UK PM targeting clean divorce from EU
British Prime Minister Theresa May will target a clean divorce from the EU when she sets out her Brexit plans in a major speech this week, newspapers reported on Sunday.
In Tuesday’s address, she will call for the United Kingdom to unite and get behind Brexit, pleading for an end to the “insults” and rancor between Leavers and Remainers, her Downing Street office said.
But newspapers said she would be laying out the path toward a “hard Brexit” — a strategy likely to infuriate embittered Remain voters even more.
May will spark two years of Brexit negotiations when she triggers the Article 50 departure process by the end of March.
She has been under pressure to reveal her strategy for the talks that will set out the future relationship between the UK and the European Union.
Downing Street would not be drawn on matching reports in several newspapers that she was targeting a “hard Brexit” — pulling of the single market, the European customs union and the European Court of Justice, in order to regain control of immigration from the EU.
‘Triple blast’
The Sunday Times said May would announce that London is seeking a “clean and hard Brexit”, citing the above points.
“May’s triple Brexit blast” was how The Sun put it, saying May will “show she means business by announcing a triple whammy departure from the EU”.
The Sunday Telegraph quoted a government source as saying: “She’s gone for the full works. People will know when she said ‘Brexit means Brexit’, she really meant it.”
Downing Street would only say the speech would call on the nation to “set aside old divisions, and unite to make a success of Brexit”.
While the June referendum on UK’s EU membership split the country — the Leave campaign won with a 52 percent majority — most Britons share a vision of a future Britain that is “secure, prosperous, outward-looking and tolerant”, said Downing Street.
“Setting out the government’s plan for the Brexit negotiations,thePMwillhighlight the importance of building on common goals — such as protecting and enhancing workers’ rights — and focusing on a positive vision of Britain outside the EU.”
Mayhasrevealedlittlesofar on her negotiating position, but has been clear she wants control over immigration from EU countries — a major issue in the referendum.
May — who gave lukewarm backing to the Remain campaign—wastocallonallsides to respect the referendum outcome.
“Now we need to put an end to the division and the language associated with it — Leaver and Remainer and all the accompanying insults — and unite to make a success of Brexit and build a truly global Britain,” May was to say.