ANGER AT EU DEAL TO HALT OUR EXIT
A DEAL that could stop Britain from fully leaving the EU sparked anger last night.
UK and EU sources say Brussels could offer Britain temporary curbs on immigration in return for access to the single market. But angry Brexit campaigners accused politicians in Europe of failing to accept that Britain has voted to cut ties totally with the EU.
Earlier Tory MPs dug their heels in and insisted they will not let Theresa May backslide on Brexit by surrendering on immigration control and trade.
Mrs May, who last week discussed the referendum result with her French and German counterparts, has said she does
not expect to trigger formal EU talks this year but insists that “Brexit means Brexit”, even though she supported the Remain side in the referendum.
Yesterday British and EU sources said a deal was being considered in Europe under which the UK would be exempted from Europe’s free movement obligations for up to seven years while maintaining access to the single market.
Britain would be expected to continue paying into the EU budget, although probably less than now, and would not have a say in single-market rules.
British officials stressed it was still “very early days” but that some form of “emergency brake” on migration was one of the ideas “on the table”.
Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs, who is also an adviser to EU “foreign minster” Federica Mogherini, said she thought the Italian government would back an emergency brake in order to keep Britain in the single market.
It would, though, have to be time-limited to comply with EU rules.
But the package would be highly controversial with those who backed Brexit, who want our duty to accept the free movement of people to be ended and for Britain to come out of the single market.
Tory former cabinet minister John Redwood said: “The UK did not recently vote for a slightly beefed-up version of David Cameron’s attempted renegotiation with the EU.
“We voted to leave, to take back control of our laws, our money and our borders.
“The rest of the EU is missing the point. There should be no negotiation over taking back control.” Fellow Tory MP and veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash dismissed the idea of staying in the single market, declaring: “You cannot remain. If you’re out, you’re out.”
Jayne Adye, director of Get Britain Out, said: “The EU seems to have been shaken by Brexit. But we must have control of our own borders and not a time-limited sticking plaster.”
As yesterday’s Sunday Express reported, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said he is increasingly confident Britain can get a deal with the EU which both allows free trade and cuts immigration.
Meanwhile, it emerged that a group of Tory MPs met last week to discuss how to ensure Mrs May delivers on migration control and severs full links with the single market.
One source said: “We don’t trust the PM. She’s got off to a good start but the jury is out. The idea of an ongoing relationship with the EU is not acceptable.”
One MP at the meeting suggested threatening to disrupt legislation if the PM went in the wrong direction.
And Tory Eurosceptic Steve Baker, who was named chairman of the group, said MPs wanted to be “constructive,” and would be supportive if Mrs May kept her promises.
Tory Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin, asked if Brexit would end mass migration from Europe as many voters believed, said people had different reasons to vote to leave “but it does mean that we have to have control of our borders, yes”.
Amid speculation Mrs May could call a snap general election to capitalise on Labour turmoil, Mr McLoughlin promised Article 50 would be triggered first. Tory MP Peter Bone said he was reassured by Mrs May’s appointment of key Eurosceptics to her Government: “Bringing in people like that has made it a lot easier for people like me to be more relaxed.”
The Daily Express is continuing its crusade, which was so instrumental in the referendum victory, to ensure the Government carries out the voters’ wishes.