Britain will suffer an “economic shock” if the European Union refuses to sign a free trade deal after Brexit, a Government minister has admitted for the first time.
Lord Price, a minister in the International Trade department and the former managing director of Waitrose, admitted that the Government must “ensure” that British and European businesses “don’t find themselves staring at a cliff face created by a gap in our trading relationship”.
It came as Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, continued to heap pressure on Theresa May over Brexit, urging her not to let the negotiations “drag on”.
He said that the Government should “get on” with triggering Article 50 – the formal process for leaving the EU – despite being rebuked by Mrs May just days ago for saying the Prime Minister should do it “early” next year.
Mr Johnson also told businesses they must stop “mainlining” immigration “like a drug” as Britain prepares to leave the EU.
