Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that despite the potential for recession due to COVID-19, Brexit negotiations were continuing.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (pictured) has confirmed that the UK will continue with the process of leaving the EU, and that negotiations are ongoing.
In today’s live update on the COVID-19 pandemic Sunak said: “We have left the European Union, that has happened.
"What we are doing now is just negotiating the final terms of our trading arrangements. That work is carrying on.”
He then confirmed that David Frost, the Prime Minister’s Europe Adviser, had met and exchanged legal texts with his deputy counterpart at the EU this week, and would soon be discussing next steps for continued negotiations with his counterpart in April and May.
Sunak was asked by Tim Ross from Bloomberg whether it was wise to continue with the UK’s departure from the EU, considering the likelihood, voiced by the Chancellor himself minutes before, that the country would face a recession as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunak added: “We remain committed to the timeline of concluding those talks and negotiations; that work is happening, albeit over video conference rather than in person.”
