New Brexit row as Polish minister says Britain may not leave EU until 2020

Notes: Julia Dockerill was photographed in Downing Street with her notes
Steve Back/Barcroft Images
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Theresa May's secret Brexit plans are “slipping out day by day”, as a Polish minister today said that Britain might not leave the EU until 2020.

The latest apparent disclosure came from Poland’s foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski after he took part in talks with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister yesterday.

“Brexit will not take place earlier than in two to three years. If it takes place at all,” Mr Waszczykowski told Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. “In the next three years, there is no need to treat Britain as a child with special needs, which is stigmatised and marginalised.”

However, one Tory MP said furiously that there would be “riots” if Mrs May delayed Brexit beyond 2019. “Can you imagine the reaction if we went into the 2020 general election still a member of the EU?” he asked. “There would be riots.”

Mr Waszczykowski’s comments emerged a day after an aide to Tory vice-chairman Mark Field accidentally allowed her notes of a meeting in No 10 to be photographed. They revealed that ministers aimed to “have cake and eat it” during the exit talks.

Keir Starmer, Labour’s Brexit spokesman, said: “The Government’s secret plan for Brexit is slipping out day by day. These disclosures are significant because they suggest that the Government is not even going to fight for the single market or customs union… there are huge implications for the economy and jobs. The case for Government to come clean and publish a clear plan for Brexit is now overwhelming.”

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the Government “doesn’t have a plan or even a clue”. There were reports from Berlin today that Mrs May had suffered a setback after Angela Merkel vetoed a plan to announce that 3.3 million EU citizens in the UK and 1.2 million British expats in the EU would have reciprocal rights to residency and healthcare. According to Politico, Chancellor Merkel refused to agree when Mrs May asked for a deal that could be announced before Christmas.

Mrs May has tried to keep a lid on her opening position for the negotiations, which cannot begin formally until March when the Government plans to move Article 50. Julia Dockerill, a Wapping Tory councillor, was photographed holding the notes, but Business Secretary Greg Clark said he did not “recognise” their contents. “It doesn’t reflect any of the conversations that I’ve been part of in Downing Street,” he told BBC radio.

Asked if the Government’s policy was to have its cake and eat it, he replied: “It would be nice to have, but it’s not the policy.”

The photograph showed comments including, “What’s the model? Have your cake and eat it,” “We think it’s unlikely we’ll be offered Single Market.” Another identified the French as being “difficult” and said there was reluctance to have a transition deal which is wanted by business.

The notes are believed by MPs to reflect the views of Brexiteer ministers. A source close to Brexit Secretary David Davis denied they were his views. Mr Field did not respond to calls.

A Government spokesman said: “We have been absolutely clear that we will trigger Article 50 before the end of March next year and we have no plans to extend the process for leaving.

“Britain voted to leave the European Union and this government will make a success of it.”

A French embassy spokeswoman rejected the allegation that France was being difficult.

“France’s position is constant and well known,” she said. “It does not differ from other EU partners: the single market can be accessed only if the UK respects the four freedoms, contributes to the budget and abides by European legislation. The UK cannot pick and choose when it comes to European policy, keeping only the ones it can profit from.”

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