TWO Brexit-supporting MPs have claimed Britain could be better off leaving the European Union without reaching a deal over its withdrawal.

The government has been working to get negotiations back on track after running into trouble over the issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Christchurch MP Chris Chope was at the border yesterday with the House of Commons’ Brexit select committee.

He said: “I think everybody believes it would be ludicrous to have a hard border between the south and north. The only people blocking that at the moment are the EU so the ball’s in their court in my view.”

Mr Chope has met the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and claimed the official was “not interested in having a free trade deal”.

“To leave without a deal would be still better than leaving with a bad deal,” he said.

“It seems to me that a bad deal is the only option on the table, and if we leave without a deal, we keep our own money and can spend that money on dealing with some of the short term consequences of having no deal.

“But I’m sure in due course people will come to their senses and realise the good sense of having a grown-up deal rather than bully the UK into effectively defying the will of the electorate in the referendum which is what seems to be happening at the moment.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said the failure to agree a deal earlier in the week was down to “intransigence and bureaucracy” on the part of the EU.

“My view is that we continue to negotiate but at the same time prepare to leave the EU and fall back on World Trade Organisation rules, which many countries already have, not least America, Australia, Canada and China,” he said.

“I have a feeling that we’re not going to strike a deal until we leave. We are worth a lot of money to them and they will want to trade with us I’m sure. Once the friction has gone and they’ve realised the UK has gone, I think that’s the time we’ll be able to sit down and have constructive talks on both sides.”

Michael Tomlinson, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: “I think it’s absolutely essential we start talking about trade and interestingly enough, my sources tell me that there are moves in Europe to say exactly the same thing.

“Even our MEP colleagues and others in Brussels are saying the same thing, that we must move on to talk about trade because businesses across Europe are getting a little bit anxious to move on.

“It’s not only in our interest but in the 27 EU countries’ interests that we move on to trade and get a deal secured.”

He added: “It’s been a really tough week, of course, but I very much hope to see we will move on towards important talks for trade coming up.”