Chequers isn’t set in stone, says Gove
Future PM can alter deal after we leave the EU, he claims
MICHAEL Gove has called on Eurosceptics to get behind Theresa May’s Chequers plan by arguing it can always be adapted after Brexit.
The Environment Secretary said that while the blueprint was ‘the right one for now’, a future prime minister would have the power to ‘alter the relationship’.
Mrs May has faced resistance from some Brexiteers over the proposal, which caused the Cabinet resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis.
But Mr Gove, one of the leaders of the Leave campaign, urged fellow Tories to support the plan in order to secure Brexit, rather than risk an impasse in Parliament or a general election.
He admitted that the Chequers proposals forced him to compromise on some of his beliefs, but insisted the most important issue now was ensuring Britain left the EU in ‘good order’.
Asked if the plan would be permanent, Mr Gove told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: ‘Yes, but there’s one critical thing – a future prime minister could always choose to alter the rela- tionship between Britain and the European Union.
‘But the Chequers approach is the right one for now because we have got to make sure that we respect that vote and take advantage of the opportunities of being outside the European Union.’
He said it will be up to the House of Commons in the future to ‘chart this nation’s destiny’ and decide what to do if Brussels law changes.
As EU leaders prepare to meet to discuss Brexit in Salzburg this week, Mr Gove said the onus was on Brussels to compromise. He added: ‘I’ve compromised. I’ve been quite clear that some of the things I argued for in the referendum passionately... as a result of Chequers, I have to qualify one or two of my views.
‘I have to acknowledge the Parliamentary arithmetic. I believe the critical thing is making sure we leave in good order with a deal which safeguards the referendum mandate.’
Mr Gove’s remarks come as Tory MPs opposed to the Chequers deal plan to ramp up public opposition with a series of rallies across the country.
One of the events, organised by proBrexit group Leave Means Leave, will take place in Birmingham later this month while the Conservative Party conference is being held in the city.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox yesterday said the Chequers plan was a ‘reasonable, constructive way forward’ in the Brexit talks.
He dismissed a suggestion from Chancellor Philip Hammond that Brexit could be delayed until after March 2019.
‘Chequers approach is right for now’
Dr Fox told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: ‘Extending Article 50 until we’ve got an agreement is effectively allowing the European Union to dictate when Britain will leave the European Union itself.
‘The public have given us an instruction in the referendum, there has to be a time set for our exit, that’s March 29 next year and we should honour that.’
Dr Fox has previously put the chances of Britain leaving the EU without a deal at 60-40, but yesterday he said: ‘Over the last few weeks we have certainly heard more reassuring noises from the European Commission and some of our European partners.
‘I do detect that there is a movement from the European Union towards getting a deal.’