What is Theresa May’s Brexit strategy? Government publishes White Paper outlining her plan for exiting the EU

THERESA May has finally laid out her Brexit strategy after the Government published a White Paper on our plan for exiting the EU.

Based largely on the Prime Minister’s speech last month, where she unveiled her 12 point-policy for the UK’s divorce from Brussels, here is what it says on the key issues:

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Trade:

• The UK will leave the single market but seek a free trade agreement to ensure the "most frictionless trade possible" in goods and services with the EU.
• It will try to strike a new customs agreement, which could involve leaving the tariff-free customs union completely or remaining a partial signatory to some aspects.
• Because Britain already has zero tariffs on goods and common regulations with the EU, a new trade deal could "take in elements" of current single market arrangements.
• UK taxpayers will no longer pay "vast" contributions into the Brussels budget but there may be certain EU programmes where the country has an interest in making an "appropriate" payment to take part.
• The Government will attempt to strike trade deals with countries around the world.

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Immigration:

• Britain will regain full control of the number of people coming to the country from the EU and free movement of people will no longer apply.
• The new immigration system will be designed to help fill skills shortages and welcome "genuine" students.
• But any new approach could be "phased in" to give businesses and individuals time to plan and prepare for the new arrangements.
• Businesses and communities will be consulted throughout and Parliament will have an "important role" in shaping a new system, which is likely to be brought forward in its own legislation.

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Rights of EU nationals in the UK:

• Ministers will seek to secure the rights of around 2.8 million EU nationals who live in the UK as soon as possible in negotiations.
• But they will only do so when similar rights are guaranteed for the one million British immigrants in continental Europe.
• The Government said it wanted to resolve the issue before formal negotiations but not all EU member states supported its approach.

Sovereignty:

• Britain will leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) but seek to set up separate resolution mechanisms for things like trade disputes.
• Ministers say arbitration systems are common in trade deals the EU strikes with other countries, such as with Canada or South Korea.

Avoiding a cliff-edge Brexit:

• The Government is likely to phase in new rules after leaving the EU to give businesses and the public sector time to plan and prepare.
• Ministers will seek to agree a deal on the new relationship within the two-year formal exit process under Article 50 and then have a "phased process of implementation" before being completely free of Brussels regulations.

Security and defence:

• Britain will continue to collaborate with the EU to fight crime and terror, with a focus on operational and practical cross-border co-operation, while continuing to back European interests around the world, including potential support for sanctions.

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The Irish border:

• The UK will seek to maintain the soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by protecting the Common Travel Area, which was set up in 1923, long before the EU.
• The Government wants to see as "seamless and frictionless" trade and movement of people between Northern Ireland and Ireland as possible.

Workers' rights:

• The Government will protect workers' rights enshrined in EU law and attempt to enhance them as it takes back powers from Brussels.

Providing clarity:

• Ministers will provide certainty wherever it can to reassure business, the public sector and the public during the negotiation talks.
• The final deal will be put to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

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Financial services:

• The Government says it will seek the "freest possible" trade in financial services between the UK and EU
• Pointed out that provisions exist for countries outside the bloc to do business across the EU, in a similar way to how "passporting" arrangements work for the City currently.

Agriculture:

• Leaving the Common Agricultural Policy, which at £58 billion in 2014 took up nearly 40% of the EU's budget
• This will give the UK "a significant opportunity to design new, better and more efficient policies for delivering sustainable and productive farming, land management and rural communities".