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Brexit trade deal could take 10 years, says UK's ambassador Brexit trade deal could take 10 years, says UK's ambassador
(about 3 hours later)
A post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal might take 10 years to finalise and still fail, Britain's ambassador to the EU has privately told the government.A post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal might take 10 years to finalise and still fail, Britain's ambassador to the EU has privately told the government.
The BBC understands Sir Ivan Rogers warned ministers that the European consensus was that a deal might not be done until the early to mid-2020s.The BBC understands Sir Ivan Rogers warned ministers that the European consensus was that a deal might not be done until the early to mid-2020s.
He also cautioned that an agreement could be rejected ultimately by other EU members' national parliaments.He also cautioned that an agreement could be rejected ultimately by other EU members' national parliaments.
PM Theresa May said she wanted Brexit to be "smooth and orderly".PM Theresa May said she wanted Brexit to be "smooth and orderly".
In October, Sir Ivan, who conducted David Cameron's negotiation over the UK's relationship with the EU, advised ministers that the view of the 27 other countries was that a free trade agreement could take as long as a decade.In October, Sir Ivan, who conducted David Cameron's negotiation over the UK's relationship with the EU, advised ministers that the view of the 27 other countries was that a free trade agreement could take as long as a decade.
He said that even once concluded, the deal might not survive the process of ratification, which involves every country having to approve the deal in its own parliament.He said that even once concluded, the deal might not survive the process of ratification, which involves every country having to approve the deal in its own parliament.
It is also understood he suggested that the expectation among European leaders was that a free trade deal, rather than continued membership of the single market, was the likely option for the UK after Brexit.It is also understood he suggested that the expectation among European leaders was that a free trade deal, rather than continued membership of the single market, was the likely option for the UK after Brexit.
Sir Ivan's private advice contrasts with ministers publicly insisting a deal can be done in the two years allowed by the triggering of Article 50 - the formal start of the process of leaving the EU.Sir Ivan's private advice contrasts with ministers publicly insisting a deal can be done in the two years allowed by the triggering of Article 50 - the formal start of the process of leaving the EU.
Downing Street said he was relaying other EU members' views, rather than his own or the British government's.Downing Street said he was relaying other EU members' views, rather than his own or the British government's.
A spokesman said: "It is wrong to suggest this was advice from our ambassador to the EU. Like all ambassadors, part of his role is to report the views of others."A spokesman said: "It is wrong to suggest this was advice from our ambassador to the EU. Like all ambassadors, part of his role is to report the views of others."
AnalysisAnalysis
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editorBy Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
Just how long will it take?Just how long will it take?
The government is intent on persuading us Brexit can be done smoothly, and to time.The government is intent on persuading us Brexit can be done smoothly, and to time.
So the suggestion that the UK's most senior diplomat in Brussels has privately told the government that a final trade deal with the rest of the EU might not be done for 10 years, and might ultimately fail, may give rise to more nerves.So the suggestion that the UK's most senior diplomat in Brussels has privately told the government that a final trade deal with the rest of the EU might not be done for 10 years, and might ultimately fail, may give rise to more nerves.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels - and will discuss Brexit negotiations at an end of summit dinner, without UK Prime Minister Theresa May being present.EU leaders are meeting in Brussels - and will discuss Brexit negotiations at an end of summit dinner, without UK Prime Minister Theresa May being present.
Arriving in Brussels, Mrs May was asked about the 10-year claim, but concentrated her answer on the subject of immigration, which is what the EU leaders are focusing on during a chunk of their one-day summit.Arriving in Brussels, Mrs May was asked about the 10-year claim, but concentrated her answer on the subject of immigration, which is what the EU leaders are focusing on during a chunk of their one-day summit.
She added that a smooth UK exit from the EU was "not just in our interests, it's in the interests of the the rest of Europe as well".She added that a smooth UK exit from the EU was "not just in our interests, it's in the interests of the the rest of Europe as well".
International Trade Minister Mark Garnier told the Commons Sir Ivan's views were "words from interlocutors" rather than a strict definition of how long talks will take.International Trade Minister Mark Garnier told the Commons Sir Ivan's views were "words from interlocutors" rather than a strict definition of how long talks will take.
