Even a former World Trade Organisation boss thinks Brexit on WTO rules would make ‘no sense’

A former boss of the World Trade Organisation has spoken out against Brexiteers' plans for a hard Brexit on the organisation's rules.

Pascal Lamy claimed a no-deal Brexit would make 'no sense' in a 'world that is globalising and integrating'.

He urged the British government to strike an agreement to ensure there is continuity beyond March 29th, contradicting the vision of Brexiteers like Farage and Rees-Mogg, who want to end up on WTO rules.

Lamy told Euronews: 'I know there's a view on the Brexit side that they become independent, they regain control.

'In a world which is globalising, integrating, I think it makes absolutely no sense.

'What would be the sense of having a regulation for 60 million people when the world is moving to zones who have regulations for 500 million or 600 million people? It makes no sense.'

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Lamy believed neither parties would allow a no-deal Brexit to happen, which he compared to 'jumping off the cliff without a parachute.'

He said: 'What happens the next day is you move down from the first league to the fourth league.

'You have to apply for trade relations between the UK and the continent and with the rest of the countries, which means tariff, borders, controls, friction and a big cost to everybody. Ans I'm not talking about specific arrangements for airlines, capital markets, regulation, nuclear safety. It's not ready.

'You have to apply for trade relations between the UK and the continent and with the rest of the countries, which means tariff, borders, controls, friction and a big cost to everybody. And I'm not talking about specific arrangements for airlines, capital markets, regulation, nuclear safety. It's not ready.'