Hunt: We don’t miss EU single market
JEREMY Hunt has insisted he does not back Britain rejoining the EU’s single market, after facing a backlash from Tory Brexiteers.
The Chancellor was forced to deny hinting that the Government is considering a Swissstyle relationship with the EU.
Reports that senior Government figures were working towards regaining access to the single market triggered fury from Tory Eurosceptics.
Fingers were pointed at Mr Hunt as the story’s source, because he once publicly stated that Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal had created trade barriers with Brussels.
Yesterday, Mr Hunt called the trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) signed by Mr Johnson “excellent” .
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He told the Commons Treasury Committee: “We do not support, we would not contemplate – I do not support, have never contemplated – any agreement which means moving away from the TCA.
“We are not negotiating or deciding the regulations that we want as sovereign equals, paying unnecessary money to the EU – or indeed compromising on freedom of movement.”
Mr Hunt also said he has asked the Treasury to look into how much money closing the controversial non-dom tax loophole may raise.
The Government has come under fire for refusing to abolish the arrangement for those who live here but pay no UK tax on their offshore income.
Mr Hunt disputes the Institute for Public Policy Research’s claim the move would raise £3billion per year.