David Davis insists Theresa May's Brexit deal is 'not binding'

Martin Coulter10 December 2017
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

David Davis has said the last-minute deal Theresa May struck in talks with the EU on Friday is not "legally enforceable".

Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the Brexit secretary appeared to contradict Chancellor Philip Hammond, who previously said it was "inconceivable" the UK would fail to honour its international obligations.

Mr Davis said Britain would not pay a £39 billion exit deal if it fails to secure a trade deal.

Pressed on the Chancellor's remarks regarding the exit payment, Mr Davis said: "No. It is conditional on an outcome. I am afraid that wasn't quite right.

Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prior to the announcement of the Brexit deal
AP

"It is conditional. It is conditional on getting an implementation period. Conditional on a trade outcome.

"No deal means that we won't be paying the money."

Asked if the Chancellor was wrong, Mr Davis said: "It has been made clear by No 10 already. So that's not actually new."

When asked at a Commons Treasury Committee meeting last week whether Britain's divorce bill was contingent on a trade deal, the Chancellor said: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed in this negotiation.

"But I find it inconceivable that we as a nation would be walking away from an obligation that we recognised as an obligation.

"That is not a credible scenario. That is not the kind of country we are. Frankly, it would not make us a credible partner for future international agreements."

Mr Davis said the chances of Britain leaving the EU without a trade deal have now "dropped dramatically".

The Cabinet heavyweight insisted that the agreement secured with Brussels to trigger talks on a post-Brexit relationship made the prospect of the UK being forced back into World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariff trading arrangements after withdrawal much less likely.

Mr Davis said: "The odds, as it were, against a WTO, or no deal outcome, have dropped dramatically."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in