"They want our money for another two years" David Davis scoffs at idea of Brexit extension

1 June 2020, 13:35 | Updated: 1 June 2020, 14:22

David Davis on EU negotiations and prospect of extension

By Seán Hickey

A Brexit extension has to be off the table as it will undermine the UK's position in negotiations.

Nick Ferrari was discussing the latest news on Brexit with David Davis, Conservative MP and former Brexit Secretary as reports have said that Boris Johnson is standing defiant of the EU before negotiations resume, while the bloc tease the idea of extending the transition period for a further two years.

Mr Davis revealed that the UK would have foreseen this, telling Nick that "the end of the negotiation gets very hard and tough" and with all that has gone on in the world in the past few months, the EU's offer of a Brexit extension is the poison apple that the UK negotiators must steer clear from.

Nick asked the former Brexit Secretary what his reaction was to Michel Barnier's offer of a two year Brexit extension. Mr Davis insisted that he wasn't surprised and found it funny that it finally came up, telling listeners that "they want our money for another two years."

Mr Davis added that UK delegates must refuse the offer, adding that "every single time we extend we weaken our position and strengthen theirs" and we cannot afford to continue this charade as we approach the deadline.

He backed up his idea by reminding Nick that the only time economy hiccuped was when "Theresa May extended from March 29th then suddenly everything fell out of bed" as businesses had prepared to leave on that date, throwing their preparations into disarray.

Michel Barnier offered the UK a two year Brexit extension
Michel Barnier offered the UK a two year Brexit extension. Picture: PA

Mr Davis told listeners that the EU's financial situation is "very poor" because of coronavirus and this is motivating the EU to offer the UK an extension. Nick admitted that Mr Davis predicted this outcome "years ago", whereby the former Brexit Secretary briefed listeners on the politics of these negotiations and how the European Union generally operate in trade deals.

"If you divide the people in the negotiations into two groups" he began, the EU has a different approach depending on who they're dealing with. "Those who are smaller than them" Mr Davis said, adding these people are usually states looking for EU membership "get bullied" in negotiations. The other side are countries bigger or the same size as the EU "like China and India" and they, according to Mr Davis "never get a deal." The UK is somewhere in between the two he said and "they have to have a deal"

Mr Davis added that the UK's remarkable economic situation throughout the negotiations is testament to how well prepared the country is to leave. "For the economy to just charge on through that is amazing" he said.

"Boris has to talk to the heads of the government" the former Brexit Secretary told Nick when asked for a forecast of the next month. He predicted that Boris Johnson's argument will be that "we want a deal, but we want a deal which is fair to both of us so let's sign on something which does that, not keep putting it off forever."

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nick

Nick Ferrari callers react to new measures to control illegal migration

Exclusive
LBC Presenter Nick Ferrari visits Cromwell Hospital in West London.

Nick Ferrari shares his experience getting tested for prostate cancer amid calls for UK to ramp up routine screening

Exclusive
A report claims police should make people give their biological sex, rather than their self-ascribed gender.

Police should record biological sex after arrests, minister says, after report claims criminals can pick their own gender

Exclusive
Itay Kashti, a Jewish-Israeli music producer, was lured to what he believed was a musician retreat before being beaten and kidnapped for his race and religion.

Israeli music producer opens up about horrific anti-Semitic kidnapping as three men jailed for extortion plot

Exclusive
British military in 'sorry state' and needs 'well north of 3% of GDP for a decade', ex-Army chief warns

British military in 'sorry state' and needs 'well north of 3% of GDP for a decade', ex-Army chief warns

Exclusive
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Katharine Birbalsingh branded the Government’s plans for school uniforms “marxist” and warned they could seriously impact students’ ability to learn.

‘Britain’s strictest head’ lashes out at government plans to limit branded school uniform items

Fury as London Underground book exchange scrapped over 'fire risk' after two decades

'Why can’t we have nice things?': Fury as London Underground scraps book exchange over 'fire risk' after 20 years

Exclusive
Jordan North and Chris Stark's hilarious remix of Sian Welby reading kids' book on LBC.

'Who's digging up my nuts?': Jordan North and Chris Stark's hilarious remix of Sian Welby reading kids' book on LBC

Politicians 'must be able to question judicial decisions' amid row over 'activist judges,' Priti Patel tells LBC

Politicians 'must be able to question judicial decisions,' Priti Patel tells LBC amid row over 'activist judges'

Exclusive
Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' as Israeli President labels 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’.

Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' says President, labelling 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin