Insiders said the two new departments set up to oversee negotiations would not be ready by the beginning of 2017, when the process was initially slated to start.
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UK PRIME Minister Theresa May might put off invoking article 50 the formal start of Brexit negotiations until the end of 2017 according to the British press.
Nervous science and tech folk in the United Kingdom who have expressed concern about the upcoming loss of billions of pounds in funding from the European Union-following on from Britain’s vote for Brexit in June-have been told that the government, in the short-term at least, will pick up the tab.
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”.
May has declared that “Brexit means Brexit” but she has delayed triggering Article 50 until some time next year.
In fact, it could be late 2019 before a Brexit takes place, as sources briefed by ministers revealed to the Sunday Times, calling the situation “chaotic”. “They don’t have the infrastructure for the people they need to hire”.
Ever since the United Kingdom voted in a June referendum to leave the European Union, scientists have anxious about the future of research funding provided by the European Union, as well as Brexit’s impact on workforce mobility and on the United Kingdom’s voice in worldwide science policy. Cameron said: “I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months”. Alun Evans, chief executive of the British Academy, said: This announcement is a positive indicator of the government’s commitment to maintaining the UK’s outstanding research and innovation base..
“Alongside other Departments, the FCO are seconding a small number of staff with relevant expertise to the new Department for International Trade”. “By underwriting Horizon 2020 funding in this way today, we are again demonstrating the importance we place on maintaining the world leading research that takes place in the United Kingdom”, said UK science minister, Jo Johnson.
Uncertainty continues to surround Brexit – Britain might not actually leave the European Union for another three years, while senior ministers Boris Johnson and Liam Fox have been arguing about their roles in planning for the divorce.
She added: “Now we see the inevitable dysfunction and turf wars, as they fight between them to grab work that should have been co-ordinated out of the Foreign Office alone”.
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Mr Burt told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One it was “inevitable” there would be tensions as new departments tried to establish themselves.
