Battle lines over Brexit hardening as politicians are urged to ‘force’ UK to stay in single market
THE battle lines over Brexit between Welsh politicians have hardened, with a former Plaid Cymru leader telling peers it is their “duty” to force the Government to reject a so-called hard Brexit and stay in the customs union and single market.
Dafydd Wigley’s call comes as two Welsh MPs have joined Jacob Rees-Mogg and leading Brexiteers in presenting Theresa May with key proposals for the negotiations with the EU.
Former Welsh Secretary and Clwyd West MP David Jones and Welsh Affairs committee chairman David Davies are among the 62 MPs who are adamant Britain must quit not just the EU but the single market and customs union as well so it can “negotiate trade deals with as many other countries as possible”.
The MPs insist that a transition period after the UK formally leaves the EU in March 2019 “must not restrain the UK from negotiating or signing other trade agreements”.
They also want to see “full regulatory autonomy” so the UK is not left as “a ‘rule taker’ without any substantive say in whatever Brussels decides”.
The Prime Minister will hold a crunch meeting with senior Cabinet ministers today to thrash out an agreement on how to proceed in negotiations with the European Union.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the letter suggested Mrs May had “one arm tied behind her back by the Tory militants who are now nakedly acting like a party within a party”.
He claimed the MPs were “hijacking the Conservative party” and appealed for “common sense Tories” to “fight back for the good of our country”.
Plaid Cymru’s Lord Wigley will join pro-EU peers in a battle to change the EU Withdrawal Bill so the UK would stay in the single market and customs union.
He said: “The Westminster Government has made it clear that it is hell-bent on leaving both the single market and the customs union, both of which are crucially important for many industries and businesses across our country. Industry, manufacturers and farmers have begged the Government to rethink their stance on these matters, pointing to the devastating impact that tearing up these economic arteries will have on their business.
“As the Welsh Government’s own analysis has shown – food prices will rise substantially, our farmers will face tariffs on their exports of up to 70% and our vibrant fishing industry could collapse. Even the Westminster Government’s analysis shows that under all possible Brexit scenarios, every part of the UK will be worse off and under the hard Brexit scenario that many in the two main parties want, some £5bn a year will be wiped off the Welsh economy.
“Leaving the political union of the EU is one thing but to tear up our economic links by leaving the Single Market and Customs Union, and abandoning our hard-fought free trade arrangements with more than 80 countries around the world, is another thing altogether.”
Urging politicians of different parties to join forces, he said: “Ultimately it is our citizens – business owners and farmers, employees and families, pensioners and young people, who will pay the price for Westminster’s hard Brexit. It is our duty as politicians to defend our citizens’ interests and the way to do that is to force the Government into protecting our trading relationship and staying in the customs union and the single market.”
Swansea West Labour MP Geraint Davies, who backs a referendum on the final deal, said the 62 Conservative MPs were “hamstringing the weak and flimsy government against the interest of this country” and called for Brexit to be put “back in the hands of the many, not the few by giving people the final say”.
Cardiff South and Penarth Labour MP Stephen Doughty described the letter to the PM as a “ransom note” which showed that “Brextremists want to put ideology before future of our country”.
Signatories included former cabinet ministers Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Welsh Secretary John Redwood.
The MPs affirm their commitment to the PM, stating: “Famously you said that you wanted to make a success of Brexit. We wholeheartedly agree with you.
“Only a Conservative Government led by you can deliver these opportunities for our country.”
But Paul Blomfield, Labour’s shadow Brexit minister, said: “It is clearer than ever that Theresa May cannot deliver the Brexit deal Britain needs.
“She is too weak to face down the fanatics in her own party and to deliver a final deal that protects jobs and the economy.”
In their letter, the MPs argue their position is not driven by ideology put “practicality”, stating: “We share your view that free trade lowers prices, creates jobs and economic growth, and that leaving the European Union will create opportunities for freer trade with many more countries around the world.
“We also agree with you that we can only grasp those opportunities if we can negotiate trade deals with as many other countries as possible, which we will be legally barred from doing if we remain inside the EU customs union and single market. Leaving them both isn’t a question of ideology, but practicality; we can’t strike those free trade deals if we don’t.”
The letter includes a number of “suggestions” for securing a successful Brexit, including “taking control” of World Trade Organisation tariff schedules that regulate trading.
The Government should publish a mandate showing how the UK wants to approach trade with the rest of the world.
“The UK must be free to start its own trade negotiations immediately,” the letter adds.
“The UK should negotiate as an equal partner. Ministers may not want or be able to accept the EU’s timing and mandates as fixed, and should be able to set out alternative terms including, for example, building an agreement based on our World Trade Organisation membership instead.
“Any ‘implementation period’ should be based on WTO principles. Any implementation period must not restrain the UK from negotiating or signing other trade agreements.”
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte last night said Britain needs to offer more clarity about its plans for Brexit after talks with Theresa May.
Mark Rutte warned the “clock is ticking” and called for swift action after the meeting in No.10.
The Netherlands has been one of the UK’s closest allies in the EU.