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Conservative Revolution

Britain and the world’s oldest conservative think tank

Conservative Revolution

Britain and the world’s oldest conservative think tank

BBC News: Bow Group Parliamentary Board Member John Redwood says Brexit delay claims are ‘idle chatter’

Aug 15, 2016 | Archive, News Articles

 

Read the original article at BBC News

Claims the government could delay the UK’s departure from the EU have been described as “idle chatter” by a senior Brexit campaigner.

John Redwood said PM Theresa May wanted to “get on with it” and trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – which officially begins Brexit.

Mrs May has said she will not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty this year.

It was widely thought it would be triggered at the start of next year.

Earlier Downing Street did not comment on press reports Article 50 might not be triggered in 2017.

Following the UK’s vote to leave the EU, some Leave campaigners have been calling for Article 50 – which starts a two-year Brexit process – to be triggered immediately.

Mrs May, who is currently on holiday in Switzerland, has said this will not happen this year, and Brexit Secretary David Davis has predicted the trigger will take place “before or by the start of next year”.

‘Complex task’

Asked about reports in the Sunday Times that the planned timetable could be delayed, the prime minister’s spokesman repeatedly said “Article 50 won’t happen before the end of 2016” but refused to comment further.

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If Article 50 did not happen in 2017, it could mean the UK did not actually leave the EU until 2020.

Downing Street said Brexit was “a serious and very complex task”.

“Brexit is a top priority,” the PM’s spokesman said, “it is important we deliver it and make a success of it.”

Conservative MP and veteran Eurosceptic Mr Redwood told the BBC he did not “buy” reports of a delay, saying they were “idle chatter by people who don’t know the prime minister’s mind”.

He said his understanding was that Mrs May did not want the issue dominating the next Parliament and wanted to “get on with it”.

Brexit, he added, “can happen pretty quickly”.