What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour have warned Theresa May she must have a transitional Brexit deal in place by March after businesses threatened to abandon the UK.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said: “The priority must be to agree transitional arrangements. That means staying within the EU Single Market and in a Customs Union, and abiding by the common rules of both.”

He has been warned by a City finance house that unless details of the two-year transition are in place in three months, it will begin a Brexodus.

The firm said: “If we don’t have clarity by March we’ll execute back-up plans – including taking services outside the UK.”

On Friday, the EU’s 27 member states gave the Prime Minister the green light for trade talks to begin. But she is in a race against the clock to have a deal signed off by Brexit day on March 29, 2019 – so firms need until 2021 to ensure a smooth exit from the EU.

(Image: Handout) (Image: Getty)

Sir Keir added: “The PM must get an urgent agreement. If she fails to do so, she will be putting jobs and the economy at risk.”

Meanwhile, YouGov polling for campaign group Best for Britain shows most voters want to stay in the Single Market and a trade deal is now more important than immigration.

(Image: Getty)

But of those quizzed 44 per cent would still vote to leave the EU with no deal compared with 41 per cent who would prefer to stay.

Best for Britain says the £39billion Brexit divorce bill will cost every household £1,439. Chief Eloise Todd said: “What’s frightening is the real cost of Brexit hasn’t even begun.”

Meanwhile, Lib Dem chief Vince Cable is after SNP support for a second referendum.