UK ‘needs more’ than a US deal

THERESA MAY has been warned by a senior member of her Cabinet that a trade deal with the US will not be enough to make up for the economic damage caused by Brexit.

The Prime Minister yesterday seized on the “optimism” of Donald Trump and world leaders over Brexit to face down a growing rebellion from Cabinet colleagues and backbenchers.

However, David Lidington, the Justice Secretary, said that while a UK-US deal would be a “very good thing”, it would not be “enough on its own” to make up for leaving the EU. It came after Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, said that it would be “madness” not to remain as close to the European Union after Brexit as possible.

Mr Lidington told the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “It wouldn’t be enough on its own, no. But it would be a very good thing to have, as would trade deals with the emerging economies of Asia and Latin America.

“Certainly, one of the frustrations about being part of the EU is that while the mass of the EU gives it some leverage in international trade, it moves sometimes at a tortoise-like pace because all the member states have to agree a common negotiating position.”