Memo flashed by blundering Government aide reveals Brexit tactic is to ‘have our cake and eat it’ and France is biggest threat to deal
A handwritten note, carried by a Tory aide outside Downing Street today, gave a glimpse into the Tory's Brexit strategy
FRANCE is the biggest threat to a good Brexit deal because it wants to steal our key services industry, a leaked memo has revealed.
The document also suggested the official tactic to be used by the UK in EU exit talks is “have cake and eat it”.
And it told how Britain is seeking a deal dubbed “Canada Plus”, where the EU will offer up free trade in return for “a good deal on security”.
An aide to Tory MP Mark Field revealed what appeared to be the government’s secret thinking by flashing notes made after his meeting with Brexit chiefs yesterday, snapped by a photographer.
It is the latest in a long line of major blunders where officials end up leaking sensitive government thinking by having papers on show in Downing Street.
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It was suspected Mr Field went to the Brexit Ministry – located at No9 Downing Street – for a briefing from its Cabinet minister boss, David Davis.
Revealing the fears about France wanting to pinch Britain’s highly lucrative services industry - such as finance and the law - the notes said a deal for the manufacturing sector would be “relatively straightforward”.
But it added: “Services harder because French hoping for business.
“French likely to be most difficult.”
Its also hinted at early tensions with the EU Commission’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier, not least because he is a former French foreign minister, adding: “Very French negotiating team”.
EU leaders have insisted Britain will not get a free trade deal with access to the single market if it insists on imposing immigration controls on the rest of Europe.
But in a reference to Theresa May’s bid to win both in her Brexit deal plan, the notes say: “What’s the model? have cake and eat it”.
Naming the type of deal that the UK wants, the notes refer to “Canada Plus”, in reference to the major free trade deal that the North American country recently struck with the EU.
It defines it as “more on services, Europe gets a good deal on security”.
Ministers are also “loathe” to seek a “transitional” deal with the EU as “Whitehall will hold on to it”, the notes add.
Embarrassingly for No10, PM Theresa May last week suggested she may favour one to avoid British businesses suffering a cliff edge drop in trade.
No10 last night refused to deny Mr Field was meeting David Davis.
But senior officials tried hard to distance themselves from the notes.
A government spokesman said: “These individual notes do not belong to a Government official or a special adviser.
“They do not reflect the Government’s position in relation to Brexit negotiations.”
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