Britain needs phased Brexit to shield economy: finance minister

London

SENIOR members of the UK government are becoming convinced of the need for a phased British departure from the European Union (EU) to help protect the economy, finance minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday.

Brexit minister David Davis heads to Brussels on Monday for a first full round of talks, with EU officials hoping the British government, yet to set out detailed proposals on several major issues, begins to show more urgency about doing a deal before Britain leaves the bloc in 2019.