The Prime Minister, Theresa May, made a speech on Tuesday 17th January outlining her plans for negotiating the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Prime Minister said she will seek a new and equal partnership – between an independent, self-governing, global Britain and our friends and allies in the EU.
I welcome both the tone and the substance of the Prime Minister’s speech. I was particularly pleased that the final Brexit deal will be subject to a Parliamentary vote. This will ensure plenty of time for scrutiny and debate on the details.
The Prime Minister rightly recognised that it would be impossible for us to remain part of the single market if we do not accept freedom of movement and as immigration was a major issue during the referendum campaign it is clear that the deal we negotiate must include greater control of our borders.
There is no reason, however, why we should not continue to have significant access to European markets with a robust free trade agreement for goods and services. Given that we have a £75 billion deficit with the EU and more EU jobs are reliant on trade with the UK than UK jobs are reliant on trade with the EU, we have strong cards to play in the negotiations.
The referendum was a vote to leave the EU but not a vote to leave Europe and we want to continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close friends with European countries.
What the Prime Minister announced today was the broad outlines of the negotiation strategy. I believe that what she proposes is fair and reasonable for the UK and the EU.
The Prime Minister said her negotiation approach will be driven by 12 key principles:
1. Certainty: the final deal will be put to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.
2. Control of our own laws: an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain.
3. Strengthen the Union: powers repatriated from Europe to either Westminster or the devolved administrations appropriately and no new barriers to living and doing business within our Union being created.
4. Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland: a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.
5. Control of immigration
6. Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU: a reciprocal guarantee between the UK and the EU that current residential rights are maintained.
7. Protect workers’ rights
8. Free trade with European markets: a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. It should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and EU member states but cannot mean membership of the EU’s Single Market. That would mean complying with European Court of Justice rulings, free movement and other EU rules and regulations without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are. And because we will no longer be members of the Single Market, we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget. If we contribute to some specific EU programmes that we wish to participate in, it will be for us to decide.
9. New trade agreements with other countries: it is time for Britain to become a global trading nation, striking trade agreements around the world. Through the Common Commercial Policy and the Common External Tariff, full Customs Union membership prevents us from doing this – but we do want to have a customs agreement with the EU and have an open mind on how we achieve this end.
10. The best place for science and innovation
11. Co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism
12. A smooth, orderly Brexit: achieved within the two year period laid out by Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.