Tory business chief Lord Prior promises ‘softest of soft’ Brexit as he tells firms open borders will continue for skilled EU migrants
Lord Prior told a private meeting of insurance industry figures that they 'shouldn’t worry' over 'barriers to entry' for future European employees
A GOVERNMENT minister last night reignited Tory wars after declaring Britain is heading for the “softest of soft Brexit” and continued open borders for skilled EU migrants.
Business Minister Lord Prior told a private meeting of insurance industry figures that they “shouldn’t be worried” over “barriers to entry” for future employees from Europe.
The Sun’s revelation will come as a major embarrassment to Theresa May as she opens No10’s doors to business to discuss our EU departure for the first time.
The Prime Minister has always insisted she does not believe in terms like soft or hard Brexit — and is only focused on achieving the best possible deal with the EU.
To have the mid-ranking minister talking behind her back to relay a different Brexit message further undermines the embattled PM’s authority.
Announcing a new Business Council, the PM’s spokesman said “we wish to consult widely on Brexit as well as the Industrial Strategy, we want a regular high level forum between government and business interests.”
Last night Lord Prior’s department did not deny he had made the controversial comments at a gathering of tech and insurance industry leaders on Wednesday.
Addressing 40 experts at the InsurTech Challenger workshop, hosted at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the ex-City financier sought to sooth fears about Brexit.
A source told The Sun: “Lord Prior was asked how we could hire EU citizens after Brexit, and told us we really shouldn’t be worried.
“He said with 20 per cent of the academics at Cambridge University being foreign, do you really think we will have barriers to entry for skilled workers?”
And insiders say the Peer added that it was “now looking like it is going to be the softest of soft Brexit.”
Cheerleaders for a soft-Brexit want freedom of movement to continue when we leave the EU — but the PM has insisted it must come to an end to reflect the result of last year’s historic referendum.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Last night leading Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith hit back “it is not helpful if he has used this term soft Brexit — it means nothing to anyone.
“The reality is — as the Prime Minister and the Chancellor have confirmed — we are leaving the single market, leaving the customs union and leaving the EU.”
He added: “That’s not hard of soft, that’s just Brexit.”
The row came as a devastating report claimed failing to reach a deal with the EU would have “widespread, damaging and pervasive” consequences.
The UK in a Changing Europe said a “chaotic” Brexit without a deal in March 2019 would trigger a huge reduction in trade with the EU, spark a fresh 15 per cent plunge in the Pound and push up prices for fruit, vegetables and beef.
And it warned that airlines would be forced to slash services to and from the UK as because the country slips out of the European Common Aviation agreement.
Professor Anand Menon said: “This report makes it clear ‘no deal’ is an outcome the British government must strive to avoid.”
He added: “’No deal’ doesn’t mean the country would come to a stop.
“But even under relatively benign conditions and with time to prepare, the impacts would be widespread, damaging and pervasive.”
But the Change Britain campaign hit back saying: “This report has brought the ghosts of Project Fear past into the present day.
Boss Gisela Stuart said: “It takes a misleadingly pessimistic view of our future relationship with the EU and fails to acknowledge measures which will allow for continuity in the event of no deal.
“Instead of repeating the scare stories of the Remain campaign and doing Britain down, we should pull together and look forward to the opportunities and freedoms that Brexit provides.”