martin donnelly stood down as permanent secretary in march.s been saying. he was in the post until march and has given his first interview since. he set out what he saw as the disadvantages or even dangers of the negotiations with brussels ending without a deal and the uk going it alone, if you like, after brexit. he said it could mean a huge amount of legal uncertainty and that in turn could be very bad for business, for jobs and for investment in britain. he said that it would be a very serious outcome and a serious position for the british economy. and he also links the outcome of no deal with the eu to the uk's chances of being able to trade effectively with countries elsewhere in the world, and that is of course what those keen to get me brexit as soon as possible built tell you, that the trade deal with the eu is important but not the be all and end deal because we could strike a trade deal with other countries around the world to make up for it. but sir martin donnelly sounded a bit of a reality check about that approach this morning, s

been hearing this morning from the former head of the department for international trade, sir martin donnellylly? yes, that's right. not a household name, but he was until recently the most senior civil servant at the department for international trade and would have been leading the efforts which were under way, groundwork to prepare for britain's relationship on trade terms with other countries after leaving the eu and he has been setting out in this, his first interview since leaving his post, the disadvantages as he sees it, the dangers even of ending this negotiation period with the european union and having no deal in place. he talks about it in quite stark terms saying it could mean a huge amount of legal uncertainty. it would be bad forjobs. bad for business. bad for investment in britain. he says it would be a very serious outcome and would mean that companies in some cases would be less competitive and he also links the outcome of no deal to being a negative factor in britain trying to strike trade deals with other countries because this is, of course, one people that keen on brexit

department for internationaltrade, sir former head of department for international trade, sir martin donnellyost at the department for international trade until march and he has given his first interview since leaving, speaking on the today programme on radio 4 this morning, and setting out what he sees as the disadvantages or even dangers of the negotiations with brussels ending without a deal, and the uk going it alone after brexit come if you like. he says it could mean a huge amount of legal uncertainty and that could be very bad for business, jobs and investment in britain. he says that it would be a very serious outcome and a serious position that the british economy. he also links the outcome of no deal with the eu to the uk's chances of being able to trade effectively with countries elsewhere in the world, and that is of course what those keen to get on with brexit as soon as possible would tell you, but the trade deal with the eu is important but not the be all and end all, because we can go off and strike a trade deal with us and other countries around the world which will make up f

sir martin donnelly said a "no deal" scenario could harm the uk's ability to strike trade deals withbour leader, jeremy corbyn, has also warned that conservative infighting over brexit was putting britain on a path to "economic disaster". earlier i spoke to our political correspondent jonathan blake and asked him if sir martin's intervention was significant. someone right at the heart until recently of international trade, liam fox is in charge, the secretary of state tasked with striking new trade deals after brexit with different countries around the world. and a hand in britain's future trading relationship with the eu. not crashing in here and causing a row with undiplomatic language but choosing his words carefully. the disadvantages, the dangers, of ending the brexit negotiations with no deal. he has been clear that this has been leading to legal uncertainty, bad for business, jobs, investment in britain. he also was at pains to point out that it would make it very difficult for britain to agree future trading relationships with countries beyond the european union who may see b

sir martin donnelly said a no—deal scenario could harm the uk's ability to strike trade deals with other jeremy corbyn, has also warned that conservative infighting over brexit was putting britain on a path to economic disaster. the government insists it's actively working with the eu to ensure a good deal. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, is here we've had a week of talks ending with the implication that they are politely agreeing to disagree on quite a lot of things still. european council meeting next week. this intervention from martin donnelley, will it be regarded as helpful in whitehall?” donnelley, will it be regarded as helpful in whitehall? i think among government ministers perhaps not. but this is an intervention from someone who was, until recently, right at the heart of the department for international trade. that's the department which liam fox is in charge of as the secretary of state and tasked with post brexit, striking new trade deals with different countries around the world. also having a hand in negotiating britain's future trading relationship with the

we've been reporting this morning on the brexit story, the fact that sir martin donnelly, who used totional trade warned on the today programme that no deal with the eu would have a major and lasting negative effect on the british economy. thenjeremy corbyn in the last hour or so has claimed the government is failing on its brexit negotiations as well. a government spokesperson has put out a statement in the last few minutes. they have said that the government wa nts a they have said that the government wants a deep and special partnership with the eu after the exit. the government believes it is in everyone's interests to discuss this as soon everyone's interests to discuss this as soon as possible. and that they are optimistic about achieving this. but that they must as a responsible government plan for all scenarios. in addition, this spokesperson goes on, we are talking to a large number of countries on a variety of future trading operations. they are hoping to promote the uk as a great place to promote the uk as a great place to do business and with which to trade. so that is the

sir martin donnelly said a no—deal scenario could harm the uk's ability to strike trade deals with otheres. the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has also warned that conservative infighting over brexit was putting britain on a path to economic disaster. i spoke to our political correspondent earlier and asked if this is significant. someone who was, until recently, right at the heart of the department for international trade. that's the department which liam fox is in charge of as the secretary of state and tasked with post brexit, striking new trade deals with different countries around the world. also having a hand in negotiating britain's future trading relationship with the eu specifically. now he's a former civil servant. he's not crashing in here and using undiplomatic language and causing a row, he is choosing his words carefully to set out what he sees are the disadvantages, the dangers of ending the brexit negotiations with no deal. he's been clear to say this would lead to a huge amount of legal uncertainty. it will be bad for business, forjobs, for investment in britain. he also