Britain ‘odds-on’ to crash out of the EU without a deal claims Liam Fox as he blasts Brussels for stalling Brexit talks
The international trade secretary blamed the ‘intransigence” of the European Commission and accused officials of having a ‘theological obsession’ with their rules
BRITAIN is now "odds-on" to crash out of the EU without a deal according to Liam Fox, as he blasted Brussels for stalling the Brexit talks.
The international trade secretary blamed the "intransigence" of the European Commission, and accused officials of having a "theological obsession" with their rules rather than working towards an agreement which benefits both sides.
Amid growing fears talks are breaking down with just months left until Article 50 runs out, Mr Fox told the he put the chances of a no-deal Brexit at "60-40".
The prominent Brexiteer said the risk of this scenario had increased, due to the behaviour of chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who has repeatedly ripped up Theresa May’s Brexit plans.
He said: "I think the intransigence of the commission is pushing us towards no deal.
"We have set out the basis in which a deal can happen but if the EU decides that the theological obsession of the unelected is to take priority over the economic wellbeing of the people of Europe then it's a bureaucrats' Brexit - not a people's Brexit - then there is only going to be one outcome."
He said Mr Barnier had dismissed the UK's proposals in the Chequers compromise thrashed out by the Prime Minister and her Cabinet simply because "we have never done it before".
And while Mr Fox admits the blueprints are unprecedented, he said Mr Barnier's response "makes the chance of no deal greater".
He called on the EU to provide answers of its own, saying: “If they don’t like the one we have put on the table then it’s down to them to show us one that they can suggest that would be acceptable to us.
“It’s up to the EU 27 to determine whether they want the EU Commission’s ideological purity to be maintained at the expense of their real economies.”
MOST READ IN POLITICS:
His comments come amid an increase in planning by the UK Government and other European countries for a no deal Brexit.
And the Bank of England’s governor Mark Carney said on Friday the chances of such a scenario were “uncomfortably high” as he unveiled emergency preparations, such as ordering banks to stockpile money for urgent lending.
The same day Mrs May cut short her holiday to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at his summer holiday fortress, but Paris poured cold water on her plans to try and bypass Mr Barnier.