Labour calls for a 2 year Brexit delay if EU trade deal isn’t agreed by June

Labour is demanding another delay to the Brexit process if a trade deal is not secured by the end of June.

Jeremy Corbyn has tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would extend the transition period until 2023 in the absence of a comprehensive agreement. 

Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will formally leave the EU on January 31. He has also ruled out any lengthening of the transition period which lasts until December 2020.

If passed, Labour’s change would force the government to add two extra years to the transition to avoid departing on basic WTO terms.

However, the amendment is doomed to failure given the Tories have a huge majority in Parliament, and could raise alarm on Labour benches that the party will yet again be seen as blocking Brexit.