The Chequers meeting was the cabinet’s first since the summer vacation.
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“We must continue to be very clear that Brexit means Brexit, that we’re going to make a success of it”, she said.
Theresa May has ruled out a second referendum on Britain’s European Union membership and will not seek parliamentary approval before starting formal exit talks by invoking article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
There has been speculation that May will trigger the two-year period leading to the final departure without consulting parliament.
European leaders have stressed that countries can not have full access to the single market unless they accept free movement of labour.
She told Today she would be “concerned about any plans to curb immigration” from Europe, which had ” benefited our country, especially business”.
The Centre for European Reform think-tank has argued that to obtain significant restrictions on the free movement of people, the United Kingdom might have to severely curtail the right of its service sector to operate in the EU. She also pledged that despite the United Kingdom divorcing the bloc, the United Kingdom still wants to maintain positive relations with the EU.
She said the Cabinet had to consider “how we can get tough on irresponsible behaviour in big business”. 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.
“Britain needs change but Theresa May and the Tories can not deliver it”.
Many had been waiting for May to end the summer of political uncertainty with a decisive plan on how Britain would move forward – but specific details of such a plan were scarce.
Despite the increased focus on Brexit, Ms May has stood by her commitment not to initiate the Brexit process until next year.
Britain voted to leave the European Union in a June referendum, prompting the resignation of May’s predecessor David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the 28-nation bloc.
Given this choice, many of Mrs May’s Cabinet ministers want to pull Britain out of the EU single market altogether; for them, the re-imposition of border controls and restrictions on European immigration is the key objective.
But Mrs May indicated she is seeking a tailor-made arrangement for Britain, telling her two counterparts that the final outcome would not necessarily follow “an existing model”.
Downing Street has also confirmed Mrs May will not hold a second referendum or an early general election to give voters the chance to sign off on any Brexit deal.
Mrs May’s spokeswoman said: “Ministers agreed that we should be seizing the opportunity of Brexit to confirm the UK’s place as one of the great trading nations in the world, fostering entrepreneurialism and setting out a long-term vision for the country”.
Writing for the Daily Telegraph, the Tory peer said: ‘It seems unlikely that Theresa May has any legal need to ask parliament to approve the invoking of Article 50, which is a matter of royal prerogative to be exercised by ministers.
Thank you very much for coming together today.
“There are many people out there who voted in good faith for Brexit and who felt they were doing the right thing for their families and communities, and I respect them for taking that decision”.
She said: “For me, the priorities are first of all access to the single market”.
The table with Mrs May will be Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Chancellor Philip Hammond, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and David Davis, Secretary of State for Leaving the European Union.
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“The PM said that there were two related imperatives: getting the best deal for people at home, and getting the right deal for Britain overseas”, a spokeswoman for May said.
