Dr Farry was speaking after giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster, which was holding a session on the border and the proposed backstop.
“After well over 33 months being available to agree and ratify the terms for Brexit, it is simply stunning, reckless and irresponsible that across the UK Government and Parliament no formal way forward has been agreed with barely over nine days to go,” he said.
“Some people, including the Prime Minister, seem willing to gamble the future cohesion and economic prosperity of the UK through a game of chicken, taking this right to the wire. But businesses and others have every right to know what their relationship with the EU is going to be in just over 200 hours’ time. People’s jobs, opportunities and livelihoods are at stake.
“It is inevitable now Brexit must be delayed to avoid that cliff edge. No deal is unthinkable. Yet no extension can even be taken for granted.