DOMINIC Raab claimed the UK’s Brexit deal with the EU could be wrapped up before the end of November – but was forced to issue a clarification just hours later.
In a letter to Labour MP Hilary Benn, who chairs the Exiting the EU select committee, the Brexit Secretary said “the end is now firmly in sight”, and that he currently expects a deal to have been finalised by November 21 – just three weeks away.
He sent the upbeat missive to Benn on October 24. It was only published yesterday, and just a few hours later had to issue a statement admitting there was “no set date for negotiations to conclude”.
Raab’s short-lived optimism was not matched by Brussels, where preparations for a no-deal Brexit have reportedly stepped up a gear.
At a meeting of EU diplomats on Tuesday, a series of no-deal planning seminars covering citizens’ rights, aviation, ground transport, customs, border controls and financial services were announced for November.
The prospect of a no-deal Brexit was also raised at Prime Minister’s Questions by the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who pressed Theresa May on the supply of medicines.
The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP asked the Tory leader to “guarantee the supply of medicines to the NHS in the light of a no-deal Brexit”.
May dodged the question, saying her government were “working for a good deal for Brexit” and that all departments were “making contingency arrangements”.
“Of course, that was no answer to the question,” Blackford replied.
He added: “Why did this Government, last week, quietly begin a dramatically truncated tender process to try to stockpile medicines, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds — funds that should be spent on frontline health services?”
May told the SNP MP that the government had stepped up its no-deal planning in the summer.
“We are working for a good deal that will benefit the whole of the United Kingdom, including Scotland,” she added.
The prospect of an agreed deal could see First Minister Nicola Sturgeon under pressure to update Holyrood on the timing of a second independence referendum.
Sturgeon told her party conference that she would share her thoughts once this phase of negotiations had concluded and the “the fog of Brexit” had cleared.
The UK Government could still conclude a deal at a special European Council meeting in mid-November, allowing May to then go to the Commons for approval before Christmas.
In his letter Raab said: “The end is now firmly in sight and, while obstacles remain, it cannot be beyond us to navigate them.”
Raab also said that the EU had accepted Britain’s proposal for a partial solution over the “backstop” plan that has proved a major hurdle.
“We agree on the principle of a UK-wide customs backstop,” he claimed, referring to Britain’s plan to keep the whole of the UK – including Northern Ireland – in the customs union until a final trade deal was in place.
The EU had opposed the idea.
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