Gavin Williamson: None of us wanted Brexit delay
Gavin Williamson has described the latest delay to Brexit as "a situation that none of us wanted".
The Defence Secretary said he still hopes that MPs will back the Prime Minister's deal when it next goes before Parliament so Britain can be out of the EU next month.
He has long favoured a speedy exit from the bloc, and has insisted that the UK could make a success out of a 'no deal' Brexit.
Mr Williamson is thought to have been one of a small number of Theresa May's Cabinet to have opposed requesting an extension to Article 50, which could now see Britain's departure date pushed beyond May 22.
The South Staffordshire MP refused to be drawn over whether he had considered resigning over the Government's direction over Brexit, and also said he was "looking forward with interest" to seeing the results of Mrs May's talks with Jeremy Corbyn.
The UK was supposed to leave the EU on March 29, but that date was extended to April 12 when MPs failed to back the Prime Minister's deal. Mrs May is expected to request a further delay at a summit in Brussels next week.
Speaking at a Ministry of Defence base in Salisbury, he told the Express & Star: “None of us wanted to see a situation where we’re having to extend, but we have the opportunity to deliver Brexit by May 22.
“What we all recognise – and I know this is true for the people of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire and the whole of the Black Country – they want to see Britain leave the EU.
"They want to see us exit as swiftly as possible.
"The Prime Minister has a deal there, it’s something that could be voted on, something that could be delivered and Britain could be out the European Union next month. That’s what I want to see.”
His comments came as the Prime Minister completed a second round of talks with Mr Corbyn aimed at putting forward alternative Brexit options for MPs to vote on.
Mr Williamson, who once accused Mr Corbyn of having "betrayed" Britain over allegations that he had met a foreign spy in Parliament, said Labour MPs should support the withdrawal agreement already reached between the UK and the EU.
“We have the ability to deliver a deal and I think, frankly, Labour MPs should be voting for that. It’s the best route forward. It’s obviously too early to comment on the discussions, but they’re ongoing and I look forward with interest to seeing what comes out of them.”
Asked about his future in Mrs May's Cabinet, he said: “I’m making sure that we deliver Brexit – the wishes of the people – that’s what I’m going to do.”
Meanwhile Mr Williamson said a video showing soldiers firing at a Jeremy Corbyn poster for target practice was “completely unacceptable”.
The Defence Secretary has welcomed an investigation into the incident, which centres around a clip showing four paratroopers in uniform firing at a large portrait of the Labour leader.
Mr Williamson said: “Wherever I go round the world I see men and women of our armed forces doing an amazing job of keeping us safe. Obviously that video was completely unacceptable. It’s not what we want to see.”
