May to outline vision of future UK-EU relationship
PM to set 5 'tests' on deal once Britain leaves bloc in 2019
UK Prime Minister Theresa May was on Friday set to outline five “tests” for a future deal with the European Union once Britain leaves the bloc next year.
May will expand on her plans in a speech at the Mansion House in London. In draft comments released overnight by Downing Street, she was expected to say that a free trade deal was achievable as it would benefit both sides, adding that any deal must respect the referendum result of 2016 when Britons voted to leave the EU.
"I want the broadest and deepest possible agreement, covering more sectors and co-operating more fully than any free trade agreement anywhere in the world today,” May is expected to say.
"I believe that is achievable because it is in the EU's interests as well as ours and because of our unique starting point, where on day one we both have the same laws and rules.
The five vague criteria are May's latest attempt to move negotiations forward before a European Council meeting this month and after a week where strong divisions still exist over membership of the customs union and the state of the border between the province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
European Council President Donald Tusk told May during a meeting in London on Thursday that there would be “no frictionless trade outside of the customs union and the single market".
May, and other hardline right-wing members of her cabinet, want a complete break from the customs union and single market, but are adamant that a “frictionless” trade deal can be agreed.
Businesses have warned that a reintroduction of customs checks for goods will be damaging for the economy as Britain has failed to detail any proposals on how this could be done without causing long delays at border crossings.
May's “tests” are as follows:
"First, the agreement we reach with the EU must respect the result of the referendum. It was a vote to take control of our borders, laws and money. And a vote for wider change, so that no community in Britain would ever be left behind again. But it was not a vote for a distant relationship with our neighbours.
Second, the new agreement we reach with the EU must endure. After Brexit both the UK and the EU want to forge ahead with building a better future for our people, not find ourselves back at the negotiating table because things have broken down.
Third, it must protect people’s jobs and security. People in the UK voted for our country to have a new and different relationship with Europe, but while the means may change our shared goals surely have not – to work together to grow our economies and keep our people safe.
Fourth, it must be consistent with the kind of country we want to be as we leave: a modern, open, outward-looking, tolerant, European democracy. A nation of pioneers, innovators, explorers and creators. A country that celebrates our history and diversity, confident of our place in the world; that meets its obligations to our near neighbours and far off friends, and is proud to stand up for its values.
And fifth, in doing all of these things, it must strengthen our union of nations and our union of people."