LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The new British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told local media on Sunday that a deal with the European Union (EU) could be reached by October.

But he also stressed that his country is also preparing for the possibility of no deal.

The new Brexit secretary told BBC that he would go to Brussels for talks on Thursday and strain every sinew to get the best deal.

A responsible government puts plans in place in case talks do not end well, he added.

But opposition said a no deal scenario could be "catastrophic" for businesses.

Labor MP Rebecca Long-Bailey said that "no deal should not be an option."

Britain is scheduled to leave EU on March 29, 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work between them afterwards.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed hope that the government's new plan will allow the two sides to reach a deal on relations by the autumn.