No deal better than long delay to EU withdrawal, Brexit secretary says

Stephen Barclay insists UK 'shouldn't be afraid' to leave without an agreement, despite parliament having voted to rule it out

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Stephen Barclay has been on the continent this week trying to win support (EPA)

It would be better for Britain to leave the EU without a deal than to seek a long delay to its departure, the Brexit secretary has said.

Stephen Barclay said the UK "shouldn't be afraid" of a no-deal outcome, even after parliament to take the option off the table.

The Brexit secretary was one of seven cabinet ministers who on Thursday voted against a government motion proposing a delay to Brexit, despite the fact he had wrapped up the debate for the government and urged MPs to support the proposal.

His latest comments raise questions over his position in the cabinet if the government abides by parliament's decision to rule out no-deal.

Theresa May had given her MPs a free vote on the issue of a Brexit delay in order to avoid a mass rebellion, leading to dozens of ministers opposing her plan.

Explaining his decision to vote against the government, Mr Barclay told the BBC: "There were two parts of the motion: a short technical extension, which we need with a deal and we're pushing that, [but] that's separate from whether you just have a long extension rather than no deal.

"My views are long-standing: I support Brexit, this constituency voted in very large numbers for Brexit. We need a deal, we need to get that over the line, but if we don't have a deal then we should leave with no deal - that's always been my position and I voted as the constituency would expect me to do last night."

He added: "If we get the deal through, as I hope we still will, we will now need a short technical extension, but if not we shouldn't be afraid to leave with no deal."

Mr Barclay voted against Ms May’s motion despite having concluded the debate for the government and urged MPs to support the proposal.

He finished his speech to the Commons by saying: “It is time for this House to act in the national interest, it’s time to put forward an extension that is realistic. I commend the motion put forward by the government to the House.”

The motion passed by MPs on Thursday says that, if a Brexit deal is approved by the Commons by 20 March, the government will ask the UK to delay Britain's departure until the end of June.

If no withdrawal agreement is approved, however, then the extension is likely to be much longer.

Any delay will need to be signed off by all of the other 27 EU member states, with talks likely to take place at a European Council summit in Brussels at the end of next week. ​

Ms May is expected to hold a third “meaningful vote” on her Brexit deal early next week before travelling to Brussels on Thursday for the summit.