

“But I will have some discussions with (Michel) Barnier about how we progress to the wider thing of the trade area.”

Labour was also facing tough questions over its Brexit policies yesterday after shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner appeared to contradict fellow shadow cabinet colleagues by suggesting the UK could remain a member of the single market.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, he said that while the Conservatives have taken membership of the free trade area “off the table... we’ve said let’s look at that and see if it can be reformed”.

The party was criticised during the election campaign for failing to clarify its position on a range of Brexit-related policies, including immigration.

Mr Gardiner later backtracked, stating in an interview with the

Daily Politics that the party is “committed” to leaving the Single Market in order to avoid having to accept the four conditions of membership, including free movement.

Speaking to the World at One, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer added that it was clear from the EU referendum result that immigration rules must change.

However, he said some form of access to the single market is essential and attacked the Conservatives for “sweeping options off the table before they even started the negotiations”.