Anger over deal to keep borders open for 5 years
ANGRY warnings of a “Brexit betrayal” were growing last night after ministers signalled that Britain’s borders will stay open to EU migrants for another five years.
Government sources yesterday suggested that a deal had been agreed within Cabinet for a temporary “implementation period” following the UK’s official departure from the EU in March 2019, until full national sovereignty is achieved.
Eurosceptic ministers – including Michael Gove and Liam Fox – indicated an acceptance of the proposed “transitional” arrangements which could see EU single market rules, including free movement for EU migrants, staying in force until 2022.
Mr Gove, a leader of Vote Leave in last year’s EU referendum, who has since returned to the Cabinet as Environment Secretary, said: “Pragmatism is the watchword.”
But Tory backbenchers and antiBrussels campaigners were alarmed that the move will effectively delay the country’s freedom from EU bureaucracy and keep the door open to mass migration.
Senior Tory MP Peter Bone described continuing free movement for EU migrants after Brexit as “unacceptable”.
In a BBC interview, he said: “Free movement has to end no later than March 31, 2019.
“I think most Conservative MPs would say that, the country would say that and – absolutely the most important thing – I think Mrs May would say that.”
Ukip claimed the proposal for a transition period after leaving the EU would be a “betrayal of Brexit” and blamed Remain-backing Chancellor Philip Hammond for the plan.
Steve Crowther, the interim leader of the anti-Brussels party, said: “Extending freedom of movement for two, three or four years produces no obvious benefit to anyone.”
Mr Hammond is understood to have been pressing for a transition period to give businesses a phased introduction to operating outside the EU rather than an overnight change.
And Theresa May was understood to have stressed her backing for an implementation period when speaking with business leaders at the first of a series of quarterly Downing Street forums on Brexit on Thursday.