Peer says Brexit is not inevitable and Britain may remain inside EU

The former head of the Civil Service has warned against rushing to trigger Article 50, which starts a two-year countdown to Brexit.

Lord O'Donnell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Government faces "immense" challenges but "the probability of us not leaving is very, very low".

"We need to get on and implement the people's decision to leave," he added.

However, Lord O'Donnell also said it was key for the UK to have a strategic plan before triggering the withdrawal process.

"The key for Government is to have a strategic plan to say 'what kind of UK do we want? What is our place in the world? What are we trying to achieve in these negotiations?'

"Once you have got those strategic decisions sorted out, then you can go about thinking about 'so when should we implement Article 50?'"

"I wouldn't be in a rush," he added.

In an interview with The Times (£), the ex-cabinet secretary who was in charge of the Civil Service from 2005 to 2011, also said he believed that whatever happened, the UK would also keep in place EU law and rules.

It very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes before then.

"It might be that the broader, more loosely aligned group, is something that the UK is happy being a member of," he added.

Lord O'Donnell's comments come amid reports that the prime minister is planning to deny Parliament a vote before formerly triggering the process of leaving the EU.

Theresa May faces legal challenges over whether she can begin the process without MPs' approval, but the Daily Telegraph reported that she has been informed by government lawyers that no approval is necessary.

A Downing Street source said the report is speculation, but added that Mrs May was "committed to delivering on the verdict the public gave".