Dominic Raab, a former minister and a Leave campaigner, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Sir Ivan "was the diplomat who persuaded David Cameron to dilute his ambitions for the renegotiation which was one reason why the referendum was lost, so he's been scarred by his own pessimistic advice in the past". 'Symbolically leave'
"It's reasonable to set out the worst case scenario for a five to ten year period to iron out a trade deal. The key thing is whether we maintain barrier free trade in the meantime in which case frankly there's no problem - we leave the EU in 2 years we complete the free trade agreement afterwards." Dominic Raab, a former minister and a Leave campaigner, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Sir Ivan was "scarred by his own pessimistic advice in the past".
But Remain-backing former Lib Dem leader and ex-deputy PM Nick Clegg, said: "I worked with Ivan Rogers in Brussels on trade deals 20 years ago. He knows what he is talking about - the government should listen". "It's reasonable to set out the worst case scenario for a five to 10 year period to iron out a trade deal," he said.
Former Labour minister and European commissioner Lord Mandelson predicted "between five and 10 years" was the most likely timescale. "The key thing is whether we maintain barrier-free trade in the meantime in which case frankly there's no problem - we leave the EU in two years we complete the free trade agreement afterwards."
"While an agreement on the exit terms will come earlier, because this negotiation will come first, and can be approved by a majority of the EU's member states, the quite separate negotiation on what trade arrangement replaces our membership of the EU will be harder, it will be longer and it will require the approval of all member states and their parliaments - not just a majority of them," he told a committee of MPs. Former cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell predicted negotiating a final deal would take "at least five years".
"We certainly won't have come to any final arrangements in two years' time," he told BBC Radio 4's The Westminster Hour.
"We might well get to a point where we can symbolically leave but all sorts of details will still remain to be sorted out."
Remain-backing former Labour minister and European commissioner Lord Mandelson predicted "between five and 10 years" was the most likely timescale, telling a committee of MPs that after a deal is reached on the UK's exit terms, talks on trade arrangements would be harder and take longer.
Downing Street said Thursday's meeting showed the EU was facing up to the reality that the UK was leaving.Downing Street said Thursday's meeting showed the EU was facing up to the reality that the UK was leaving.
It is expected that the other members will discuss who will the lead the EU's negotiating team in Brexit talks.It is expected that the other members will discuss who will the lead the EU's negotiating team in Brexit talks.
This is expected to be former EU Commissioner Michel Barnier, who is in charge of the European Commission's Brexit team.This is expected to be former EU Commissioner Michel Barnier, who is in charge of the European Commission's Brexit team.
In other Brexit developments on Thursday the House of Lords EU financial affairs sub-committee has warned that financial services firms could quit the City of London unless there are transitional arrangements, or a "Brexit bridge" to prevent them moving to New York, Dublin, Frankfurt of Paris. In other Brexit developments, the House of Lords EU financial affairs sub-committee has warned that financial services firms could quit the City of London unless there are transitional arrangements, or a "Brexit bridge" to prevent them moving to New York, Dublin, Frankfurt of Paris.
Meanwhile, UK Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs on Wednesday that the UK's Brexit plan was still being worked on and a lot of research had to be done before it was ready. And European Parliament president Martin Schulz reiterated there would be no negotiation until the UK had officially notified the EU of its departure.
He said the UK would not spell out its negotiating aims in more detail until February at the earliest. Addressing the 28 EU leaders, he added: "The UK and the EU are, and will remain, closely connected and there are too many lives on the line for an erratic, quick and total separation."
But a senior EU official has said the 27 member states are sticking to the principle of "no negotiation without notification", meaning talks can only begin once Mrs May has triggered Article 50. He urged leaders to work towards Brexit "in a spirit of loyal co-operation", adding: "We cannot allow the Brexit process to become an emotional affair, nor should we turn it into a legal maze from which exit is extremely difficult.
She has said the UK will formally notify the EU of its intention to leave by the end of March at the latest. "We must not feed populists' unfounded claims that the EU is the master of all evil. We must also use this moment to concretely reflect on what we want the EU to be in the future and to provide it with the necessary tools."