THERESA May has refused to say whether or not she wants the UK to remain within the European single market, telling MPs she will not reveal her Brexit negotiating hand "prematurely".
The Prime Minister came under pressure on the issue in the House of Commons after slapping down Brexit Secretary David Davis for suggesting continued membership of the free trade zone was "very improbable".
At a rowdy PMQs, she told MPs she was seeking "the right deal" on trade in goods and services after Britain withdrew from the EU but added: "We will not take decisions until we are ready, we will not reveal our hand prematurely and we will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiations."
The PM and her ministers were accused of "waffle" by Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, who demanded an "in or an out answer" to the question about single market membership, which, he said, many businesses regarded as vital to their export chances.
Mrs May replied: "What I want for the UK is that we put in to practice the vote that was taken by the people of the UK to leave the EU, that we get the right deal for the trade in goods and services with the EU in a new relationship that we will be building with them and that we also introduce control of the movement of people from the European Union into the UK."
She insisted her government was "respecting the views of the British people" rather than attempting to row back from Brexit.
"We will be seizing the opportunities that leaving the EU now gives us to forge a new role for the UK in the world," the PM declared.
But Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, was unimpressed, saying later: "This Government isn't concealing its hand; it hasn't got a hand or, it would appear, a clue."
Jeremy Corbyn accused the UK Government of issuing "contradictory messages" on Brexit, which were exacerbating "huge uncertainty" about the UK's future.
He told MPs Mrs May was pursuing a "free trade dogma" rather than a trade policy which would protect people and jobs.
But the Labour leader came under fire from his own side after a senior aide suggested he might rule out full membership of the single market unless Britain could negotiate exemptions from key EU rules.
The aide said Mr Corbyn backed "access" to the single market for British firms but did not want the UK to carry on observing regulations which he regarded as damaging to working people and public services.
Labour insiders suggested this was worryingly like the stance of Tory Brexiteers like Mr Davis.
Leadership challenger Owen Smith, who takes on Mr Corbyn in a BBC TV leadership head to head on Thursday night, said that the Islington MP’s stance would be worrying to many trade unionists while his party colleague Chuka Umunna complained: "Labour should be fighting for Britain to stay in the single market, not turning a blind eye to its advantages.”
On Twitter, Nicola Sturgeon declared: "What? Labour surely not advocating withdrawal from single market? Assume this is not (Scottish Labour leader) Kezia Dugdale's position?"
Mr Farron also tweeted: "Corbyn shows his true colours. Rather than attacking divided Brexit Tory govt he's putting jobs at risk. Hopeless."
On Thursday, Mrs May will hold talks with European Council president Donald Tusk in No 10.
They are expected to discuss Brexit, migration, trade and Ukraine over a working breakfast.
"It will be an opportunity in part to talk about the process of leaving the European Union, how we see the upcoming months, but also to talk about the upcoming October European Council and some of the issues that we expect to be on the agenda for that, such as migration, trade and where we are at with the situation in eastern Ukraine," said the PM’s spokeswoman.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel