'UK better off in EU until 2021' Government chief prompts Brexiteer fury over trade delay
DAMIAN Green, a key ally of Theresa May, has admitted that trade deals will take several years to complete so Britain is better off in the EU during that period of time.
BBC host rails against Damian Green for slow trade negotiations
Cabinet minister Damian Green has infuriated Brexiteer MPs after claiming the transition period "is not a big deal" since the UK would not complete trade deals in that time anyway.
Speaking to the BBC's The World Tonight, Mr Green said that post-Brexit trade deals around the world "will take many years to get through".
This contradicts prominent Brexiteer MPs who have railed against the possibility of a lengthy transition period because that means Britain cannot seal any trade deals.
Cabinet minister Damian Green has infuriated Brexiteer MPs after downplaying the transition period
May has set out her stance on the transition period following Brexit
A BBC host challenged the Minister for the Cabinet Office over the two-year transition period proposed by Theresa May during her Florence speech yesterday.
The MP was pressed on how the Government could justify "leaving the EU in 2019, but making it another two years before we can do any trade deals".
Mr Green told the BBC: "We can start talking to countries then and trade deals take some time.
"All experience suggests that you don’t strike trade deals in a couple days or a couple months so it won’t make that much difference in the end."
This shocked the BBC reporter who claimed this went against the post-Brexit Global Britain envisioned during the EU referendum.
He added that this amounted to Britain being "better off in the EU" despite Brexiteer claims.
The BBC host challenged the Minister for the Cabinet Office over the two-year transition period
Brexiteer MPs who have railed against the possibility of a lengthy transition period
The transition period will not make much difference in the end
Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister and Tory MP, voiced his concern yesterday that the transition period means the UK will be bound by European rules.
He told the BBC: "My main quibble is the transition period as it puts off the time when we can really take advantage of having left.
"Transition period means we can’t get cracking and open up markets around the world."
Nigel Farage also complained that Britain has sent a "horrible message" to the rest of the world about doing business with the country after Brexit, adding that "we will not be a global free-trading country for many years to come".
It remains to be seen how this transition period will impact Liam Fox's role as Minister for International Trade.