Theresa May’s comments suggest that Brexit may not happen anytime soon

The saga continues...

Theresa May has thrown the Brexit saga into disarray by suggesting that it may be delayed while the UK government seeks out a transitional deal. May's government originally said that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March 2017, which would begin the three-year withdrawal process from the European Union ending with Brexit in 2019. However, speaking to the audience at the Confederation of British Industry, May said: "People do not want a cliff edge." The cliff edge being referred to is a sudden drop out of the EU bloc and the uncertainty that would follow such a change in relationship with Europe. Speaking with a spokesperson from the British Government, The Independent investigated whether this comment means that a transitional deal is being sought by Theresa May, one that would stretch out the process of leaving the EU. The Downing Street spokesperson told The Independent: "There are a whole range of issues that are being worked through as we prepare for negotiations, with a focus on how we get the best deal for the UK." When quizzed specifically on whether a transitional deal was being sought, the spokesperson said: "There’s a whole range of work going on." The spokesperson also said: "There is a process whereby you can extend the Article 50 negotiations, but that requires the agreement of other member states." The news comes just a week after a leaked memo appeared to show that the UK Government still had no plans in place to deal with Brexit, although the legitimacy of the memo was contested by MPs.