UK no longer sees October as deadline for Brexit deal

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Britain would be able to handle a delay in securing a Brexit deal with the European Union if the talks extended into November and missed their informal October deadline, Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said on Friday.

"If it slips beyond October into November, I think that is manageable," Lidington told the BBC on Friday, when asked about comments by the EU's chief negotiator suggesting a deal may not be agreed by October.

The remarks indicated that October is no longer London's deadline for a Brexit agreement with the EU.

Britain's Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington arrives in Downing Street in central London, UK, April 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said on Tuesday that he remained confident of reaching a deal at a summit with EU leaders planned for October. However, European negotiator Michel Barnier said any deal would be "not much later than November, certainly."

Lidington, British Prime Minister Theresa May's de facto deputy, said on Thursday he was not surprised by Barnier's comments.

"We remain of the view that we are hopeful or optimistic about there being a good deal agreed in the autumn of this year," he said. "We saw Mr. Barnier yesterday, the day before, suggesting it might not be in October, but it might slip until a little bit later and frankly that doesn't surprise me."

British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab (L) and European Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom Exiting the European Union Michel Barnier during a bilateral meeting in Brussels, Belgium, August 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Britain on Thursday outlined plans for managing the fallout in the scenario of Brexit talks collapsing, warning that businesses could face more customs red tape and consumers could risk higher card payment charges.

However, Raab insisted failing to reach an agreement with the EU ahead of its planned departure on March 29, 2019 was "unlikely."

(With input from agencies)