Brexit is in the balance if MPs reject May’s deal, says Fox

THE odds of Britain leaving the European Union are “50-50” if parliament rejects Theresa May’s Brexit deal, Liam Fox warned last night.

The International Trade Secretary said that the only way to be “100 per cent certain” that Britain will leave the EU is if MPs vote for the Prime Minister’s withdraw agreement.

“If we were not to vote for the that, I’m not sure I would give much more than 50-50,” he told The Sunday Times.

He said that it was a “matter of honour” for Conservative MPs to back Mrs May and that parliament must respect the referendum result.

“Parliament cannot now, with any honour renege on that result.”

His intervention in support of the Prime Minister’s deal came as he said that Scotch whisky could be boosted by Brexit if the UK joins a trans-Pacific trade agreement.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which comes into force today, will eliminate tariffs on 95 per cent of goods traded between states.

The agreement covers 11 countries, including Australia, Canada and Japan, as well as fast-growing economies such as Malaysia and Vietnam.

According to the Department for International Trade (DIT), UK Scotch whisky exports to CPTPP nations were worth £850million in 2017-18.

CPTPP countries account for 17.8 per cent of global Scotch whisky exports.

The Government has suggested that joining the CPTPP would bring savings for exporters and is analysing responses to a public consultation on potential accession to the trade bloc.