U.K. LEADER VOWS CLEAN BREXIT.
LONDON • Britain’s future outside the European Union became much clearer Tuesday: It’s so long to the single market, goodbye to the European Court of Justice and farewell to the freedom of movement for workers.
In a long-awaited speech, Prime Minister Theresa May finally revealed the U.K.’s hand as it prepares to start EU exit talks. She said the U.K. wants to free itself from EU governance and stop paying millions into its coffers, but still remain friends, allies and tariff-free trading partners with the soon-tobe-27-nation bloc.
“We want to buy your goods and services, sell you ours, trade with you as freely as possible, and work with one another to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more prosperous through continued friendship,” May said in a speech to diplomats and dignitaries beneath the gilded paintwork and chandeliers of a Georgian London mansion.
“You will still be welcome in this country as we hope our citizens will be welcome in yours,” she said.
Pro-Brexit British politicians praised the speech, and the pound rallied from recent lows as May provided more details of the path ahead for the split with the EU — and vowed that Britain would remain “a great global trading nation” open to business and talent from around the world.
Others called May’s vision wildly ambitious, like a divorcing couple who hope to remain best friends, share the kids and keep each other’s front door keys.
In her 40-minute address, May said Britain would leave the EU single market of some 500 million people, but “seek the greatest possible access to it through a new, comprehensive, bold and ambitious free-trade agreement.”
She said there would be no attempt to cling to bits of EU membership. Britain will “bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain,” May said. It also will impose controls on the number of people coming to Britain from the EU, abandoning the bloc’s principle of free movement.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the speech had “created a little bit more clarity about the British plans.”
European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that it was a “sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement” about British intentions on Brexit. He said the 27 other EU nations were “united and ready to negotiate” once Britain formally starts the two-year process of talks by invoking Article 50 of the EU’s key treaty.
May plans to trigger Article 50, the starting gun for talks, by March 31. The government insists it will not be delayed even if it loses a Supreme Court case brought by claimants who say Parliament must be given a vote first. The court is due to rule this month.