Theresa May denies she ‘begged the EU for more time’ after election humiliation

THERESA MAY today shot down claims she "begged" the EU to give her more time to negotiate Brexit.

The Prime Minister was accused of asking Brussels bosses to help her out after she was humiliated at the General Election.

But she furiously denied the suggestion that she demanded a post-Brexit transition deal to cope with her own political weakness.

The PM appeared in front of the Commons Liaison committee of senior MPs today and was grilled about her Brexit plans.

The SNP's Angus MacNeil claimed the only reason she wants a two-year transition after we quit the EU is because the snap election meant she didn't have enough time to strike a trade deal.

But the PM responded: "I haven't begged the European Union for two more years. This is not two more years to negotiate with the EU.

"This is two years when practically both businesses and governments will be able to put in place the changes necessary to move from the current relationship to the future partnership we will have."

She said she had first floated the idea of a transition more than a year ago - long before the surprise General Election.

During the two-hour grilling, the PM also insisted Britain will be able to cut a trade deal with the EU in time for Brexit Day in March 2019 - despite earlier admitting the deadline could be pushed back in "exceptional circumstances".

She said: "That is what we are working to and that is what I believe we can do.

"I and others have made the point in the past that of course we start off at a different point from other third countries... because we're already a member and already trading with them on a particular basis.

"As you will know full well, we can't legally sign the new trade agreement with the European Union until we're a third country, until we're out of the European Union - March 29, 2019 - but I believe we can negotiate that arrangement in that time."

Mrs May rejected the suggestion that Brexit would mean increased trade barriers with Europe and other countries which currently have free trade with the EU.

The PM said: "Our aim is to ensure not that we see new trade barriers being put in place for the UK, but that we see improved trade relationships throughout the world."

Her appearance at the committee - for the first time in a year - came as the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the Brexit transition must finish by the end of 2020.

Today also saw a bid by Philip Hammond to reassure banks they will be able to operate in the City no matter what the outcome of trade talks is.