MPs unite behind the call for UK to go down Norway route
THE campaign to ‘park’ Britain in a Norway-style EU deal has been boosted by support from Labour Brexiteer Frank Field and Tory Remainer Nicky Morgan.
In a surprise move, Mr Field said: ‘I want a binding motion that would mean, if we don’t get a deal, the default mode for the government is that we join the EEA [European Economic Area] and then work towards a Canada-style free trade deal.’
Mrs Morgan, who backed Theresa May’s Chequers deal, said EEA membership was now ‘the only realistic way forward’ and favoured a ‘staged withdrawal via access to the single market’. Writing in the Sunday Times, she suggested Parliament would act to take the matter out of the Prime Minister’s hands unless she was persuaded to adopt a ‘speedy change of direction’.
Mrs May ruled out the Norway option last month, saying: ‘This would mean we’d still have to abide by all the EU rules, uncontrolled immigration from the EU would continue and we couldn’t do the trade deals we want with other countries.’
But the idea has been championed by former minister Nick Boles, who is trying to build a cross-party coalition in favour.