Pressure on May over ‘Canada deal’
THERESA May is under pressure from her cabinet to ditch her ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ mantra and consider a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU if Brussels rejects her Chequers plan.
Last night, the UK’s environment secretary, Michael Gove, who has been loyal to Mrs May over Chequers, offered carefully worded public support for foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt’s stance that he was ‘not dismissing’ the Boris Johnsonbacked Canada option.
Mr Hunt’s remarks infuriated Downing Street, which is sticking to Chequers. But when asked about Mr Hunt’s comments, Mr Gove said: ‘I’m sure he would have considered his comments carefully and they would therefore have merit and should be listened to.’
Mr Gove’s intervention is seen as signalling growing pressure on Mrs May to consider the Canada option. Under that scenario, the UK would leave the Single Market/Customs Union and strike a free trade deal with the EU.
A source said: ‘There are a growing number of influential figures in cabinet who seized on Jeremy’s remarks as a sign that the door should be left open for a Canada-style deal if Chequers can’t be agreed.’