Responding to the news that the Government is threatening to leave negotiations with the EU in June if the EU do not accept Tory demands, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Once again we have seen the PM is more interested in brinkmanship and pleasing the Tory backbenches than working with the EU to build a sustainable trading partnership.
“People are tired of the Government’s posturing. What they want is a well-functioning trading relationship with the EU that protects our jobs and businesses, not more self-imposed deadlines and threats to sabotage the negotiation.
“Finalising an agreement by 2021 is already unlikely, narrowing the timeframe even more is nothing short of reckless. The Liberal Democrats will oppose the Government’s negotiating stance and fight for the closest possible trading partnership with Europe.”