Brexit latest: Dominic Raab calls for EU to step up talks as Brussels issues 'no deal' warning

Rallying call: Dominic Raab
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Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab today called on the EU to “intensify our negotiations” — as Brussels warned of massive economic disruption if Britain crashes out without any deal.

Mr Raab, who replaced David Davis last week, made his call for further talks before setting off for his first formal session with EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

He tweeted he was “off to Brussels to meet Michel Barnier and his team. Time to intensify our negotiations.”

But European Commission officials chose the day of his visit to issue a report calling on all EU states to step up preparations for a no-deal Brexit, implying they think Theresa May’s Chequers proposals may not survive to form an agreement.

A draft of the commission’s 15-page paper, seen by the BBC, contained warnings that failure to strike a deal would mean long queues for travellers and goods, disruption to aviation and massive delays to lorryloads from the UK to the EU due to custom checks.

Transport, data and even movement of medicines would be affected. It said every EU nation had a responsibility to hire extra staff at borders and make other preparations, and work needed to be stepped up immediately at all levels to prepare for all possible outcomes.

Before setting off, Mr Raab clashed in the Commons with Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer, who asked if he would “personally stand up to” more than 60 Tory Brexiteers who have vowed to block the Chequers accord. Mr Raab, a leading Brexiteer, responded that Chequers represented a way forward and called on Labour to unite.

He said he was “working hard and listening to all sides” to solve the Northern Ireland border issue. Mrs May is set to make her first visit to the border since the referendum. Last night she told MPs the Government will issue around 70 “technical notices” to set out what is required for citizens and firms if the UK leaves the EU next March without a withdrawal agreement.

Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Patten predicted there could be a general election this year. He told BBC2’s Newsnight: “It is perfectly possible ... we will find Parliament can’t move forward, can’t move back, can’t move sideways and we are faced with chaos and crashing out of the European Union. So, I don’t discount the prospect of us finding ourselves in a general election during the course of the autumn and winter.”

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