“The government’s position has not changed – we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016”, a Downing Street spokesman said, referring to the European Union treaty article outlining how a member state leaves.
Advertisement
“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”.
Speaking in NY where he has been attending the United Nations, Mr Johnson also suggested the discussions could be wrapped up before the two-year deadline. Previously, May had said only that the United Kingdom wouldn’t begin formal talks before the end of this year. “We will invoke that”, he told Britain’s Sky News television in NY.
“Of course we both know that the formal negotiations can only start when we have triggered the Article 50 and I welcome the understanding that our European partners have shown, but I won’t be doing that before the end of the year”.
The spokesman said: “The Government’s position has not changed – we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016 and we are using this time to prepare for the negotiations”.
Mrs May earlier welcomed European Parliament President Martin Schulz to Downing Street, on a two-day visit to Britain. In terms of Brexit there are massive opportunities and it could be easier for Britain to do a deal with China than the EU: Britain is less onerous about some of the protectionist measures the EU has, ‘ she said. “I don’t actually think you need to spend the full two years, but let’s see how we go”, he said.
Brexit minister David Davis was also rebuked this month for saying it was “very improbable” Britain would stay in the single market. May and Mr. Schulz discussed the need for triggering Article 50 as soon as possible, but Mr. Schulz also said he understood the complexities.
Maples says she keeps mostly mum about Trump so as not to come between her daughter and her daughter’s father – but she also, more obliquely, references a possible non-disclosure agreement.
“What Japanese businesses in Europe most wish to avoid is the situation in which they are unable to discern clearly the way the Brexit negotiations are going, only grasping the whole picture at the last minute”, Japan said.
Schulz, a member of Germany’s center-left Social Democrats, leads the 28-nation EU’s legislative assembly.
Advertisement
Mr Schulz later met mayor of London Sadiq Khan and will meet Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday to discuss Brexit.
