UK will say no to any Brexit extension plea from the EU

THE UK’s chief negotiator has pledged that any request for an extension to the Brexit transition period from the EU will be rejected.

David Frost said that the Government’s position on the issue is “pretty clear”, and that negotiators are working towards an end of year deadline.

Mr Frost was answering questions from Peers on the House of Lords EU Committee on the progress of UK-EU future relationship negotiations alongside Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove.

Lord Wood of Anfield asked Mr Frost: “It sounds like the June deadline for an extension request is neither here nor there, it won’t be used under any circumstances. Is that true?

“Are there any circumstances for doing the negotiations that would prompt you to actually consider an extension request?”

Mr Frost responded: “The Government’s position’s pretty clear that we are not going to ask for an extension and if the EU asks for one, we will not agree to that.

“So I think that’s just part of the framework now and we’re working to an end-year deadline.”