Fox: Free us from Brussels rules

BRITAIn should break free from eU regulations to help secure the best post-Brexit trade deals with other countries, Liam Fox has suggested.

As he published a new Trade Bill, the International Trade Secretary called for a ‘liberal and open’ arrangement with europe after we leave.

The debate raging within Cabinet is how closely Britain should move away from single market rules after Brexit.

Chancellor Philip Hammond and others have argued for the UK to stay closely aligned to Brussels to help secure the best possible eU trade deal.

But Leave supporters want a more flexible approach to give more leeway for deals with other countries. Dr Fox told the Radio 4 Today programme: ‘One of the judgments we will have to make as we leave the european Union is what sort of regulatory alignment we have with them, and whether that will provide us with the maximum opportunity in terms of future trade agreements outside the eU.

‘We’re very clear we want a very liberal and open arrangement, but we would want to move to an equivalence arrangement rather than the eU’s harmonisation model.’

He insisted Britain would not allow ‘reductions in our standards’ because ‘British consumers wouldn’t stand for it.’

On Monday Wilbur Ross, the US commerce secretary, urged ministers to drop eU regulations – such as those which ban chlorine-washed chicken and genetically modified food. Mr Fox added: ‘We are entering an era where I think consumers will take a much bigger interest in trade agreements than they might have done in the past. On things like environmental standards ... they will have strong views.’

Brexit minister Steve Baker last night questioned whether Labour MPs were on Britain’s side in Brexit negotiations.

Labour has forced ministers to publish a analysis of how Brexit could impact 58 sectors of the economy. Mr Baker said: ‘The public will look at the Labour Party today, look at what they’re asking for, they will look at the kind of narrative which members opposite are trying to create and they will ask whose side are they on?’