Now Brexiteers claim the EU has ‘used time against us’
David Davis MP (left) and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP at the launch of the Institute of Economic Affairs latest Brexit research paper, in central London. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA Wire - Credit: PA
A right-wing think tank has claimed that the European Union has 'used time against us' in what is the latest bizarre excuse from Brexiteers.
Shanker Singham, the director of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), made the claim while launching an alternative Brexit plan.
He appeared on-stage alongside prominent Tory leavers David Davis and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who were also speaking at the event.
Singham said: 'We must use time better, the EU has used time against us. We must use time as our friend by accelerating our actions.'
He added: 'If we continue on the present course, Brexit will be a damage limitation process.'
You may also want to watch:
The IEA's plan urges ministers to seek a 'basic' free trade agreement for goods and pursue 'regulatory freedom and trade independence.'
Singham's comments about time will raise eyebrows with those who have paid close attention to the figures leading Brexit.
In just two examples of bad time management the Brexit secretary David Davis and Boris Johnson, a leading figure in the Leave camp, resigned from their positions and avoided offering an alternative plan. Days later, during his first week of the job as new Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab skipped the first round of Brexit talks to attend drinks instead.
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 3 Television drama to focus on Boris Johnson's first year in Downing Street
- 4 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
- 5 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
- 6 Boris Johnson claims Labour supporters using Universal Credit vote to incite hatred
- 7 Michael Gove among 14 Tory MPs revealed to have joined banned Parler app
- 8 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 9 UK has highest Covid-19 death rate in world
- 10 Dominic Raab 'not convinced' collapse of fishing businesses would be result of Brexit deal
The IEA's event came just hours before Mrs May was due to meet senior ministers in a bid to save her Chequers blueprint for Brexit.
There is likely to be a lengthy inquest into what went wrong at last week's informal EU summit in Salzburg where May was bluntly told key elements of the Chequers plan would not work.
The prime minister insists her proposal, which would see Britain maintain a 'common rulebook' with the EU for trade in goods and agriculture, is the only credible option on the table which would avoid the return of a 'hard border' between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
MORE: Mitch Benn's hilarious song urges leading Brexiteers to 'own your shit'
MORE: Support, subscribe or advertise - how to back The New European
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.