13 June 2017

Financial Times: David Cameron calls on Theresa May to embrace ‘softer’ Brexit

[...] “It’s going to be difficult, there’s no doubt about that, but perhaps an opportunity to consult more widely with the other parties on how best we can achieve it,” he said.

“I think there will be pressure for a softer Brexit,” Mr Cameron added, saying that parliament now “deserves a say” on the issue. While also saying Mrs May was right to remain in office despite losing the majority that he bequeathed her, Mr Cameron warned “over Brexit, she is going to have to talk more widely, listen to other parties”. [...]

“There’s no doubt that there is a new player on the stage,” Mr Cameron said. “Scotland voted against Brexit. I think most of the Scottish Conservatives will want to see perhaps some changes with the policy going forward.”

Ideas circulating include the UK remaining in the customs union; accepting a continuing limited role for the European Court of Justice; or trying to strike a deal on free movement to allow Britain to keep closer ties to the single market. [...]

Mrs May has so far rebuffed calls for cross-party talks to build a parliamentary consensus on how to deliver the UK’s exit. Asked about the mooted creation of a “Brexit commission”, Downing Street said: “It’s not on the agenda.”

Conservative Eurosceptics now concede that Mrs May’s weakness following the election requires her to soften the edges of her plans, although they insist she must stick to the key principles.

Michael Gove, a Leave campaigner, said: “We need to ensure that those who voted Remain are part of the conversation about what the best deal for Britain is in the future.”

Steve Baker, an influential Eurosceptic Tory MP appointed on Monday as a junior Brexit minister said: “We need the ‘softest’ exit consistent with actually leaving and controlling laws, money, borders and trade.”

Philip Hammond is in the vanguard of the push for Britain to pursue a softer exit strategy and will make his case for a business-focused approach in a speech at Mansion House on Thursday.

Mr Hammond has long argued that Britain is better off inside the customs union, but accepts that such a move would be fiercely opposed by Eurosceptic cabinet colleagues, who want Britain to be able to pursue its own trade deals. [...]

Full article on Financial Times

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