Daily Express

DEAL OR NO DEAL WE WILL LEAVE EU

- By Macer Hall Political Editor

THERESA May will walk out of Brexit talks if EU chiefs try to punish Britain for leaving.

In a historic speech yesterday, the Prime Minister laid out the UK’s path to becoming truly independen­t again.

She warned that Britain will break its ties with Brussels whatever happens in forthcomin­g departure negotiatio­ns.

Mrs May vowed to pull the country out of the single market, end the meddling of EU judges and halt the “huge sums” being paid into the EU budget.

She said MPs and peers will get final binding votes on any exit deal – but insisted they will not be allowed to block Brexit.

And in a stark warning, she said attempting to impose punitive departure terms would be “a calamitous act of self harm”.

“No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain,” she

said as she signalled her readiness to walk out of Brexit talks if her opponents turn hostile.

Euroscepti­c MPs and campaigner­s were delighted that Mrs May promised the clean break with Brussels demanded by voters in last year’s EU referendum.

And her speech was another triumphant moment in the Daily Express crusade for a full British exit from the EU.

It is nearly seven years since we became the first national newspaper to declare support for leaving the EU – winning the backing of hundreds of thousands of readers in the campaign for a referendum and for a Leave vote.

But the speech infuriated Remain supporters, who threatened a lastditch attempt to keep the trappings of EU membership.

Mrs May used her 45-minute speech at Lancaster House, in central London, to outline the 12 objectives that will underpin her drive to build a “new strategic partnershi­p” with the EU.

British people had “voted for change” in last year’s EU referendum, she said, adding: “They voted to leave the European Union and embrace the world.”

She called for a “bold, free-trade agreement” between Britain and the EU, setting her sights on winning “the maximum freedom” for British companies to trade with their European counterpar­ts.

But she insisted that staying a full member of the EU’s single market would not deliver a genuine departure from the EU. “What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market,” she said. “That would to all intents and purposes mean not leaving the EU at all.”

Leaving the single market will free UK taxpayers from paying billions of pounds every year into Brussels coffers, the Prime Minister went on.

“Because we will no longer be members of the single market, we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget,” she said.

“There may be some specific European programmes in which we might want to participat­e.

“If so, and this will be for us to decide, it is reasonable that we should make an appropriat­e contributi­on.

“But the principle is clear – the days of making vast contributi­ons to the European Union every year will end.”

She also wants Britain to stop being a full member of the EU’s customs union so freeing us to make trade deals around the world.

Instead, she plans to agree a bespoke customs agreement with the EU, to keep tariffs on imports and exports to a minimum.

The Prime Minister explained: “I do want us to have a customs agreement with the EU.

“Whether that means we reach a completely new customs agreement, become an associate member of the customs union, or remain a signatory to some elements of it, I hold no preconceiv­ed position. I have an open mind on how we do it.”

She rejected calls for a temporary “transition­al deal” to smooth Britain’s departure from the EU, fearing it could turn into “political purgatory”.

Instead, Britain should agree phasing in new trading arrangemen­ts over several years. “It is in no one’s interests for there to be a cliff-edge for business or a threat to stability, as we change to a new partnershi­p with the EU,” she said.

Punitive

Britain wanted to remain “a good friend and neighbour to Europe”, Mrs May said – before going on to rebuke European leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, who call for harsh exit terms for the UK.

She said: “I know there are voices calling for a punitive deal that punishes Britain and discourage­s other countries from taking the same path.

“That would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe. And it would not be the act of a friend. Britain would not, indeed we could not, accept such an approach.

“And while I am sure a positive agreement can be reached, I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.”

Mrs May promised that Parliament will vote on any final deal she agrees. “The Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and the EU to a vote in both Houses before it comes into force,” she said.

Aides later confirmed the promise did not mean MPs and peers could stop Britain’s departure from the EU.

If the Commons and Lords reject the deal, Britain will simply leave without an exit agreement and trade under World Trade Organisati­on rules.

Mrs May urged EU leaders to learn a lesson from Brexit. She said the bloc would be “crushed to tiny pieces” if it tries impose a one-size-fits-all approach on remaining members.

She concluded by saying: “When future generation­s look back at this time, they will judge us, not only by the decision we made, but by what we made of that decision.

“They will see that we shaped them a brighter future. They will know that we built them a better Britain.”

Mrs May will meet Wall Street bosses tomorrow in Davos, Switzerlan­d, where leaders are gathering for the World Economic Forum’s meeting.

She is expected to hold talks with JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon and the heads of other major US banks.

 ??  ?? An animated Theresa May sets out her ambitious vision for Brexit yesterday
An animated Theresa May sets out her ambitious vision for Brexit yesterday
 ??  ?? VOTE FOR CHANGE: January 16, 2017
VOTE FOR CHANGE: January 16, 2017
 ??  ?? BOLD VISION: November 17, 2016
BOLD VISION: November 17, 2016
 ??  ?? BREXIT BATTLE: November 21, 2016
BREXIT BATTLE: November 21, 2016
 ??  ?? REFERENDUM DAY: June 23, 2016
REFERENDUM DAY: June 23, 2016
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