A total of 6,747 readers (90 percent) said they did not think there would be a further delay with just 701 readers (9 percent) agreeing with Ms von der Leyen. A further 113 people (1 percent) said they did not know. The European Commission President issued her warning as she spoke to an audience at the London School of Economics – where she once studied.
She said January 31 would be a “tough and emotional day” but said 11 months was not enough time to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the UK and suggested an extension to the Brexit transition period would be required.
She said: “Without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020 you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our partnership. We will have to prioritise.
“We are prepared to design a new partnership with zero tariffs, zero quotas, zero dumping – a partnership that goes well beyond trade and is unprecedented in scope.”
But Express.co.uk readers are confident Boris Johnson will ensure the deal is done by the end of the year.
CristinaK1 said: “That woman is trying to force us to stay in the single market, with free movement and tied to their rules on free trade. That is NOT what we voted for.”
Hughie Harcourt said: “It’s a simple situation. If the EU don’t want to sell us their expensive products we will go elsewhere.”
READ MORE:Brexit news: Britons FURIOUS at Verhofstadt demand to keep free movement
Duncan Walker said: “If you enter a negotiation predicting it cannot be done then you will fail every time.
“The reason she is saying this is because the EU has no intention of agreeing a deal by December this year or any year in the foreseeable future!
“We have seen the utter futility of what extending our withdrawal has done over the last four years.”
And Maria96 said: “The EU already agreed to that time frame. The two-year extension was optional.
“Obviously, when they reached that agreement with Boris they must have believed it was possible to complete the trade deal by 2021.
“Now, even before trade negotiations have begun, they’re demanding an extension.
“As usual, the EU is playing games. I hope Boris tells them to get stuffed!”
It isn’t the first time the EU chief has said 11 months is not enough time to agree a comprehensive trade deal, having previously said she was “seriously concerned” about the constrained time period.
Mr Johnson remains firm that there will not be a further delay to Brexit.
He insists Britons and citizens across the rest of the European Union have had enough after three years of talks.
The Prime Minister has even added a clause into the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which has now reached the second stage of the parliamentary process, that rules out extending the transition period beyond December 31, 2020 – even if a free trade deal with the EU has not been agreed.
