The UK government will not accept any delay to the Brexit transition period beyond this year even if the EU offers an extension, Downing Street said on Thursday.
A Downing Street official said there were no circumstances in which the UK would delay its departure from the standstill relationship with the bloc beyond December 31 2020, despite the disruption to the negotiations caused by the coronavirus crisis.
“We will not ask to extend the transition. And, if the EU asks, we will say no. Extending the transition would simply prolong the negotiations, prolong business uncertainty, and delay the moment of control of our borders,” the official said.