Jean Claude Juncker told me today he thinks #Brexit will happen by 31 January - the process has already gone on so long “it has to be brought to an end” he says /1 
On Boris Johnson’s pledge to negotiate a brand new comprehensive EU-UK trade deal by December next year Mr Juncker told me some MPs and gov ministers seemed to think making trade deals was easy but they take time. The free trade agreement EU negotiated with Canada took 7 years /2
Mr Juncker said it would not be easy to disentangle UK from decades of common laws and regulations with the EU and to forge a new bilateral relationship /3
On Labour’s pledge to renegotiate the Brexit deal (this would be 3rd #Brexit deal with EU) if the party won the election, Mr Juncker said he didn’t think that was a realistic prospect... /4
But admitted the next European Commission would decide if there was any flexibility to re-open the Withdrawal Agreement. (Actually the decision whether/not to re-start exit negotiations would fall primarily to EU national leaders. Commission negotiates Brexit on their behalf) /5
