Theresa sticks to her guns
Theresa May, the UK prime minister, has made it clear that the UK will be leaving the single market.
Speaking earlier today, May announced in her much-anticipated speech her priorities for Brexit. I think she did the right thing by expressly stating what the governing principles of Brexit will be and laying out a list of what she will be aiming for in negotiating the overall deal we have with the rest of Europe.
Following our exit from the EU May will be pushing for the "freest possible trade" with European countries as well as trying to forge new deals with countries outside of Europe but she has made it clear that trying to explicitly remain in the single market would effectively mean not leaving the EU at all.
My favourite part of her speech was when she warned EU countries against "punitive" reactions to Brexit stating they would bring "calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe and it would not be the act of a friend."
These are the 12 principles she outlined:
1: We will provide certainty wherever we can.
2: Leaving the European Union will mean that our laws will be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
3: A stronger Britain demands that we strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom.
4: We will deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland.
5: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe.
6: We want to guarantee rights of EU citizens living in Britain & rights of British nationals in other member states, as early as we can.
7: Not only will the government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them.
8: We will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.
9: It is time for Britain to get out into the world and rediscover its role as a great, global, trading nation.
10. We will welcome agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.
11: We will continue to work closely with our European allies in foreign and defence policy even as we leave the EU itself.
12: We believe a phased process of implementation will be in the interests of Britain, the EU institutions and member states.
