Ms U-turn in plot to keep free movement
REMAIN- BACKING Tory MPs are gathering support for a letter designed to pressurise Theresa May into accepting continued free movement of people for years after Britain leaves the EU.
Former education secretary Nicky Morgan is among those attempting to gather signatures for the letter, which demands that the UK stays in both the EU single market and customs union after 2019.
A text of the letter, which has been seen by the Daily Mail, warns of the ‘complexity of unwinding 45 years of EU membership’ and argues that a ‘comprehensive agreement cannot be completed by 2019’.
A Government source said the letter was ‘deeply unhelpful’ and ‘disloyal’. It was drawn up this week after Mrs Morgan – nicknamed Ms U-turn in government after changing her mind on issues and adopting a politically correct stance – was elected chairman of the Treasury select committee. She beat pro-Brexit Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Details of the letter emerged amid signs that Brexiteers in Cabinet have softened their approach to any ‘implementation’ phase after Britain formally leaves the EU.
Yesterday, a government source said the Cabinet had now agreed to a ‘soft-landing’ that could see free movement continue until 2022.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove later appeared to confirm the report by admitting that the Cabinet was ‘united’ on the need for a transi-
tional deal when Britain leaves. But there is still considerable debate about what such an agreement might look like. And Downing Street insists there would still be ‘significant restrictions on free movement’ during any transitional period.
The letter proposed by Mrs Morgan says that Britain should stay in both the single market and the customs union during this time – which would almost certainly mean continued open borders with the EU.
The letter states that businesses ‘have real concerns they will take a hit’ if Britain leaves without a deal.
‘The economic dislocation that would result from a sudden and incomplete negotiation poses a serious risk to investment, profitability, operations and the livelihoods of the people they employ,’ it says.
‘They are particularly concerned about an immediate exit from the single market and customs union.’
The existence of the letter suggests that Mrs Morgan – who was sacked by Mrs May last year – will continue to be a thorn in the Prime Minister’s side over Brexit. Mrs Morgan did not respond to requests for comment.
But some Brexit-backing Tory MPs expressed fears about the possibility of free movement continuing beyond the date of separation from the EU. Peter Bone told Radio 4’s World At One: ‘Free movement has to end no later than March 31, 2019.’