David Davis says Brexit talks which are due to start Monday could be delayed – and says he has prepared Britain for no deal with the EU
The Tory heavyweight also said Theresa May should stay as PM as she prepares to face angry backbenchers later today
DAVID DAVIS has admitted that Brexit talks, which are due to start on Monday, could be delayed.
Despite weeks of Theresa May warning that negotiations with the EU over our exit will start within days of the election, he said this morning it could be put back due to the Queen's Speech being set for the same day.
The Brexit Secretary insisted that talks would still start next week - but that there was a chance it would be after Monday.
Mr Davis told Sky News: "It may not be on the Monday because we've also got the Queen's Speech that week and I will have to speak in that and so on."
He today admitted that the Government had plans "in some detail" for what would happen if Britain failed to strike a deal with the EU.
It was reported over this weekend that Mrs May wanted to bring talks forward, but Jean Claude Juncker warned today that the "dust must settle in Britain" before proceedings are kicked off.
"We have been prepared to negotiate for months now... the ball is now in the British court," he told German magazine Der Spiegel.
The European Commission President said that Brussels was ready at any time - but that any agreement would not be "under exclusively British terms".
He went on to add that he "regrets" that the content of a meeting between him and Theresa May being leaked last month - which portrayed the PM in a negative light.
This morning Mr Davis also threw his weight behind Theresa May and slammed talk of a leadership challenge as "self indulgent".
The Brexit secretary came out full guns blazing for the Prime Minister today as she seeks to secure her position despite last week's poor election results.
He told ITV's Good Morning Britain that she will definitely she will be there "for my career at least" and he was "100% [an] unswerving supporter."
"I am not interested," he said, when quizzed on whether he would run for leader again. "It's a complete waste of people's time, it is unbelievably self indulgent to go into this sort of stuff."
He praised the PM in a separate interview with Radio 4's Today programme - as being "decisive" and "brave" but who also "consults... takes her time."
Over the weekend it was reported that five cabinet ministers had called on Boris Johnson to try and oust her.
But the Foreign Secretary hit back with a comment piece for The Sun, calling on fellow MPs to stop plotting and rally around her.
He said they should "get a grip" - and pledged his own loyalty to the PM.
Boris writes: “The people of Britain have had a bellyful of promises and politicking.
“Now is the time for delivery — and Theresa May is the right person to continue that vital work.”
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But David Davis this morning sought to fight back against some of the speculation of softening the Brexit stance - and said he would continue to take Britain out of the Single Market.
"80% of the public voted for parties that reflect, and respect the decision last year," he told Sky News this morning. "The parties that wanted to reverse it got hammered.
"They said you cannot stay in the single market AND have control of your borders... There’s no sign of them changing their mind. We’ve been talking to them for ten months."
He added: "If anyone comes to me with ideas... I will take it on board. But it’s got to work. Its got to actually deliver on what the people asked for."
Mr Davis also admitted that the Government had worked up "in some detail" what would happen if they failed to strike a deal with the EU.
"It is possible, we have worked up that alternative in some detail, not because we want to, but in government you have to work up every contingency. If you go in without the ability to walk away, you will end up with a poor deal."
He also came back at criticisms of the Tory election campaign, saying there were huge differences between being a good campaigner and being good at running the country.
He said: "There is a distinction between running a campaign and running a country, and running a country is more difficult and she is incredibly good at it and that’s what you’re going to see.
"You’re going to see in the next few weeks her taking back command, her taking back the reigns, her showing what she is good at which is delivering for the country.
"She has done it before and she’ll do it again."
He owned up for his role in persuading her to hold an election too, and said he "took his responsibility" for forcing the vote.
"I take my responsibility, I make no bones about it, I argued for it," he said. "It's not the outcome I would have liked."
The Brexit Secretary praised Cabinet returnee Michael Gove, who was last night appointed Environment Secretary.
He gushed: "I don’t want to pick out stars of the election but he was a formidable player, he did very well. And on Brexit, his big interest, he was a formidable supporter of the Government."
Mrs May is under increasing pressure as she seeks to team up with the DUP to ensure she has a Commons majority.
Yesterday her top team sought to rally around her - but former Chancellor George Osborne said she was a "dead woman walking".
Many MPs say it is not possible to replace her at the moment because Brexit talks are due to begin next week.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd today said as she left for Parliament today: "I'm sure Theresa May will continue as an excellent Prime Minister."
And Michael Gove, the new Environment Secretary, said this morning: "I am looking forward to being a part of a team united behind Theresa, I think she is doing a fantastic job at the moment."
