Brexit a chance to be bold, says May
THERESA MAY returned to the political frontline today with an order to her Cabinet to see Brexit as “a moment of great opportunity”.
Opening a special brainstorming day at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, she told ministers that leaving the EU should be seen as a chance to be “bold” and reshape both society and Britain’s role in the world.
Mrs May’s optimistic words contrasted with private tensions between ministers and anxieties among Tory MPs who fear the Government does not yet have a vision of an exit deal. Negotiations with 27 EU leaders start next year at the same time as fraught elections in Germany and France.
Former business minister Anna Soubry, a prominent Remain campaigner, turned the heat on Boris Johnson and the other Brexiteers in Cabinet, saying they had to come up with big ideas quickly as to how it will work.
Today’s summit follows attempts to patch up turf wars between Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson, Brexit Secretary David Davis and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.
Mrs May chaired a formal Cabinet meeting this morning before opening up the talks to a wide-ranging political Cabinet this afternoon, billed as a chance for ministers to pitch in new ideas for the “opportunities” created by Brexit.
Opening the first session, the Prime Minister said: “Before we begin our discussions, we should remember that this is a moment of great opportunity for our country: the chance to forge a bold, new positive role for ourselves in the world, and to reshape our economy and our society here at home. We will do it by putting the Government firmly at the service of the British people.”
Mrs May repeated her mantra that “Brexit means Brexit”, adding: “That means there must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum.”
But she made clear that the review should range wider, including her plans for social re fo r m to i mprove life chances.
But bickering continued bet ween backbenchers over whether Britain should sacrifice immigration controls to stay in the European single market.
Ms Soubry said the single market was “absolutely critical for British business” and called on the three Brexiteers “to show us what progress they have made”. Ex-Chancellor Lord Lawson told BBC Radio 4: “The British people voted ... to get away from the doctrine of the free movement of people.”
Mr Fox today hailed an increase in jobs created by overseas investment in London as a sign the capital could still attract firms. Some 24,191 jobs were created last year — up 11 per cent — and he said: “This is great news for London.”