Theresa May reveals Britain will be ruled by EU judges for at least two more years, enraging Brexiteer MPs
In an apparent slap down to Boris Johnson, the PM's planned transition out of the EU will seek to operate on the 'same rules and regulations' until 2021
THERESA May enraged Brexiteer MPs tonight by explicitly saying Britain will be ruled by EU judges and new rules for at least two more years.
In a slap down to Boris Johnson — sat just yards away — the PM declared her implementation phase “may mean we will start off with the ECJ governing the rules we are part of”.
But her big Florence speech, delivered just two weeks ago, was kept deliberately vague on the matter.
Then Mrs May talked only of Britain operating under “current arrangements” during the two year exit extension.
Updating MPs on her Brexit progress, the PM told the Commons that her planned transition out of the EU will seek to operate on the “same rules and regulations” until 2021.
And she insisted that it was “highly unlikely” that new rules made by the EU could affect us without a say as the EU takes so long to make new rules.
Mrs May argued that the European Court of Justice would only have power over Britain until a new legal relationship with the EU was established — and hoped that would come within two years.
However last week Boris Johnson told The Sun that the transition period post-Brexit must see the UK must refuse to accept any new EU or ECJ rulings.
He said: “There is no point in coming out of the EU and then remaining in rotational orbit around it.”
Tonight it appeared Mr Johnson had backed down, writing on Facebook: “Yes we will have a transition period but as the PM rightly says the chances of new EU regulations in that period are very small.
He went on: “And yes we will mostly have to operate under existing rules during the transition but we WILL be able to negotiate proper free trade deals and business will be able to prepare properly for Brexit.”
However furious Tory MPs demanded answers and demanded the PM row back from this new position.
Jacob Rees Mogg told The Sun he was “urging the PM to reconsider” the decision.
He added: “If the ECJ still has jurisdiction we will not have left the EU. It is perhaps the most important red line in ensuring the leave vote is honoured.
Sir Bill Cash says lots of people will be “looking very very carefully at her words.”
And Andrew Rosindell added that “further clarification was needed”.
But tonight Michael Gove called for calm and urged his fellow Brexiteers to “be pragmatic over implementation to secure maximum freedom to diverge from EU in end state.”
A Brexit department source said that Mrs May’s admission was the “natural extension” of operating under the “current arrangements” mentioned in her speech.
And No10 insiders said they hopeful that a new courts system could be put together “quickly and could well be significantly less than the two years.”
Mrs May also used her Commons appearance to call for more concessions from the EU.
But Brussels hit back at the PM’s claim the “ball was now in their court” by claiming this was “not a game.”
The row at home came as Britain’s hardball Brexit stand to give no more concessions appeared to be paying off as the EU 27 begin to splinter.
Despite France and German officials threatening to block moving on to transition or trade talks unless the row over payments is settled, Denmark has blasted the negotiations “game” and called for more “speedy process”.
Danish finance minister Kristian Jensen said Brexit was not “rocket science”, adding the UK and EU “are now on the same page”.
Today the final face to face showdown in Brussels opened before next month’s EU Council will decide later this month if enough progress has been made to shift talks up a gear.
David Davis will tomorrow have lunch with his EU counterpart who is under pressure to up the pace of Brexit talks.
A Brussels source told The Sun: “Many smaller states are telling” Michel Barnier that “he should move on”.
They added: “The French and Germans appear to be dug in over no moving forward, but the smaller countries do seem resolute.”
Former Brexit Minister and Leave Means Leave Board member, David Jones hit out saying: “The British people voted to leave the EU in its entirety.
"This means, in particular, that any jurisdiction of the ECJ over domestic British law must cease by March 30th 2019.”
He added: “Taking back control of our laws was a fundamental reason Britain voted to leave.
"The Government must ensure that this is fully implemented so the benefits of Brexit are evident from the day Britain leaves the EU.”
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