Liz Truss says she does not fear no deal Brexit – but got her facts wrong
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss has insisted she does not fear a no-deal Brexit.
Ms Truss said it was not clear that going for a soft version of EU withdrawal would command support in the House of Commons.
The minister was responding to comments from Tory chief whip Julian Smith that the Government should have made it clear a softer Brexit was inevitable after the Conservatives lost their Commons majority in 2017.
Ms Truss, who backs Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement, told the BBC: “I think that we are well prepared for no deal.
“I don’t have any fear of no deal.”
She added: “It’s not clear to me that going softer is the way to command support.”
Ms Truss incorrectly stated that the non-binding option of backing a customs union “lost by more” votes in the Commons than Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement.
The customs union proposal lost by six votes, while the Withdrawal Agreement was rejected by a margin of 58 votes last week.
