BREXITEER BACKLASH
Free movement not on, says Fox
CABINET Brexiteer Liam Fox yesterday challenged Philip Hammond’s plans to give EU citizens continued freedom to enter Britain after Brexit.
Mr Hammond said on Friday there was a “broad acceptance” for a threeyear transition period after we leave the EU in March 2019.
The Chancellor, signalling free movement of labour would continue during that time, talked of “many arrangements remaining very similar to how they were the day before we exited.” But International Trade Secretary Dr Fox said: “Control of our borders was one of the elements we wanted in the referendum. “Unregulated free movement would not keep faith with that.” In a clear swipe at the Chancellor, he told the Sunday Times that “transitional arrangements... can’t just be made by an individual or any group”. Other Tory Brexiteers also turned on Mr Hammond over his bid to use Theresa May’s holiday to bounce the Cabinet into accepting a softer exit.
Former Brexit minister David Jones accused the Chancellor and his allies of undermining Mrs May’s authority.
But Tory Remainer Sir Nicholas Soames praised Mr Hammond for his “carefully thought-out” Brexit plan, adding: “Dr Fox’s comments, directly contradicting the Chancellor over a transitional agreement, show all the signs of a Cabinet civil war.”
The spat came as Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel said that the EU “divorce” bill could be up to £50billion.