Hunt vows to lift ‘most of EU trade barriers’
Chancellor appears to call for closer links with bloc as Tory MPS warn against ‘backsliding’ from Brexit
‘Unfettered trade with our neighbours and countries all over the world is very beneficial to growth’
JEREMY HUNT has pledged to remove the “vast majority of trade barriers” with the European Union to boost growth as he appeared to call for closer economic ties.
The Chancellor rejected the prospect of rejoining the single market yesterday but backed work to strengthen Britain’s relationship with Brussels in the coming years.
His comments indicated the Government may want to change aspects of the deal struck by Boris Johnson at the end of 2020. Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak held a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, amid hopes of a new era of “ambitious co-operation” between the UK and France on illegal migration and energy security.
Mr Hunt’s words also suggested contrasting priorities to Tory Brexiteers who saw leaving the EU as a chance to focus on “global Britain” by prioritising trade beyond the Continent.
Asked by Radio 4’s Today programme whether membership of the single market would boost growth, Mr Hunt said: “I think having unfettered trade with our neighbours and countries all over the world is very beneficial to growth.
“I have great confidence that over the years ahead we will find, outside the single market, we are able to remove the vast majority of the trade barriers that exist between us and the EU. It’ll take time, there’s a transition as you deliver something like Brexit, which obviously people have voted for, and we must make a great success of.”
But Mr Hunt insisted rejoining the single market would not be the “right way” to boost growth “because it would be against what people were voting for when they supported Brexit, which was to have control of our borders”.
“I think we can find other ways that will more than compensate for those advantages... turning us into the world’s next Silicon Valley, using the tremendous strength of our universities, the genius of British innovation,” he said.
Senior Conservative backbenchers were quick to warn Mr Hunt against “backsliding” on core aspects of the existing Brexit deal.
“The country voted for Brexit, but the Government has yet to deliver on the benefits of Brexit,” said Marco
Longhi, the MP for Dudley North. “The Chancellor does not clarify how many years ahead he refers to.
“Whether it be EU retained law, Northern Ireland, trade barriers or controlling our borders, the people of this country will be judging us in about two years’ time. Talking and doing are two different things.”
Sir John Redwood, a former policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher, said that single market membership “ripped the heart out of the UK” and urged the Government to focus on domestic “Brexit wins” including fishing and farming policies.
Greg Smith, a member of the European scrutiny committee, warned: “There must be no backsliding from the Brexit we have secured.”
A Downing Street spokesman pointed to a forthcoming review of EU regulations around competitiveness, adding: “The Chancellor was also clear that joining the single market isn’t the right way to boost growth.”
It comes as the Government is braced for a new record high in net migration when figures are published by the Office for National Statistics next week, prompting a backlash from voters who backed Brexit to take back control of the UK’S borders.
Migration experts said they would “not be surprised” if net migration passed the previous postwar high of 329,000 in 2015.
The figures, which would represent a sharp increase on 239,000 to June 2021, would be significantly higher than the 224,000 projected for next year by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Mr Hunt yesterday insisted that immigration was required to boost growth and said Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, backs his plans.