Tory chairman James Cleverly has sparked fresh fears of a no-deal Brexit after declaring that it was the “default setting” for his party.
In an apparent pitch to voters tempted by Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, the cabinet minister made plain that the UK leaving the EU without a trade agreement was still an option that had to be kept open.
Asked directly if no-deal was back on the table, Cleverly told the BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “This is one of those things where ultimately, the default setting has always been no-deal.”
He added that Boris Johnson wanted to leave with a deal and had shown that “when you are focused when you are both trying to get a good outcome, it can be done and can be done quickly.”
But the Tory party chairman stressed: “What we have seen is the houses of parliament, when given the option of taking more time over difficult decisions, always opts to take more time.”
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer told HuffPost UK: “In a desperate bid to outflank the Brexit Party, James Cleverly has confirmed the Tories are prepared to jump through the no deal trapdoor next year.
“At this election, a vote for the Tories is a vote to put jobs, the economy and stability in Northern Ireland at risk. Only Labour will rule out no deal and give the people the final say.”
Cleverly’s words follow anger among some former Tory MPs that Boris Johnson will break a “clear promise” to give MPs a special vote on extending the post-Brexit transition period to avoid a no-deal exit.
The pledge was made by justice secretary Robert Buckland last month in a bid to get Tory moderates and even Labour MPs to back the PM’s deal.
Under the current plan, Britain would continue to follow EU rules in a ‘transition period’ until the end of 2020, during which time the two sides to reach hammer out a long-term free trade deal.
Several independent trade experts have warned that the one year transition period is simply too short and should be extended in order to give more time for talks. Without an extension, the UK and EU could fall back onto ‘no-deal’ trade terms.
Both Downing Street and no-deal minister Michael Gove this week ruled out any extension of the transition period.
There have been reports that the new Tory manifesto will remove a no-deal Brexit as an option.
Outgoing culture secretary Nicky Morgan told the Times at the weekend: “If you vote Conservative at this election, you’re voting to leave with this deal, and no-deal has been effectively been taken off the table.”
Labour and other parties sought to amend Johnson’s new Withdrawal Agreement Bill to rule out the ‘trapdoor’ no-deal outcome that would follow if the UK failed to get a trade agreement with Brussels in place by December 31, 2020.