UK Prime Minister Theresa May made clear the UK’s “determination to secure trade deals with countries from around the world” during a series of bilateral talks at the G20 summit.
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“We can create a more dynamic economy, a beacon for free trade across the world”.
The negotiation of a formal deal will have to wait until after Mrs May has completed the two-year Brexit procedure under Article 50 of the European Union treaties, which she has said she will not trigger before the start of 2017.
The single market – The main worry of The City and business is losing access to the single market within the EU.
Speaking from her prime ministerial plane, May questioned whether the type of system that admits migrants based on their skills was effective, and did not rule out retaining preferential access arrangements for European Union citizens.
Davis added: “Brexit is not about making the best of a bad job”.
“There will be new freedoms, new opportunities, new horizons for this great country”.
MPs were absolutely brutal about the lack of strategy Davis seemed to have, with shadow Brexit secretary Emily Thornberry describing his statement as filled with “empty platitudes”.
The exchange indicates the difficulty May faces in striking a consensus within her own government about how to achieve Brexit.
Opposition MPs shouted “waffle” during his address.
– Hard or soft Brexit? “I hope our party clarifies its position in support of United Kingdom membership of the single market, and continued close engagement with Europe”.
“We are seeking a unique to Britain rather than an off-the-shelf solution with Europe”, he said.
During a visit to China, Mrs May said: “A lot of people talk about the points-based system as always being the answer in immigration”.
“She is right not to give a running commentary because we’ll get to a broad departure position, we will exercise Article 50 at some point early in the New Year and it is sensible to give the Government a bit of time to work out exactly what its position is”.
The uncertainty weighing on major businesses and investors was highlighted when the Japanese government issued a document urging that the “harmful effects” of Brexit be minimised, plus transparency over negotiations.
The comments offer the first glimpse into May’s stance on the hardest question thrown up by the referendum: How to tighten border controls with the European Union without losing access to its single market.
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She said she wanted Britain to remain in the single market, implying this could be the test for whether she would call for another Scottish independence referendum following 2014’s poll which rejected the move.
