Brexit negotiations are expected to go on up to the last minute of the final day before Britain quits the European Union, David Davis has said.
The Brexit Secretary said Brussels’ negotiating track record meant talks would be pushed to the wire, but it would be “very exciting for everybody watching”.
It would mean MPs would only get to vote on any deal that was thrashed out after Britain had left the bloc, Mr Davis told the Commons Exiting the EU Committee.
He said: “It’s no secret that the way the union makes its decision tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on, and that is precisely what I would expect to happen.”
He added: “If there is a time limit on a negotiation the union stops the clock, it assumes that it’s still at 11:59 until it is concluded, sometimes over the course of 24, 36, 72 hours thereafter and that’s what I imagine it will be.
“And it will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching.”