Farage: May’s stuck 2 fingers up to Brexit
...but Tory MPs give a cautious welcome
THERESA May is ‘sticking two fingers up’ to the millions of people who voted for Brexit, a furious Nigel Farage said last night.
The former Ukip leader criticised Mrs May’s speech to European Union leaders in Florence, saying Britain will leave the EU in ‘name only’ in 2019.
While Cabinet ministers lined up to praise Mrs May’s optimistic address which set out her vision for life outside the EU, Mr Farage said the speech was a ‘victory for the political class’.
He added: ‘We stay part of all the current structures and what we do is we simply rebadge the status quo.
‘The most telling line in the whole speech was when she said we do not seek a competitive advantage. Well, that’s what I voted for. I voted for us to be able to be competitive, to be global.
‘She shows no desire, no vision to be the kind of leader we need to take us on to be a global trading nation.’
Former Tory minister Owen Paterson led Eurosceptics in voicing concern about her request for a transition period – where Britain follows EU rules – for two years after the UK’s official exit in March 2019.
He said: ‘Although she [Mrs May] made it very clear that it should be of course as short as possible, as long as we have that transition period we are still bound in by European rules and we cannot get cracking and open up markets around the world.’
Fellow Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg demanded that European judges do not have power over British courts during the period.
He said: ‘As long as it is not subject to the European Court of Justice and the EU migrants don’t get permanent rights it is on the mar- gin of acceptability.’ John Longworth and Richard Tice, chairmen of Leave Means Leave, said: ‘We are deeply concerned that her proposals could lead to nothing changing either during or after the implementation period – which will go on for an undefined amount of time.
‘There is no reference to being able to deregulate, sign our own trade deals or control our borders. This is a rebadging of the status quo and is Brexit in name only. In reality, this means we are still members.’
Gisela Stuart, the ex-Labour MP and former chairman of the Leave campaign, said the transition period should last no longer than two years. ‘The British people need to know that by the time of the next general election, the British people and the sovereign government they elect will once again be fully in control of our laws, borders, money and trade,’ she said.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove tweeted: ‘An excellent speech from the PM in Florence – delivering on the wishes of the British people.’
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson praised the speech as ‘positive, optimistic and dynamic’. He added: ‘A strong Britain working hand in hand with a strong Europe – but once again free to take our own decisions.’
Mrs May had been walking a tightrope to keep all quarters of her Cabinet happy. The PM has also been under pressure not to upset backbenchers ahead of the Conservative Party conference.