Britain will be stronger negotiating its own trade deal if agreement cannot be reached before the Brexit deadline of 2019, a leading Eurosceptic has claimed.

John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, was instrumental in helping to instigate the referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union and a key campaigner in the lead-up to the vote.

After the British public voted to leave the EU on June 23 last year, the MP is looking ahead to a promising future post Brexit.

But with very little forward movement since that historic day, Mr Baron believes that not only is no deal better than a bad deal, but no trade deal may actually benefit the UK

He said: “Trade has been shown over a long period to be mutually beneficial. It’s in our interests to have a positive relationship with the EU, and it would prefer to have a positive relationship with us. But at the same time, we can better pursue other opportunities.

“Look at the number of fast growing economies outside of the EU. Britain will be far more effective negotiating our own trade deals.

“People tend to forget that we are the fifth largest economy in the world, we are a clever island and we are definitely not a lightweight. It’s a growing world and we should capitalise.”

Prior to the referendum, Mr Baron strongly supported the “leave” campaign.

The MP supported the Government through the Article 50 votes, and is continuing to support what he describes as a “clean” Brexit.

He firmly supports leaving the single market, ending freedom of movement in favour of a controlled and fairer immigration system open to the whole world, not just the EU, and leaving the customs union.

Almost 18 months on, to many members of the public, there appears to be little movement, but Mr Baron has no fears of a protracted deadlock.

He has confidence in Britain’s ability to function alone, and falling back on the World Trade Organization to form global trade deals.

He said: “I do not see it as a standstill at all. With many negotiations there will be ups and downs. The PM has made it very clear that by March 2019 we will be leaving the European Union, regardless of whether we have a plan for implementation or not.

“These hiccups and going back and forth are part and parcel of the process. I want a good deal, of course I do, but it is not necessary.

“The position of the party is yes, a contingency plan would be good, but it is not vital.

“No deal implies a vacuum, but in reality we do have a fall back.

“We can trade through the World Trade Organization and work like most countries do, independently. I would be very happy to proceed with no deal, because it is not a complete no deal.

So, are there any concerns over Prime Minister Theresa May’s ability to get the best deal for Britain?

Not as far as Mr Baron is concerned. He said: “She is an honourable lady, which is important in any situation like this. She accepts the will of the people who have made it clear they wanted to leave, and she is standing by them. She has my full confidence.”