Sunak insists Britain not seeking realignment with EU laws

LONDON: Britain will not realign its laws with those of the European Union, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted on Monday as his government seeks to sink speculation it is weighing up a Swiss-style relationship with Brussels. The prime minister said he voted for and continues to believe in Brexit, pointing to opportunities to control migration and strike new trade deals.

Sunak’s comments follow a report that his government is considering putting Britain on the road to closer ties with the European Union, which alarmed Brexiteers. Both Downing Street and senior ministers have sought to play down the suggestion. Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference in Birmingham, Sunak said he wished to be “unequivocal” that Britain “will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws” under his stewardship. “I voted for Brexit, I believe in Brexit and I know that Brexit can deliver, and is already delivering, enormous benefits and opportunities for the country - migration being an immediate one where we have proper control of our borders and are able to have a conversation with the country about the type of migration that we want and need,” he said. “We weren’t able to do that inside the European Union, at least now we are in control of it. When it comes to trade, it means that we can open up our country to the world’s fastest-growing markets,” he added. (DPA)