DAVID Davis has set the UK Government on a collision course with Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP administration over Brexit by stressing that Britain does not have to be a full member of the European single market to have access to it, raising fears about jobs and investment.
The Brexit Secretary told MPs the Tory Government was seeking to build a “national consensus” on the UK’s approach to leaving the European Union – he will visit Scotland soon - but made clear the First Minister and her colleagues would not have a veto over the process.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon eyes 'coalition' to negotiate EU 'soft exit'
Mr Davis’s remarks came just hours after Ms Sturgeon underlined her administration’s commitment to retaining full membership of the single market and questioned whether Theresa May had a mandate to end it.
The FM suggested building a UKwide alliance, including Tory ministers at Westminster, to retain Britain’s membership of the single market.
"Can there be a coalition across the UK that gets the UK into a more sensible position? That's worth a good try because Theresa May, she was on the Remain side, so presumably she knows the real risks of removal from the single market," said Ms Sturgeon.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon eyes 'coalition' to negotiate EU 'soft exit'
But in his first Commons statement, Mr Davis stressed the important thing was to have access to the single market rather than being a member of it and so have to abide by Brussels rules and regulations.
“There are many countries outside the EU that do a better job, frankly, of exporting to the single market than we do even without a trade arrangement. Of course, we want to have access to the single market; we don’t need to be a member of it to do it. Indeed, being a member of it has caused some of the problems of sovereignty that this referendum was driven by,” he explained.
But his Tory colleague, Anna Soubry, the former business minister, called for clarity, asking: “Is he saying that this government is prepared to abandon that membership of the single market?”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon eyes 'coalition' to negotiate EU 'soft exit'
The Secretary of State insisted the UK Government was looking at every option. “But the simple truth is if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders, that makes it very improbable.
“What we are looking for…is a unique solution; one which matches the fact we are one of the largest trading countries in the world and a very large market for very large parts of very important industries in the EU.”
Later, Ms Soubry, a leading supporter of Open Britain, which is campaigning to keep the country in the single market, said: “David Davis himself said membership of and access to the single market are different. He is right. Access is available to anyone but would impose trade barriers – costing jobs and investment – whereas membership is by far the best deal for Britain.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon eyes 'coalition' to negotiate EU 'soft exit'
For the Scottish Government Michael Russell, also expressed concern, saying: “A failure to make meaningful and achievable commitment to continued single market membership threatens very severe economic consequences, so we will continue to make the case, in the strongest possible terms, to retain membership as that is in the best interests of Scotland and the UK.”
However in a separate development, a senior SNP insider admitted while quitting the single market would make another Scottish vote to leave the UK a near-certainty, retaining membership alone would not be enough to guarantee Ms Sturgeon would take the independence option off the table.
At Westminster, Opposition MPs shouted "waffle" as the Brexit Secretary delivered a lengthy speech short on specific details about the Tory Government's plan following June's referendum.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon eyes 'coalition' to negotiate EU 'soft exit'
Mr Davis, flanked by fellow Brexiteers Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, and Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, declared that Brexit meant leaving the EU so the UK could control its borders, laws and money.
"It means getting the best deal for Britain; one that's unique to Britain and not an off-the-shelf solution. This must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe but also a positive outcome for those who wish to trade in goods and services."
Emily Thornberry for Labour accused Mr Davis of peddling platitudes and that a lack of a Brexit strategy meant the Conservative Government “just continues to make it up as it goes along”.
Stephen Gethins for the SNP told Mr Davis: “Was that it? It’s a mark of an irresponsible government, just as it was a mark of an irresponsible Leave campaign, that we know nothing more about the phrase that Brexit means Brexit.”
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