Dominic Raab: EU must engage in preparations for no-deal Brexit

Legislating to prevent no-deal Brexit would ‘undermine’ UK’s negotiating position, foreign secretary says.

LONDON — The European Union must engage with the U.K. to mitigate any impacts of a no-deal Brexit, Britain’s foreign secretary told MPs.

Speaking at a House of Commons debate, Dominic Raab said the U.K. government has “strengthened and increased” diplomatic resources in Brussels and other EU capitals to make sure that the government’s Brexit position is explained “very clearly.”

“One of the points that we’ve made to our EU partners … is that we are willing to cooperate on all the no-deal planning and preparations to make sure that we reduce the risks on all sides, but of course that would require the EU to engage to the same level,” said Raab during his first parliamentary appearance as foreign secretary.

Later on Tuesday, MPs will seek an emergency debate to take control of parliament’s agenda with the aim of legislating to stop a no-deal Brexit.

In a speech outside No. 10 Downing Street on Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued an ultimatum to MPs attempting to change the law to prevent the U.K. from leaving the EU without a deal. He said that if MPs begin the process of passing a bill Tuesday forcing the government to request an extension from European leaders in the event of no deal, it would make negotiations “absolutely impossible.” In that case, government officials briefed that Johnson could call a general election for October 14.

Raab said that the draft bill prepared by rebel MPs would “undermine” the government’s prospects of getting a deal with the EU.

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