Conservative leadership election: Liam Fox pencils in January 1, 2019, for Brexit

Leadership candidate: Liam Fox formally announcing would enter the race earlier this week
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Sebastian Mann3 July 2016
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Tory leadership hopeful Liam Fox has pencilled in a date on which Britain could formally exit the EU if he becomes Prime Minister.

The former defence minister marked January 1, 2019, as a feasible date during an interview which also saw him promise to boost the size of the Navy.

Dr Fox, who trails behind Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom in the leadership contest, said the EU referendum “changed all the rules," calling it an "earthquake in our political system".

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, the Vote Leave campaigner added: "We need to spend money on our national security because you need to buy insurance in a dangerous world.

"I would want to see an increase in defence spending as we saw an increase in our economy, for me that would be a priority.

"In particular I would like to see an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability."

Dr Fox, a former defence secretary, also said welfare would likely be cut and he would create a new department for trade and foreign affairs under his administration.

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