Barclay ‘not afraid’ of No Deal exit
CABINET divisions intensified yesterday after the Brexit Secretary said the UK ‘shouldn’t be afraid to leave with No Deal’ this month – hours after the Government ruled it out.
Steve Barclay told the BBC: ‘We need a deal, we need to get that over the line. But if we don’t have a deal we should leave with No Deal. That’s always been my position.’
Parliament voted by 413 to 202 on Thursday night to seek an extension Article 50 and prevent the UK leaving without a deal on March 29. Faced with deep Tory divisions, Theresa May offered her MPs a free vote – and Mr Barclay was one of only seven Cabinet ministers to vote against any delay.
Despite being at odds with government policy, sources close to Mr Barclay denied last night that he was preparing to resign.