Regards,
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has laid out her vision for Britain after it leaves the European Union, insisting it must make a "clean break" from the block if it is to prosper as a country able to trade freely across the globe.
In her first detailed speech about what Britain's divorce from the EU might mean for the country, the Prime Minister laid out a 12 point plan of negotiating objectives, based on the principles of creating a self-governing, independent global Britain. However the move to leave the European single market has been criticized by some as Catherine Drew reports from London.
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There was applause as Britain's Prime Minister delivered her most important speech ever in front of members of her cabinet journalists and foreign dignitaries.
In a lengthy speech Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain's vote to leave the European Union had not been an attempt to turn inwards or reject the common values it shares with it's European neighbors, but an embracing of a future where the country reaches beyond Europe to become a global trading nation with controlled immigration.
Putting an end to speculation she might try for a so called soft brexit, the British leader said the UK would leave the single market, to be replaced by a free trade agreement with the block.
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"An important part of the new strategic partnership we seek with the EU will be the pursuit of the greatest possible access to the single market on a fully recipricol basis on a comprehensive free trade agreement. And because we will no longer be members of the single market, we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget."
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The prime minister went onto say that UK could not longer be part of the customs union, as the country must be free to negotiation trade deals with countries around the world…indeed she kept returning to the theme that Britain would be a global trading partner which must look further than its european neighbors.
Theresa May had two red lines, she insisted the UK must have control of immigration and sovereignty must return to british courts, the UK would exit the european court of justice. She said the Uk wanted to be a friend, partner and ally of a prosperous and successful European Union, but warned against any attempt to punish Britain for its vote to leave the block
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To the surprise of some she promised both UK houses of parliament would be invited to vote on the final brexit deal which may well prove a stumbling block for theBritish leader as the majority of MPs had voted for Britain to remain part of the EU.
The opposition Labour party warned there were dangers in the plans with leader Jeremy Corbyn calling for greater clarity.
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Meanwhile Britain's regions appeared divided over the bold statement and Scotland's powerful SNP party said the speech was at odds with promises to take Scotland's desire to remain as part of Europe seriously.
While some in Mrs May's own conservative party expressed disappointment at her signal the UK will withdraw from the european single market, many brexiteers cheered the message and said such a pragmatic and ambitious approach could win over those who had wanted to remain within the EU. Meanwhile the man in the EU charged with leading the negotiations, Michel Barnier tweeted is priority was to get the right deal for the 27 countries remaining as part of the EU. He said he was ready to negotiate as soon as the UK is…. adding Britain must trigger article 50, the mechanic to leave the block, to kick off the negotiations.
Catherine Drew, SOC, London