Great Brussels STITCH-UP: There IS a plan to keep us in EU for 10 YEARS, warns diplomat
THE European Union (EU) could keep Britain waiting a DECADE for a Brexit trade deal – only for it to then be REJECTED by EU members, it has been claimed.
Dominic Raab: EU is staring down the barrel of a gun
Britain's ambassador to the EU has privately told the Government the European consensus was that a deal might not be done until the early to mid-2020s.
And Sir Ivan Rogers warned ministers that EU members' national parliaments could still decide to reject the deal.
The claims threaten Prime Minister Theresa May’s promise she will create a deal which will work both for the EU and Britain.
Theresa May's Government could face a ten year wait for a free trade deal
A former ambassador allegedly told the BBC a trade deal could still fail after years
Sir Ivan Rogers said ministers in other countries could make Britain wait
During David Cameron’s negotiation phase with EU member states, before the referendum was called, Sir Ivan told ministers how members warned the setting up of free trade deals could take until 2026.
David Davis says Brexit can be done in two years
Brexit ministers will work on a free trade deal to take to Brussels, it is believed
Once concluded, the deal will have to be ratified by every country in its own parliament.
Theresa May's Brexit team has kept quiet over their plans but it is widely considered trade deals will be completed and Britain will not look for continued membership of the single market.
Sir Andrew Cahn, the former head of the UK Trade & Investment, warned that the UK would have to wait five years before a post-Brexit trade deal with Brussels is agreed.
Publicly, ministers have insisted a deal can be done in the two years, before the UK splits with the bloc.
Theresa May has called for a Brexit which suits both EU and Britain
UK Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs on Wednesday the UK's Brexit plan was still being worked on and a lot of research had to be done before it was ready.
Downing Street said it did not recognise the views expressed by the diplomat.
Sources have suggested he was relaying other EU members' views, rather than his own or the British Government's.