Earlier, British Prime Minister Theresa May held talks with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz in London.
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European Council President Donald Tusk and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny have both said in recent days that May’s government is indicating it could be ready to launch formal negotiations to leave the EU in January or February of 2017.
Mrs May said she was looking forward to working with the European Parliament and acknowledged the “understanding” shown by European partners that the Article 50 process would not be triggered before the end of 2016.
He also suggested the exit process could take less than the scheduled two years.
“I don’t think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years but let’s see how we go”.
Speaking in NY where he has been attending the United Nations, Mr Johnson suggested the discussions could be wrapped up before the two-year deadline.
Downing Street has asserted its authority over Boris Johnson after he strayed from the official line and speculated on when the Government would eventually trigger Article 50.
“I’ve always thought that Boris’s wish was to lose by one (vote) so that he could be the heir apparent”, without having to deal with “clearing up all the mess”, Duncan told the BBC.
“They would have us believe that there is some automatic trade-off between what they call access to the single market and free movement”.
He said he “understands that the British government wants to take its time”.
“The two things have nothing to do with each other”.
He told Sky News that this would happen in early 2017 and that the United Kingdom would “take back control” with a special package on free trade and financial services.
“It will be the pressure of their citizens on national governments that will force continental politicians to recognize that what is good for Britain and British workers is also good for their own populations”, Christopher Mills, business spokesman for the UK Independence Party, which campaigned for Brexit, said in a statement.
“Although we are leaving the European Union treaties, we do want to have the closest possible trading relationship and it’s very much in their interests to achieve that.it’s very much in their interests to do a great free trade deal with us, and I think that will happen”.
However, Downing Street sources made clear that all decisions on the timing of Brexit are Mrs May’s alone.
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Although that timetable would pave the way to Britain leaving the European Union by early 2019, Mr Johnson suggested Brexit could take place earlier. “They’re not going to put that at risk”, Johnson argued.
