GOODBYE TO THE SINGLE MARKET
PM May’s hints we’ll leave... to win control of borders
BRITAIN is set to leave the EU’s single market to regain control of its borders, Theresa May indicated yesterday.
The Prime Minister used her first interview of the year to dismiss any idea that Britain could remain in ‘bits’ of the EU following Brexit.
Her comments appeared to dash Remain campaigners’ hopes that the UK could stay in the single market, where it would still be bound by the European courts and have to accept the free movement of EU citizens.
The news is a blow for Nicola Sturgeon’s ambitions, after she appeared last week to offer an olive branch based on a so-called ‘soft’ Brexit. She went as far as to suggest such an outcome could see a temporary suspension of her party’s agitation for another independence referendum.
Now she will be under pressure from hardliners in her party to commit to trying to stage another vote just when polls show little appetite for another referendum and support for independence at its lowest level since the No vote of 2014.
Asked about the prospect of the UK staying in the single market, Mrs May said: ‘People talk as if somehow we are leaving the EU but we still want to kind of keep bits of membership of the EU. We’re leaving, we’re coming out, we’re not going to be a member of the EU any longer.
‘We will have control of our borders, control of our laws, but we still want the best possible deal for UK companies to trade with and operate within the European Union and also European companies to trade with and operate within the UK.’
Mrs May’s comments on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday show appear to leave little doubt that the UK will quit the single market as part of Brexit. Leave supporters welcomed her stance, saying the UK could not hope to reap the economic rewards of Brexit while staying in the EU because it would be unable to negotiate free trade deals with other countries.
Former justice secretary Michael Gove said: ‘We don’t want or need to be in the single market. Outside, we can control our borders, laws and taxes. Inside, we’re trapped.
‘We don’t want to be bound by
‘Great news for the UK’
being members of the customs union. Outside, we can negotiate new trade deals with emerging economies. Inside, we’re trapped.’
Steve Baker, chairman of the European Research Group of Tory MPs, said: ‘This is a welcome clarification of a sensible position.
‘We won’t be clinging on to bits of EU membership. The best outcome for the UK is an ambitious trade deal, plus control over our laws, trade policy and borders. The PM’s words are great news for the UK.’
Mrs May made it clear her Brexit priority remained immigration, saying: ‘The referendum result was a vote for us to change free movement and bring control of immigration from the EU. I am clear that is part of what we need to deliver.
‘We recognise the importance of immigration, precisely because of the impact it has on people on low incomes. In certain circumstances, it does mean people can’t get jobs and their income is held down.’
She dismissed claims from Sir Ivan Rogers, Britain’s former ambassador to the EU, who claimed last week that ministers were ‘muddled’ about their priorities.
‘I’m ambitious for what we can get in terms of our relationship with the European Union because I also think that’s going to be good for the European Union,’ she said. ‘Our thinking on this isn’t muddled at all.’
But Remain supporters attacked the apparent hardening of the Prime Minister’s tone.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said her comments indicated she was ‘taking us towards a disastrous hard Brexit’, adding: ‘Reckless plans to leave the single market would deal a huge blow to jobs, investment and public finances.’