Brexit could be delayed to late-2019 as government not ready

Britain could remain in the European Union until the end of 2019, nearly a year longer than anticipated by the British government, the media reported.

However, she may be forced to delay it because her new Brexit and worldwide trade departments will not be ready, the Sunday Times quoted sources as saying.

The prime minister previously said she would not trigger Article 50 this year, despite many Leave voters expecting the process of leaving the European Union to begin immediately after the referendum on June 23.

“Ministers are now thinking the trigger could be delayed to autumn 2017”, said one City source who had spoken to two senior ministers on the issue.

A United Kingdom cabinet minister has also reportedly confirmed to the Sunday Times that there were “some challenges” in the French and German electoral timetables.

“They don’t have the infrastructure for the people they need to hire”, the source, who had had a meeting with two senior ministers, said. “They say they don’t even know the right questions to ask when they begin bargaining with Europe”.

However, their new government departments are being set up from scratch and the situation is reportedly “chaotic”.

Asked about the reported delay to triggering Article 50, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that a top priority for this government is to deliver the decision of the British people to leave the European Union and make a success of Brexit”.

Britain’s global trade minister, Liam Fox, said in July that early in 2017 could be the best time for Britain to trigger the divorce talks.

A City of London source said next year’s parliamentary elections in Germany and France, set to take place next September and May respectively, is expected to delay Mrs May’s decision.

They said Theresa May is considering delaying Brexit because Whitehall departments are not geared up for it.

Mr Davis has hired less than half of his 250 required staff members.

The spokeswoman said the government did not comment on leaked documents.