Brexit negotiations will be better after Boris Johnson's election success, former Minister says

17 December 2019, 07:50 | Updated: 17 December 2019, 07:54

Brexit negotiations will be "much more rational and sensible" after Boris Johnson's election success as he holds greater power, says former foreign secretary Sir Malcom Rifkind.

The former foreign secretary said that neither the UK government nor the EU know if the Brexit deadline is "short a time or not" to negotiate a deal.

"They might even manage to finish the negotiation during the course of next year," said Sir Malcolm Rifkind, "unlike every other trade negotiation the EU has had with any other country in the world, in all these other cases they were starting miles apart with totally different tariffs and quotas and systems.|

He said this negotiation is starting with "100% common features" so the issue would be if at some stage in the future the EU or the UK want to change their position within the deal.

However, he continued, it's not nearly as difficult "as the kind of negotiations the EU had with Canada or Japan or the United States."

Boris Johnson's election success means Brexit negotiations will be  "much more rational and sensible"
Boris Johnson's election success means Brexit negotiations will be "much more rational and sensible". Picture: PA

Sir Malcolm posited that the success of Boris Johnson in the election "gives him much greater authority" and has meant "it is going to be a much more rational and sensible negotiation because the EU know the United Kingdom government has a large majority in Parliament and is going to be in power throughout the period in question.

"That's actually in the best interest of both sides of the negotiation," he said and also believes the EU don't have any interest in prolonging the negotiations for the sake of doing so.

The former foreign secretary also pointed out that while it is not unwise to commit to his Brexit deadline, he should not rule out the possibility of going beyond that if the negotiations are not quite finalised; "the idea that you arbitrarily bring them to a stop on a date that you yourself have chosen is not the way that Boris Johnson in reality would act."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

Nick Ferrari and caller Kevin don't see eye to eye in benefits debate

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC reacts: King Charles will tell Macron there are 'no borders' between UK and France

LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

‘Preposterous’: LBC callers are divided over proposed wealth tax

Nick Ferrari

‘Lessons haven’t been learned’ following 7/7 London bombings

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

A new 'Labour' party, Nigel Farage, and shoplifting | LBC's best callers of the week

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

"What's the risk?" LBC caller Steve wants to give a new party a chance

Nigel Farage takes your calls

Nigel Farage takes your calls with Nick Ferrari

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Mark says the government has ‘destroyed’ the Labour Party

Caller Comp

LBC Callers react to Glastonbury IDF controversy

Nick Ferrari callers debate

Nick Ferrari callers go head-to-head over pro-Palestine protests

Nick Ferrari caller

Caller Martyn says the UK needs a ‘Trump-style figure’ in power

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed a vote on 'progressive' welfare reforms will take place on Tuesday.

Nick Ferrari struggles to keep a lid on the conversation with caller Craig about benefit claimants

Call the Commissioner

Call The Commissioner with Sir Mark Rowley

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve

Nick Ferrari and caller Eve go back and forth over the Middle East conflict

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of PIP benefit cuts

LBC caller Paula drives home the impact of disability benefit cuts

'Iran has a democratic candidate, unlike Iraq...'

Iraqi caller explains why Iran-Iraq comparisons fall short