Senior ministers believe that the European Union (EU) will insist on a Brexit delay of up to two years if Britain fails to agree a deal in the next few weeks, said the Standard's paper.

Several sources have told the Standard they do not think the sort of “short, limited extension” of Article 50 suggested by UK's PM Theresa May in the Commons yesterday would be permitted by Brussels.

Ministers closely involved in Brexit preparations believe the EU would probably demand an extension until December 2020, effectively replacing the planned transition period with continued EU membership.

The disadvantage for the UK is that would also delay the start of negotiations on future trade deals and UK-EU relations, which Brussels claims must begin only after the UK has left the bloc.