But Number 10 said there was “no legal obligation” for Prime Minister Theresa May to consult Parliament before invoking Article 50, which kicks off a two-year process of negotiating a new relationship with the European Union following its departure. But May’s spokesperson told the Financial Times that Britain is looking to enact a “unique” model which looks awfully similar to former prime minister David Cameron’s attempts to stop Britain leaving the EU. We’re going to be having an opportunity today to discuss this.
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Chuku Umunna MP, chair of the pro-EU group Vote Leave Watch, insisted parts of the negotiations would have to come before MPs.
Some politicians have demanded a second referendum to get public backing for the deal or a general election.
The BBC has reported May had asked every minister to identify “opportunities” for their departments and they will now be expected to report back. She told them: “We want to be a government and a country that works for everyone”.
The Cabinet meeting at Chequers has prompted the SNP to accuse the Government of showing “breathtaking complacency”.
But in a phone call with Norway’s PM, Erna Solberg, Mrs May said that upcoming negotiations on the post-Brexit relationship should consider “what is going to work best for the United Kingdom and what is going to work for the European Union, rather than necessarily pursuing an existing model”.
“This is breathtaking complacency from a government that got us all into this mess in the first place”.
And former business minister Anna Soubry – part of the Open Britain group being launched this week by supporters of the failed Remain campaign – said Britain should push for a deal that preserves access to the single market and free movement for European Union citizens.
In comments made at the start of the meeting while cameras were allowed in, May told ministers that the government was clear that “Brexit means Brexit”.
Britain has taken an uncompromising stance on the need to reduce EU immigration, but at the same time wants to ensure that British businesses can maintain strong ties in dealing with European neighbors.
It is claimed some officials at the UK Foreign Office are pushing for “as much Europe as possible” while others in the Home Office are reluctant to consider full EEA membership or single market access because their priority is an immigration clampdown.
Possible scenarios that may have been assessed are full membership of the European Economic Area (EEA), limited restrictions on immigration, European citizens needing visas just to go on vacation in the United Kingdom and trade tariffs imposed under WTO rules.
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“It will not be able to access the single market unless its accepts the four freedoms, all its regulation and budgetary solidarity”. The ability to do what we do now very well, which is to trade without barriers – that, I believe, should continue. “The crucial trade-off in the coming wrangling is likely to be between acknowledging many voters’ desire to see a reduction in European Union immigration, while ensuring British businesses can trade as freely as possible with our nearest neighbours”, says BBC political correspondent Chris Mason.
