Liam Fox urges MPs to reject attempt to extend article 50

Liam Fox has urged MPs to reject attempts to delay the UK’s exit from the EU, claiming any suspension would open a “gulf of trust” with the electorate.

The trade secretary also suggested a delay or suspension of Brexit could be worse than leaving the EU without a deal on 29 March because of a backlash against parliament and the government.

His comments came hours after the shadow chancellor signalled that Labour was “highly likely” to support a proposal seeking to delay article 50 unless Theresa May could get a Brexit deal approved by the end of the month.

Fox appeared to appeal to Conservative colleagues to reject amendments that will come before the House of Commons on Tuesday, which seek an extension to the UK’s exit date.

In an interview on the BBC Radio 4’sToday programme, he said the political consequences of delaying leaving the EU could outweigh the economic consequences, adding: “There is no doubt that leaving with a deal and minimising disruption both to the UK and our EU trading partners is in our best interest.

“But I think the most calamitous outcome would be for parliament, having promised to respect the result of the referendum, to turn around and say it wouldn’t. I think you need to think about the political consequences as well as the short-term economic consequences … I think it would open up a gulf of trust between parliament and the people, which might be difficult to repair and would have unknown consequences.”

Fox said the possibility of no deal was an essential part of the government’s negotiations with the EU. “In order to get continuity of trade, it is essential that our trading partners understand that no deal is still a possibility,” he said.

Asked if there would be a breakthrough on the Irish backstop before next Tuesday’s votes, Fox said: “I can’t say for definite but I think it is unlikely that we will see it that early.”

In a separate BBC interview, the former chancellor George Osborne said delaying the UK’s exit from the EU was now the “most likely” option.

Labour was “highly likely” to support a proposal seeking to delay article 50 unless May could get a Brexit deal approved by the end of the month, according to the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell.

The prime minister’s deal was rejected by parliament last week by a margin of 230 MPs. She is in talks with Brussels and MPs in an effort to get the deal through.

Speaking on Newsnight, McDonnell said: “Yvette Cooper has put an amendment down, which I think is sensible. It says to the government you’ve run down the clock so much, it looks as though if you can’t get a deal by 26 February then the government will have to bring forward proposals to extend that.

“So I think it’s increasingly likely already that we’ll have to take that option because the government has run the clock down.”

Asked whether Labour would then back the amendment, McDonnell replied: “It’s highly likely but we’ll go through our normal process of consultation with our members.”

The UK is due to formally exit the EU on 29 March, unless the article 50 withdrawal mechanism is withdrawn or extended.

The Labour party, as well as many Tory backbenchers, is determined to stop Britain leaving without a formal exit deal.

An amendment has been submitted by Labour MP Cooper and Tory MP Nick Boles, which would allow parliament to delay the UK’s withdrawal by nine months.

To pass, the amendment must first be selected by the Speaker, John Bercow, and then receive majority support in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

The Commons will vote on a series of proposals on Tuesday that could radically change the course of Brexit.

MPs have tabled a series of amendments which could wrest control of Brexit from the government.