May’s hand is strengthened as Leavers come on side

THERESA May will avoid discussions on future immigration policy at her Chequers summit next week as ministers struggle to move closer to agreement.

But despite claims that members of the Cabinet are ‘lobbing grenades at each other’ before the crucial gathering, there are increasing indications that Remainers are coming on board.

Several prominent figures who campaigned for staying in the EU – including Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson – have been vocal about how they now support leaving.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, another former Remain supporter, spoke yesterday about the ‘great opportunities’ he sees outside the EU in his policy area.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We have got to make sure we deliver on the vote. I voted to Remain, but I think the worst possible thing would be to not deliver on that outcome as I believe in democracy.’

On withdrawal talks, he added: ‘These negotiations have been… noisy by their nature, but progress keeps being made.’

The Prime Minister has summoned her ministers in an attempt to thrash out agreement next Friday on plans for future trade and customs arrangements that will then be set out in a White Paper and keynote speech.

But decisions on what immigration policy will replace freedom of movement when the country leaves the EU will be put on hold until September, when the Migration Advisory Committee is due to publish a review on the country’s needs.

Business Secretary Greg Clark was accused this week of wanting to maintain freedom of movement after he stressed the importance of continued ‘labour mobility’ after Brexit.

Meanwhile, Lord Bridges, who quit as a Brexit minister last June, warned yesterday of a ‘rout’ in talks with the EU unless the Cabinet comes closer together.

In an article for the London Evening Standard, he accused ministers of being too busy ‘lobbing grenades at each other’, writing: ‘If nothing changes there’s a danger the UK will have to agree to a withdrawal treaty full of meaningless waffle on our future relationship with the EU.

‘With so little leverage in the next phase, the negotiations would become a rout. Worse, uncertainty will drag on, damaging our economy.’ He called on the Gov- ernment to make ‘no deal’ a realistic option by making preparations for action on borders, legal contracts and aviation.

On migration, he added: ‘Uncontrolled immigration was a major cause of Brexit. It’s critical we take complete control of our borders. This does not mean pulling up the drawbridge. As a service-based economy, we must win the war for talent.

‘So we should say we will continue to allow people from EU member states to come here freely to travel, to study and to stay for short periods, but we will ask those who wish to work and settle to comply with new visa requirements.’

The Government’s immigration White Paper was originally intended to be published last summer but it has been repeatedly delayed.

‘Lobbing grenades at each other’