Brexit latest: Theresa May suggests Britain WILL leave EU's single market
THERESA May yesterday gave her clearest signal yet that she plans to pull Britain out of the European Union’s Single Market in a decisive break with Brussels.
In a TV interview ahead of the return of MPs to Westminster today, the Prime Minister set out her desire to re-impose full control over immigration while agreeing “a really good, ambitious trade deal” with the EU.
And she warned supporters of a fake so-called “soft Brexit” she was not prepared to “keep bits of membership” of the bloc after leaving.
“People voted to leave the EU but also voted for change,” she said. “This year is the year we start to make that happen.”
Her remarks were welcomed as “great news” by MPs campaigning for a real Brexit.
Mrs May said: “Often people talk as if we are leaving but still want to keep bits of our membership.
“We are coming out. We are not going to be a member of the EU any longer. The question is – what is the right relationship for the UK to have with the EU when we are outside.
“But of course we still want the best possible deal – for UK companies able to trade in and operate within the EU and also European companies able to trade with and operate within the UK.”
We are coming out. We are not going to be a member of the EU any longer
Mrs May attacked claims by some Remainers that the Government faced a straight choice between controlling immigration or remaining a full member of the Single Market.
“I don’t see it as a binary issue,” she said. “Outside the EU we will be able to have control of immigration and be able to set our rules for people coming to the UK from EU member states.
"But we will also be working to get the best possible deal in the trading relationship with the EU.”
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Mrs May also rejected allegations made by Britain’s former ambassador to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers – who dramatically quit his post last week – of “muddled thinking” about Brexit within her Government.
“I’m ambitious for what we can get for the UK because I also think that’s going to be good for the European Union. Our thinking on this isn’t muddled at all,” she said.
Senior Tory MP Steve Baker, chairman of the European Research Group of anti-Brussels backbenchers, said: “This is welcome clarification of a sensible position.
“We won’t be clinging to bits of EU membership. The best outcome for the UK is an ambitious trade deal plus control over laws, trade policy and borders. The Prime Minister’s interview is great news for the UK.”
But Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said Mrs May had “thrown up” the chance to clarify her Brexit plans.
“Her answers were vague, muddy and ultimately opaque. ‘Move along – nothing to see here’ seems to be the PM’s strategy,” he said.
Meanwhile, an influential think tank has said UK businesses have nothing to fear from leaving the EU.
Civitas said a £9billion package of measures supporting industry could negate the impact of EU trade tariffs on UK exports.
And the move would have no net cost for taxpayers because funds could be raised from tariffs on goods and services imported into Britain from the EU.