No-deal Brexit would be a ‘safe haven’ claims Tory and Labour Leave campaigners

No deal with the EU would lead the UK to the “safe haven” of World Trade Organisation rules, according to a joint report from Conservative and Labour Brexiters

Former Conservative cabinet minister Peter Lilley and Labour Leave activist Brendan Chilton made the claim in a dossier they dub as providing “30 truths” about leaving the EU on WTO terms.

The report argues the UK could boost the economy by keeping hold of the £39billion promised as part of the Brexit divorce bill; tariffs paid on goods traded with the EU are less than the UK’s net contribution to Brussels; and the Irish border would be kept invisible as all sides have agreed not to introduce infrastructure along the frontier.

Anti-Brexit group Best For Britain dismissed the claims, describing it as “fantasy thinking”.

As well as listing the perceived positives of trading with the EU on WTO terms, the report claims fears of disruption caused by a ‘no deal’ Brexit are likely to be more in line with the anti-climatic “Millennium Bug” than “Armageddon”.

It reads: “It would be rash to predict that ‘everything will be all right on the night’. Unforeseen problems may arise, and some businesses may fail to prepare for foreseeable problems. But experience suggests that if one prepares for them, what could have been major problems turn out to be minor.”

Labour MP Jo Stevens, a back of Best for Britain, said: “This report isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. It’s utter nonsense.

“The fantasy thinking coming out of Peter Lilley’s mouth doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. We know that any trade deals we can secure after Brexit won’t make up for what would be lost.

“There’s a reason Parliament won’t let no deal happen – it would be extremely irresponsible and future generations would never forgive us. Trying to legitimise no deal is thinly veiled ideological dogma and the authors of this report should be ashamed of themselves.”

MPs are set to resume the debate on Theresa May's Brexit deal on Wednesday, with a vote most likely to happen on Tuesday January 15. 

The Prime Minister warned on Sunday the UK faces "uncharted territory" if the deal is rejected by MPs, with the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal becoming increasingly likely.

In a bid to thwart that development, a group of 211 MPs from the Conservatives, Labour, SNP and Lib Dems signed a letter calling for May to rule out a 'no deal' Brexit.