May insists Britain won’t bow down to Euro judges
BRITAIN will no longer obey edicts handed down by EU judges, Theresa May will declare in a speech on Brexit next week.
Setting out detailed plans for Britain leaving the EU, the Prime Minister will say that the public has delivered a clear message that it wants to break free of the European Court of Justice.
And she will pledge that, in her negotiations with Brussels, she will insist that Britain once again takes full control of its own laws.
Insiders said Tuesday’s speech would set out a clear blueprint for Brexit – rebutting claims by Remainers that the Government is in a ‘muddle’.
The PM will also reiterate that regaining control of the UK’s borders will be a red-line in the talks – even if it means quitting the single market. She is expected to outline a work permit scheme for EU citizens, who will only be allowed to move to the UK if they have a job first.
Mrs May will also stress her determination to secure a deal that allows the three million EU citizens living in Britain to stay permanently, with similar rights for Brits abroad.
Leave- supporting MPs are pushing for the PM to name a cut-off date on Tuesday. They want anybody who arrives in the UK before the triggering of Article 50 – the formal two-year process for leaving the EU – to be told they can remain.
Other EU countries would be expected to grant reciprocal terms to British citizens.
Yesterday Mrs May said that, post- Brexit, Britain would have an immigration system that allows in the ‘ brightest and the best’. She added: ‘We want to get migration down because of the impact it has on people in the UK.’
At the same time, ministers are working on plans to allow British business and agriculture to adjust in the immediate aftermath of Brexit.
One idea discussed in Whitehall is to activate tier-three of the existing visa regime. This was set up under Labour to allow in low-skilled workers in the event of a shortage. It was never activated owing to the influx of EU workers – who are allowed in without visas.
The source said: ‘One idea is to reintroduce tier three visas. This would ensure we have enough low-skilled workers to fill jobs in key sectors. It would also play well during EU negotiations as it would mean their citizens could still come here. But we could apply it to workers from all over the world.’
‘Brightest and the best’
Seasonal workers could also be allowed back in under more strict guidelines.
Brexit- backing MPs and immigration campaigners are expected to closely scrutinize the proposals. One said: ‘Of course business will warn of skill shortages, but the lowskilled EU workers who are already here aren’t going to vanish. There is no sign of them returning home.’
Andrea Leadsom, the Envi- ronment Secretary, has hinted that farmers could hire EU workers to continue to work the fields after Brexit is triggered. She told last week’s Oxford Farming Conference that she was aware how important seasonal labour was to the agricultural industry.
The Migrationwatch think tank has also said it ‘might prove necessary to reinstate some similar scheme for seasonal workers’ after the agricultural workers scheme was ended in 2013.
Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet key ministers on Wednesday to begin formulating Germany’s position on Brexit.