Michael Gove says 31 October Brexit deadline is ‘arbitrary’

Tory leadership hopeful says he would consider short delay if deal was close

Environment Secretary Michael Gove
Environment Secretary Michael Gove
(Image credit: Tolga Akmen/Getty Images)

Tory leadership contender Michael Gove regards the UK’s 31 October Brexit deadline as “arbitrary” and says he is “not wedded” to it.

The environment secretary told a hustings event that Britain must not be bound by a “fixed” date if more time is needed to get a deal, but insisted any further delay would be a matter of weeks, not months.

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