Britain’s post-Brexit role in global affairs touted by Minister
JEREMY HUNT is visiting Singapore just days after hailing the Asian economy as a possible example for post-Brexit Britain to follow.
On a three-day visit to Asia the Foreign Secretary will claim that the UK’s history and geography gives it the chance to be an “invisible chain” linking democracies across the world.
Despite the Brexit process, Mr Hunt will highlight the “friendship” with Europe as one of the UK’s key international advantages.
In a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, Mr Hunt will say: “In a world where it is rarely possible for one country to achieve its ambitions alone, we have some of the best connections of any country – whether through the Commonwealth, our alliance with the United States and our friendship with our neighbours in Europe.
“Those connections mean that, in this part of the world, Britain is amongst only a handful of European countries with an embassy or high commission in every member of the Association of South-East Asian nations (Asean).”
The UK is set to open a new mission to the Asean headquarters in Jakarta later in 2019.
Mr Hunt will add: “Those connections are why Britain’s postBrexit role should be to act as an invisible chain linking together the democracies of the world, those countries which share our values and support our belief in free trade, the rule of law and open societies.”
Writing in the Mail On Sunday at the weekend, Mr Hunt suggested the UK should follow the example of low-tax Singapore as it forges a new position in the world after Brexit.
Singapore has long been touted as a model for the UK after EU withdrawal by fervent Brexiteers such as former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who last year wrote that Britain should adopt its “low-tax, low-spend, low-regulation” policies.
Separately, Jeremy Corbyn is facing further pressure to back a second Brexit referendum after polling showed support among Labour members for another vote.
The Labour leader has resisted calls from within his party to back a referendum, instead calling for a general election and promising to strike his own Brexit deal with Brussels.
But a study of more than 1,000 Labour members found that 72 per cent want Mr Corbyn to throw his weight behind a socalled People’s Vote.