Theresa May has told MPs that she will take her time in formulating a negotiating position on leaving the European Union and will not provide a “running commentary” on the negotiations. But we must also think through the issues in a sober and considered way.
Advertisement
She said: “In looking at negotiations, it would not be right for me or this Government to give a running commentary on negotiations”.
But she has indicated that the United Kingdom would be looking for a bespoke deal, and will not simply follow Norway’s example, which is a member of the single market but also bound by the free movement of people, a principle that allows European Union nationals to live anywhere within the bloc.
Britain has set up a trade working group with India to press ahead with its post-Brexit negotiations, United Kingdom minister for global trade Liam Fox said today.
“And let me be clear: I don’t believe there is any deal that [UK Prime Minister Theresa] May can do that will be better for Britain than being a member of the EU”.
A spokeswoman for May said that the British prime minister stressed to work together with Tusk so that there was a “smooth process” for leaving EU.
She told MPs on Wednesday that she was seeking “the right deal” on trade in goods and services, but added: ‘We will not take decisions until we are ready’.
May says reducing immigration into Britain is crucial after millions of Britons expressed their frustration in the vote over what they say is the stress on schools, hospitals and housing from high numbers of people settling in the country.
Mrs May has said India, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore are also keen to remove trade barriers.
It comes after the PM distanced herself from Brexit Secretary David Davis’ suggestion it was “very improbable” the United Kingdom can regain control over its own borders while staying in the single market.
Ms May told MPs that, although no new trade deals could come into effect until after Britain leaves the European Union, preliminary negotiations could begin immediately.
“And in the meantime we will hold the Conservative Brexit Government to account and fight for the best possible deal for Britain”, Mr Farron will say.
“It is in all our interests that there is a smooth departure, that we continue to work together, albeit with the United Kingdom on the outside, about how we can deliver economic growth, make sure that economic benefits are being spread around the country”, her spokeswoman said.
Mr Davis replied: “In the referendum that we have just had, the biggest mandate ever given to a British government, a clear large part of it was the question of immigration, and the Prime Minister has made it very plain that the current state of immigration can not go on and we will bring it to an end as a part of this process”.
Advertisement
Jeremy Corbyn accused the Government of issuing “contradictory messages” on Brexit which were exacerbating “huge uncertainty” about the UK’s future.
