Road map for change: how different Britain will be
Brexit MPs put pressure on David Cameron to prepare to leave EU before a new Tory leader is elected
BORIS JOHNSON and Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers will this week call on David Cameron to appoint a team to begin informal negotiations on Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Eurosceptic MPs will tell the Prime Minister at Cabinet tomorrow that the Government needs to start setting a “road map” for a Brexit before the election of a new Conservative leader.
They are concerned that valuable time will be lost if the Government waits for the leadership election to be over in October.
Chris Grayling, the Leader of the Commons, said: “What’s important now, though, is that we start to put in place all the preparations that we will need for negotiations that will follow. We need to get the Civil Service gearing up and start detailed planning.”
Eurosceptic ministers want new laws in this Parliament to curtail the power of European courts, divert money saved from the EU into the NHS and halt the free movement of migrants.
They want to delay invoking Article 50, which will begin the formal process of leaving the European Union, until they are ready to do so.
A ministry for Brexit
Britain will need hundreds of civil servants to draw up new trade deals but currently has fewer than 20, a former top official said yesterday. Sir Simon Fraser, former permanent under-secUS, retary for the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “I doubt there are more than between a dozen and 20 serving British officials who have real experience of trade negotiations.”
Plans are being considered for a “ministry for Brexit” to help pass new laws after Britain leaves the EU, according to diplomatic sources.
Civil servants are preparing to hire hundreds of government solicitors and trade experts to build the new state under an “enormous operation”.
A trade ministry would have to be set up with enough people to hold EU talks as well as negotiations with China, the India, South Korea and other countries outside Europe.
Westminster and Whitehall would have to grapple with the fact that “lots of areas of competence have gone to the EU level” such as financial services, agriculture, health and safety and employment, and policies would have to be drawn up and prioritised, requiring a huge legislative programme.
Parliamentary sovereignty
Under plans announced by Michael Gove in the referendum campaign, emergency legislation would allow Britain to reduce the influence of the European Court of Justice.
The legislation will seek to “end the growing use of the EU’s charter of fundamental rights” and enable Britain to deport terrorists. It will be a prelude to abolishing the 1972 European Communities Act. This will mean EU treaties will no longer form part of UK law and the European Court’s jurisdiction over the UK will end.
Immigration
Migrants will be barred from entering Britain unless they speak good English and have the right skills for a job. An Asylum and Immigration Control Bill will end the automatic right of all EU citizens to enter the UK and will bring in an Australian-style points system.
Under that system, migrants are granted skilled migration visas only if they pass a points test based on their type of job, their age, English skills, previous employment and education.
Funding for the NHS
Vote Leave wants an NHS (Funding Target) Bill, which will give the health service a “transfusion” of an additional £100 million a week. It will be funded by Britain’s EU contributions and other savings from leaving.
Mr Johnson and Mr Gove put plans to support the NHS at the heart of their campaign. However, the pledge has been thrown into doubt by Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, who has suggested it may not go ahead.
Tax
Eurosceptic ministers have pledged to pass a special finance Bill to end the 5 per cent VAT on household energy. The tax cut, which will be funded by Britain’s EU contributions, could be introduced before 2020. They are also considering plans to cut corporation tax to as little as 10 per cent to attract business to Britain.
Free trade
A free trade Bill would require that the UK leave the EU’s “common commercial policy”. Britain would take back its seat on the World Trade Organisation.
Security
Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, yesterday insisted the vote would not affect the Armed Forces.
Despite repeated warnings in the EU referendum campaign, he said: “It doesn’t affect the security that our Armed Forces help to deliver.
“They keep our people safe, they protect our interests not just at home, but around the world, and that will continue. I’ve spoken yesterday to all our key allies and to the secretary-general of Nato to reassure them that we will continue our work internationally. This does not mean that we will play any lesser part. This does not mean Britain is turning its back on the world.”