TORY tensions over Brexit were visible in a heated Commons committee meeting yesterday when Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted Britain would be a “vassal state” unless it crashed out of Europe in 2019.
David Davis, giving evidence at the Exiting the EU Committee, rubbished this, saying the two-year transition period after Brexit day was necessary for the future.
The clash between the two Leave supporters came as video footage emerged of David Cameron describing Brexit as “not a disaster”.
In a conversation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the former prime minister could be overheard saying the vote to leave the EU had “turned out less badly than we first thought”.
“But it’s it’s still going to be difficult,” he added.
At the committee Davis had the air of a man who didn’t think it would be too difficult at all.
The Brexit Secretary said he was “relaxed” about the transition because it was the future deal that was most important.
“That is what matters, that is what people will think about and judge us on in 10, 20, 30 years’ time,” he told MPs.
The EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the transition period must end in December 2020.
Davis seemed to suggest it could last longer, despite Barnier’s warning.
“It might be more sensible” for it to end in March 2021 when the “grace period” for EU citizens in the UK expires, he told the committee.
Rees-Mogg said that Britain would be a “vassal state” during the transition as it would continue to pay into the EU budget and remain subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
“If that were going to be the case in perpetuity my answer would probably be ‘yes’, but the answer for a short time, ‘no’,” Davis said.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Theresa May was probed by Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman on the UK staying in the EU customs union, a position Davis shared shared before becoming Brexit Secretary.
May insisted the UK was out.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel