EU warned ‘history will judge both sides very badly if we get this wrong’

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned that future generations will blame the EU if it fails to come to an agreement at this point in the Brexit negotiations.

His declaration came as Downing Street confirmed the UK government would not have completed all of the secondary legislation needed to prepare for life after Brexit by the time of the UK’S scheduled withdrawal on 29 March.

A spokeswoman confirmed certain pieces of legislation had been “deprioritised” and will be dealt with after Brexit day.

But she insisted that all “vital” changes to the statute book will be ready in time for the UK’S withdrawal, whether it happens with or without a deal with the EU.

Mrhunttoldthebbcradio4 Today programme yesterday: “This is a moment of change in our relationship between the UK and the EU and history will judge both sides very badly if we get this wrong.

“We want to remain the best of friends with the EU.

“That’s what the UK has said we want to do, it’s what most people in the UK want and feel very strongly about.

“But it does need the EU also to be flexible in these negotiations and understand that we now have a very, very clear ask.

“We know what it would take to get a deal through the House of Commons and that is for a significant change to ... say we couldn’t be trapped in a customs union forever.

“That’s not an unreasonable thing to ask and we have made, I think, some progress in the last few days. There’s a bit more to make. It’s entirely possible to get there.

“And frankly I think future generations, if this ends in acrimony, will say that the EU got this moment wrong. And I really hope they don’t.”