Fox says UK does not need trade deal with Europe after Brexit
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Brexiteer cabinet minister Liam Fox has reiterated the government's widely ridiculed negotiating tactic of 'no deal is better than a bad deal'.
The Trade Secretary said the UK 'can of course survive' without securing a trade deal with the European Union after Brexit.
May has repeatedly stated that her approach to Brexit is 'no deal is better than a bad deal' and Fox said it was important that the EU recognised that resolve.
You may also want to watch:
He told BBC Radio 4's Today: 'We don't want to have 'no deal', it is much better that we have a deal than no deal. We can of course survive with no deal and we have to go into a negotiation with those on the other side knowing that's what we think.
Most Read
- 1 A lesson from the last of Mainwaring's men
- 2 Scathing report accuses Boris Johnson of 'only caring for England'
- 3 Nick Clegg says EU 'let itself and millions of Europeans' down over Covid vaccine programme
- 4 The stench of scandal seeping out from Britain
- 5 European Council president faces call to resign over 'Sofagate' incident
- 6 How the vaccines have shifted opinions over Brexit
- 7 No 10 rewrote race disparity report, expert claims
- 8 Exports to EU increase in February after record fall
- 9 Sturgeon attacks Westminster decision to refer Holyrood Bills to Supreme Court
- 10 Former chief scientist accuses Boris Johnson of privatising NHS 'by stealth'
'But of course we want to come to a full and comprehensive deal with the European Union.'
Such a deal would benefit both the UK and EU and 'the only reason we would not come to a free and open agreement is because politics get in the way of economics'.
Fox stressed that leaving the EU meant quitting the single market and customs union as he was pressed over whether the UK could stay inside those arrangements as part of a transitional deal.
'If we are to have an implementation phase between leaving the European Union and our final settlement, I don't have a problem with that.
'But I do think we have to leave the EU first of all to keep faith with the voters who instructed us to do that.'
He added: 'You cannot leave the European Union and be in the single market or the customs union.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
