Don’t water down Brexit, May warned
DOZENS of Tory MPs have signed a letter pressuring Theresa May not to back down from a “hard Brexit”.
Their demands include aiming to sign free trade deals and stop paying money to Brussels in a transition period after Brexit, as they warn against all attempts to keep Britain in the EU “by stealth”.
Circulated among Tory Brexitbacking MPs, the letter also says remaining in the single market during a transition – which Brexit Secretary David Davis ruled this out yesterday – would be an “historic mistake”. The letter will be viewed as an attack on attempts to soften Brexit and on Labour’s position of demanding single market membership in a transition period. But demands to stop paying into the EU budget and sign free trade deals during that transition may make it more difficult for ministers negotiating with Brussels. Downing Street said: “We haven’t agreed or announced or negotiated yet what the implementation period looks like. We have been perfectly clear we want [one].”
In a second blow, Mrs May was accused of “misquoting” peers about the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
She was slammed by influential Baroness Taylor for claiming a Lords committee “endorsed” her approach when it raised “profound concerns”.
Last night it emerged Mrs May had caused ill will in Brussels by rejecting an invitation to address the EU parliament in public, instead insisting she will only talk to its leaders behind closed doors.