Minister ‘wants us to be a vassal state of Europe’

TORY backbenchers accused the Business Secretary of trying to keep Britain as a ‘vassal state’ after he hinted the Brexit transition period should be extended beyond December 2020.

Greg Clark provoked the wrath of Leave supporters when he refused to rule out extending the transition period, during which the UK will not be able to regain control over key areas such as immigration and fisheries. On delaying when the country breaks free from Brussels, Mr Clark told Sky News: ‘It seems to me that any reasonable person would have to be guided by the facts and evidence.’

Eurosceptic Tories yesterday warned they would not accept attempts to prolong the period. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads the European Research Group of MPs, said: ‘The only people who want to extend [it] are those who want us to be the vassal state.’ His colleague Andrea Jenkyns said an extension was ‘unacceptable’ as it would undermine confidence in politicians and affect businesses.

However, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said December 2020 was not a ‘magical date’.