Formal talks on Britain's exit from the European Union may not begin on June 19 as that is the same date the government is due to set out its policy program for the new parliament, Brexit minister David Davis said on Monday.

Davis, whose Conservative Party is due to put its policy program or Queen's Speech to parliament on June 19 after failing to win a majority at last week's election, said the Brexit talks would begin at some point next week.

The Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 9, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

"My permanent secretary is actually in Brussels today talking to them about the details. It may not be on the Monday because we've also got the Queen's Speech that week and I will have to speak in that and so on."

Davis also said that Britain could still walk away from negotiations with the European Union with no deal, and it was important to keep that option as talks over the terms of Britain's departure from the bloc begin.

"If you go into a negotiation without the ability to walk away then you will have a poor outcome in that negotiation," he said on BBC radio, adding that he expected Britain would be able to reach a deal with the EU.

(Source: Reuters)