Indeed the last bastion of entirely real events as relayed by selfreporters with eidetic memories . Praise be ! !<| sep |> If there is to be a trade deal ready for the day Britain leaves it will probably take 5 years to be negotiated . There will have to be a transition deal where the UK remains in the EU under the current terms maybe with some small modifications such as losing its seats at the council , commission parliament , for a reduction in contributions to the budget , while a post exit deal is worked out . 2 years of Art 50 exit negotiations 5 years of trade negotiations , means the UK might not fully exit until 2024 at the earliest . By which time there will likely be a new government who may call the whole thing off . The only way I can see it happening before that is if there is no trade deal and it fall back on WTO rules , which will be bad for everyone .