Norway-style relationship with EU is latest ‘Plan B’ for Brexiteer MPs
Nick Boles’ proposal receives the backing of some senior Tories – but it’s a ‘non-starter’ for ERG
PRO-BREXIT MPs are expressing “strong interest” in a “Plan B” that would see the UK scrap the planned transition period and adopt a Norwaystyle relationship with the EU while negotiating a new trade deal.
Nick Boles, the former minister advocating a plan for the UK to attempt to temporarily continue membership of the European Economic Area while it strikes an agreement with Brussels, said Brexiteers were seeking meetings with him to discuss the proposals, amid growing concern about Theresa May’s negotiations with Brussels.
Among those who have expressed interest in the proposal is believed to be David Davis, the former Brexit Secretary, whose former chief of staff, Stewart Jackson, drew criticism from pro-Brexit colleagues last week when he said the plan had “many” benefits.
Mr Boles, an ally of Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, said the proposal, which he has called a “Better Brexit”, is generating “strong interest” from cabinet ministers and senior MPs seeking a fallback plan that could command support from a majority of Tories.
It comes as the Government is attempting to negotiate an exit mechanism from a proposed insurance plan, or “backstop”, under which the UK would remain part of the EU’s customs union if no other deal is reached, in order to avoid a hard border in Ireland.
Under Mr Boles’ plan, a planned two-year transition period would be scrapped, with the UK instead remaining in the EEA, like Norway, without full EU membership, for a three-year period, alongside a temporary customs union. This period would allow time to negotiate a free-trade agreement like the one between the EU and Canada, which is advocated by Brexiteers such as Mr Davis and Boris Johnson, the former Foreign Secretary, Mr Boles says. Lord Hague, the former Tory leader, spoke warmly of the plan earlier this month. On Friday Amber Rudd, the pro-Remain former Home Secretary, described an article by Mr Boles setting out the proposals as “brilliant”.
He wrote: “MPs can support Norway for now while differing about the long- term destination for Britain outside the EU, because only the first stage of our exit will be set out in the legallybinding withdrawal agreement on which they will have to vote.”
Mr Davis is understood to have discussed the proposals with Mr Boles at length, but raised several concerns, including about whether the UK would be able to negotiate such an arrangement, if the country could seek a satisfactory exit mechanism to leave the EEA after three years, and whether, in practice, the Government would be able to secure full control of British waters during the interim period.
Other Eurosceptics dismiss the plans entirely and were scathing about Mr Jackson’s support. Some even claim that Mr Boles is “outriding” for Mr Gove, who they say could back the plan if Mrs May’s proposals fail.
An ally of Mr Gove, who has suggested that a Canada-style deal had “merit”, said: “Michael has a huge amount of respect for Nick but on this particular issue he disagrees with him.”
Members of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic MPs have been sharing comments by Jean-Claude Piris, a former head of the European Council’s legal service, casting doubt on the feasibility of the plan.
One said: “The Boles plan is a nonstarter, along with the idea of extended transition period, because that is effectively what is being proposed.”