Britain risks being “pushed over a cliff” on Brexit, prominent Leave campaigner warns
Former Foreign Secretary Lord Owen said the Government should refuse to leave the EU under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty
FORMER Foreign Secretary Lord Owen today demanded the EU releases Britain from a stranglehold and let the UK forge trade deals now.
The ex SDP leader said Britain risks being “pushed over a cliff” with a bad Brexit deal unless it can start negotiating trade agreements straightaway.
Speaking in Switzerland, the prominent Leave campaigner said Britain should threaten a walkout if the EU blocks British trade negotiations with non-EU members.
He said the Government should refuse to exit under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and instead use the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties to withdraw sooner.
He said: “The UK has to be able to start negotiating international trade agreements before exit. This is a non-negotiable issue.
“So is the UK having full World Trade Organisation membership in our own right.