Grant Shapps "wouldn't put money" on agreeing Brexit deal

22 July 2020, 13:47

Grant Shapps "wouldn't put money" on agreeing Brexit deal

By Fiona Jones

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told LBC's Nick Ferrari that the UK is "absolutely prepared" for a no deal Brexit.

It is just days until the July deadline for an outline Brexit agreement, with the latest round of talks between UK's chief negotiator David Frost and the EU's Michel Barnier set to conclude on Thursday.

"We'd like a deal but we are absolutely prepared for a no deal," Mr Shapps said, pointing to his red box and telling Nick that documents inside have been drawn up to address all consequences of the negotiations.

"We've got a deal already," the Transport Secretary said.

Nick observed the July deadline is nearing.

"That deadline remains in place for the Government's review and I can't accurately predict the future as far as that's concerned, but what I can tell you is we're working on it.

"But we can't sign up to unreasonable provisions for example Europe at the moment are still insisting that we sign up to what they call the level playing field which is what we call following their rules, which we can't do as an independent coastal nation," Mr Shapps said.

"We need to be prepared if there is a no further deal which we're very prepared to do and we'll trade exactly as Canada does, as Australia and many other countries do."

Nick asked the Transport Secretary on which outcome he would put his money and he replied, "I would not go for a bet on this but I can put my money on us being ready so if we don't have a further deal then we'd be ready."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

LBC reaction: 1200 Channel migrants arrive in a single day

Exclusive
'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams government

'Elite mindset' and ‘left-wing opinion’ fuelling migrant crisis says Nick Ferrari as he slams the government

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’ | LBC’s best callers of the week

Reform, racism and ‘a perverse Batman’: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Farage is a media-made man'

David and Nick debate whether 'tiny and ridiculous' Reform gets too much airtime

Tube worker John

Tube worker shares his close encounters with fare dodgers

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react to Netanyahu calling out Starmer for being on the 'wrong side of humanity'

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

Gary Lineker 'to quit the BBC this week' | LBC reaction

LBC reaction: Gary Lineker quits the BBC

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

'British people don't want to pick fruit...'

Nick Ferrari won't take this caller's reasoning for the '9m economically inactive' in the UK

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Kemi Badnoch needs to get over herself'

'Woo-hoo!’: LBC caller reacts to the US-UK trade deal