Video
Former trade minister rows back on comment of Brexit deal being 'easiest in human history'
Kay Burley (L) and former international trade minister Liam Fox on Sky News - Credit: Twitter
Liam Fox has backtracked on comments he made about a Brexit deal being "the easiest in human history" by picking on semantics.
The staunch Eurosceptic and former international trade secretary has attempted to weasel out of prior remarks he made about EU trade deal negotiations by focusing on his use of language.
Appearing on Sky News' Kay Burley @ Breakfast programme, the former minister was asked: "You said a Brexit deal would be the easiest in human history... that didn't age well?"
Fox responded: "I said should be and not would be.
"The reason I said that was because we were actually starting from an unusual place in that we already had complete tariff-free trade which we would want to retain and I think that is probably where we will end up."
He added: "Let's face it. If we don't get a deal then we would have to start again to get one in the future because it's in the interests of both parties."
This prompted Burley to ask if it were simply easier to postpone the December 31.
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 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 9 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 10 UK has highest Covid-19 death rate in world
"I think we'll still get an agreement and I think there is such a strong interest on both sides to get it. It's doable if the political will is there," the Brexiteer calmly replied.
He then suggested Britain and the EU could "get over" issues regarding state aid and fishing rights which have held up talks as he called for both sides to come to an agreement.
"The fact that we've not heard anything in recent days shows that the intensity of negotiations has increased," he noted.
"There's such a strong logic for an agreement then [sic] that is where we'll end up."
Pointing out the logistical difficulties of translating legal text in all 27 EU member state languages and having it ratified by all parliaments, Burley asked if the December 31 deadline was still possible.
"Yes, we should be able to do it on time," Fox reiterated.
Responding to a clop of the interview on Twitter, Chris Turner wrote: "Of course, if we do have to start again from zero, we’ll still have to agree to the EU’s terms."
One user described it as Fox "back-pedalling like mad," while another pondered if the difference between "would" and "should" "makes things any less of a lie".
A third quipped: "Ah. He said should be. That clears this entire mess up. Thanks Liam."
@Welli69 added: "Any deal that is not as good as the one we already had is a failure."
Meanwhile, Peter Knee noticed a peculiar map in Fox's background. He wrote: "Notice the map behind him. Matches exactly his world view."
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.
