BREXIT talks between the UK and the EU should be extended due to the coronavirus, an MP has said after an opinion poll showed even Brexiteers support the move.

Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon has called on the government to extend the transition period, where the UK negotiates a trade deal with the EU beyond its current deadline of December 31 this year.

An opinion poll released by pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain showed that two-thirds of the public support an extension to the transition period including half of the Leave voters.

ALSO READ: Hospital healthcare assistant dies from coronavirus

Ms Moran called on the government to listen to the public in order to avoid an ‘economically devastating’ No Deal Brexit.

She said: “If the Government do not extend the transition period, our country will once again face the threat of an economically devastating No Deal Brexit, and all the uncertainty and stress that comes with it.

“Over the last two years, vital time and resources were diverted from preparing for a pandemic to planning for a No Deal. The Government cannot afford to make the same mistake again, when people’s lives and livelihoods are on the line. The coronavirus response must come first.”

Oxford Mail:

Layla Moran. Picture: Ed Nix.

Ms Moran added: “Now is the time to put people’s lives and businesses before Brexit. The pragmatic and sensible approach is for the Government to listen to the public and extend the transition period until the UK economy has weathered the storm caused by coronavirus.”

Last week, the government ruled out extending the transition period beyond the end of the year despite the coronavirus.

And the government’s chief negotiator David Frost said extending the transition period would only lead to more uncertainty and potentially having to pay more money to the EU.

In a tweet he said it would ‘keep us bound by evolving EU laws at a time when we need to control our own affairs. In short, it is not in the UK's interest to extend’.

ALSO READ: Campaign to save Blackbird Leys Church

The poll by Best for Britain surveyed a total of 2032 people of different ages and genders, asking two questions:

• the first asked if coronavirus should be a priority over Brexit or not

• the second asked those who said coronavirus should be the priority about whether the Brexit transition should either be extended by a year, or indefinitely.

Of these, 66 per cent agreed the government should focus all its energies on tackling the coronavirus for the rest of the year, while 34 per cent said ‘necessary time’ also needed to be made for Brexit talks.

Of the 1350 who said coronavirus should be the priority for the year, 36 per cent said there should be a year-long extension, and 64 per cent said the extension should be indefinite.

Of those who took part, 805 were Leavers and 903 were Remainers in the Brexit referendum.

Of the Leavers, a majority of 407, or 51 per cent, said time should be found for Brexit talks to be concluded by the end of the year.

The 49 per cent of Leavers who said transition should be extended mainly thought it should only be for a year.

Meanwhile, of the 903 Remainers surveyed, 81 per cent said the transition should be extended, with the majority of them saying it should be an indefinite extension.