Theresa May unveils secret plan for a ‘swift Brexit’ and promises to pull UK out of single market, customs union and European courts if we can’t control OUR borders
THERESA May will unveil her secret masterplan for a “swift and clean” Brexit this week and declare: “We’re on our way out.”
The PM will show she means business by announcing a triple whammy departure from the EU to be triggered within 75 days.
It will take Britain out of the single market, out of the customs union and out of the control of European judges.
Senior sources promised she will “nag and cajole” our 27 European partners to get the best possible deal for them and us.
Mrs May’s blueprint will end months of speculation about whether she plans a hard or soft Brexit.
She aims to honour her “Brexit means Brexit” pledge by taking the bold action needed to win back power to control our borders and set our own laws.
In a historic speech to assembled diplomats from around the world, she will announce her intention to quit the single market and withdraw from the European Court’s jurisdiction.
She is also expected to pull out of the customs union — giving her ministers freedom to strike trade deals with countries around the world.
Mrs May insists she will fight hard to keep trading with the EU but has no fear of walking away empty-handed if they refuse to play ball.
She is expected to say: “The overwhelming majority of people — however they voted — say we need to get on and make Brexit happen.
“Business isn’t calling to reverse the result but planning to make a success of it. And the House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly for us to get on with it too.”
Her long-awaited speech, billed as The Plan for Britain, will also be used as a shop window for global representatives waiting to do business with the UK.
Mrs May is ready to spurn Remainer warnings of catastrophe if she breaks all existing export links with the EU.
But she is not prepared to budge on ending free movement as a price for staying in the trade club.
A senior Government source said: “The EU is demanding a high ransom to remain in the single market — the continuation of free movement. The PM is quite clear she is not prepared to accept that.
“It’s looking increasingly likely we’ll leave the customs union too because membership would forbid us from holding bilateral trade talks with any other country. That would negate the whole purpose of leaving the EU.”
She is expected to explicitly rule out staying in the single market in Tuesday’s speech.
Leaving the customs union holds no fear for her, as about 85 per cent of the world economy will be outside the EU once Britain leaves.
One option is to offer the 27 other EU nations a deal to carry on trading under the existing tariff-free deal. But if they refuse, aides say she is prepared to “walk away”.
Her move to quit the single market and customs union was backed last night by former Chancellor Lord Lawson.
He declared: “This is not a hard Brexit. It is Brexit.”
He urged Mrs May to crack on with her plan and not allow EU stallers to “spin out” the Article 50 departure talks.
He added: “Quite apart from the massive weekly cost of EU membership, a prolonged period of uncertainty is the worst possible outcome for British business and the economy.”
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The economic argument for quitting both EU trade groups was also backed by top economists Gerard Lyons and Liam Halligan.
In a study for the Policy Exchange think tank, they warned long-winded talks over migration and single market access would lead to “a disastrous stalemate”.
But last night Labour was plotting to challenge Mrs May’s clean Brexit plan in the Commons.
Jeremy Corbyn will use the Government’s expected defeat in the Supreme Court this month to force her to give MPs a vote on the final deal.
The Labour leader plans to table an amendment demanding MPs get a veto on the PM’s withdrawal terms.
Should the move not win enough votes among MPs, the party will use its position in the Lords to urge the Government to make the guarantee.
Senior Labour figures believe that because the European Parliament must vote on the final Brexit agreement — expected in mid-2019 — the House of Commons should also have a say.
However, Eurosceptics say it could open the door to Parliament rejecting Brexit after years of negotiations, causing constitutional chaos.
The Government is also considering a new visa scheme to cut the number of workers entering Britain.
Ministers want to extend the regime currently used to manage immigration from outside the EU, sources revealed.