MPs’ plan to stop no-deal Brexit is on-going, Tory rebel says
Prime Minister Boris Johnson issues a statement to the House of Commons. Photograph: PA Wire. - Credit: PA
Cross-party talks between opponents of a no-deal Brexit have been going on 'for months and months' and will continue until the October 31st deadline, a former minister has said.
Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there are "all sorts of talks going on" as the UK prepares for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
Asked whether he had been having talks with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Oliver said talks have been going on with many people.
He told the Today programme: "There are all sorts of talks going on between everybody and everybody else, and there will continue to be between now and October."
He added: "It is certainly true we have been talking to one another for months and months."
You may also want to watch:
Sir Oliver also said Theresa May's government did not do enough to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
He said: "I think there should have been considerably more preparation even stretching back a couple of years.
Most Read
- 1 Betty Boothroyd delivers scathing assessment of Boris Johnson's government
- 2 House of Lords defies No 10 and votes to heavily defeat Boris Johnson's Brexit bill
- 3 Boris Johnson 'plans to resign' in six months because he can't live on £150k salary
- 4 ERG MP says Boris Johnson should consider cutting ties with Church of England following Brexit row
- 5 Diane Abbott accuses Keir Starmer of having 'other motives' while shadow Brexit secretary
- 6 Leaked memo exposes government fears over rise in support for Scottish independence
- 7 Labour MP lashes out at Boris Johnson over £150k wage complaint during fiery debate on Manchester lockdown
- 8 Labour MP calls Dan Wootton a 'complete and utter nutcase' following Covid-19 herd immunity comment
- 9 Government told to publish impact assessments for Boris Johnson's 'Narnia' deal with EU
- 10 Dominic Cummings dodges £50k in unpaid taxes after decision to 'write off' charges
"But we are where we are and although, as you've just said, I don't think it's very sensible for this country to be heading towards a no-deal, we have to accept this government intends, if it can't get the deal it likes, to take us out without a deal.
"So we may very well find ourselves leaving without a deal, and in that context it makes abundant sense to do everything that can be done in the next three months to prepare the country to minimise the impact of it."
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.