Govt must request an extension to the transition period now

Responding to the UK Government's publication of legal texts for negotiations with the EU, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:

"The warnings from experts couldn't be clearer, there is not enough time for the UK to secure a deal with the EU.

"The UK government's draft trade agreement published today was too little too late. Boris Johnson should have published those texts months ago.

"At a time when our NHS, economy, and food supply chains are already overstretched, the UK government must do all they can to prevent any further pressure on these vital systems.

"They must secure an extension to the transition period now. Liberal Democrats will continue to urge them to do the right thing and ensure the UK does not crash out without a deal in place."

SW Wilts Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Ellen Nicholson said "Britain left the EU at the end of January after 47 years of membership and we are currently in an 11-month transition period which ends in December 2020

This time frame is being used to negotiate a free-trade agreement and sort out the terms of the future relationship that will govern ties between the UK and the EU. However no body could have predicted the upheaval of coronavirus pandemic and its disruption and wide ranging economic consequences.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he will not extend the Brexit transition period beyond the end of this year, despite warnings that disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic has made striking a deal very difficult, as Countires focus on managing the virus.

The Government appears to be inflexible in its approach to consider a possible extension based on the unforeseen corona vrus crisis, putting ideology potentially ahead of its citizens welfare. The UK has already left the EU,nothing will change that, surely a longer transistion to ensure less economic upheaval in the wake of the virus would be a wise decision for the Government to make?

The third round of talks on the future relationship between the two sides ended last week, with the next round due to begin next month.