Only one Tory MP turns up for Liam Fox’s leadership bid as he says race to be Prime Minister is not ‘Britain’s Got Talent’
Ex-Defence Secretary said leaving the single market was a price worth paying to curb EU migration
LEAVING the European single market is a price worth paying for the UK to end freedom of movement, says Liam Fox as he launched his Tory leadership bid.
But the former Defence Secretary only had one fellow MP there to support him as he starts as the rank outsider in the race to be Prime Minister.
In a speech in central London he said the result of the EU referendum made it clear the British people want immigration controls, insisting "it's not for politicians to water it down and second guess it".
The candidates to succeed David Cameron have been under pressure to explain how they would end free movement while keeping British access to the single market.
But answering questions from the media, Dr Fox made it clear for him that was not going to be an issue.
He said: "I do not believe that you need to be in the single market to sell into the single market.
"And if the price of the relationship with the single market is free movement of people, it's a price I'm not willing to pay."
And he said we need to be much better prepared when it comes to cyber terrorism and crime, saying the leadership contest is not "Britain's Got Talent".
Dr Fox said he would pull the UK out of the European Union on January 1 2019 after triggering article 50 to begin the process this year.
He also ruled out both a snap general election and a second referendum if he was to win the Tory leadership contest.
"We cannot lose momentum and risk the derailing of the British people's decision by stealth," he said.
RELATES STORIES:
But with only a handful of nominations, he is in fifth place in terms of backing from his fellow MPs.
And only backbencher Robert Goodwill was there to cheer him on as he launched his bid to take on Theresa May, Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom and Stephen Crabb.
Fellow Leave campaigner Mrs Leadsom also gave a speech insisted she would give Britain its freedom back if she made it into Downing Street.
The Energy Minister urged those who backed Remain not to be "afraid" of the future as she was best placed to lead tough EU exit negotiations because she - unlike In campaigner Mrs May - believed Britain was best off free from the grip of Brussels.
The former businesswoman also said she knew how to overcome prejudice in a male dominated world.
And in a swipe at the frontrunner Mrs May, she insisted she would not use EU citizens living in the UK as "bargaining chips" as she promised their rights should be preserved.
The first round of voting among Tory MPs to decide which two candidates go to the membership in the leadership run-off begins tomorrow.