Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to a global outlook for a post-Brexit United Kingdom, and her assurances that the UK will leave the jurisdiction of the EU’s institutions and courts when the Brexit process has completed. The Prime Minister confirmed she would resist calls to stay in the restrictive single market which would have meant the UK would retain free movement of people and a lack of control of immigration.
Mrs May also made clear the UK would move away from the EU’s restrictive and inward-looking customs union, which bans members from forging their own trade deals, stressing the importance of an independent Britain’s ability to make deals with the nations who have already expressed a desire for greater trade links post-Brexit, such as the USA, Australia and India.
The Prime Minister spent some time laying out her vision of a global, outward-looking nation, free to trade with the wider world, as well as our European neighbours – something Mrs Trevelyan spent the Referendum campaign fighting for.
Anne-Marie said: “I was delighted to hear the Prime Minister set out her vision for our nation – a nation which will be a strong, friendly ally to the EU, but which will look beyond it to the rest of the world. Throughout the campaign, I talked about how leaving the EU would give us the opportunity to become an outward-looking nation which will be freed from the restrictions presently placed upon us by the EU, enabling British businesses to trade more freely with other nations, and to welcome the best talent from across the globe.”
The Prime Minister’s 12 point plan involves ensuring all laws affecting UK citizens are made in the UK, by politicians directly-elected by UK citizens. This was particularly important to Anne-Marie: “It is always frustrating when constituents contact me expressing their concern about a law, and I have to tell them UK politicians have no control of it – a recent example is the ‘tampon tax’. A key driver for me in supporting a break from the EU, is nsuring MPs are accountable to their constituents for all laws we all live by.”
The 12-point plan also expresses a commitment to continue to work with European partners on key issues of security, and a desire to guarantee the future of EU nationals already in the UK as soon as possible.
You can read the PM's full speech HERE and see the plan below:
The 12 objectives amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union.
Certainty: whenever we can, we will provide it. And we can confirm today that the Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.
Control of our own laws: we will bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain. Because we will not have truly left the European Union if we are not in control of our own laws.
Strengthen the Union: we must strengthen the precious Union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. We will work very carefully to ensure that – as powers are repatriated back to Britain – the right powers are returned to Westminster and the right powers are passed to the devolved administrations. We will make sure that no new barriers to living and doing business within our Union are created.
Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland: we will work to deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.
Control of immigration: the message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. We will continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain but there must be control.
Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU: we want to guarantee these rights as early as we can. We have told other EU leaders that we can offer EU nationals here this certainty, as long as this is reciprocated for British citizens in EU countries.
Protect workers’ rights: as we translate the body of European law into our domestic regulations, we will ensure that workers’ rights are fully protected and maintained.
Free trade with European markets: as a priority we will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and EU member states. It cannot though mean membership of the EU’s Single Market. That would mean complying with European Court of Justice rulings, free movement and other EU rules and regulations without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are. 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. If we contribute to some specific EU programmes that we wish to participate in, it will be for us to decide.
New trade agreements with other countries: it is time for Britain to become a global trading nation, striking trade agreements around the world. Through the Common Commercial Policy and the Common External Tariff, full Customs Union membership prevents us from doing this – but we do want to have a customs agreement with the EU and have an open mind on how we achieve this end.
The best place for science and innovation: we will continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.
Co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism: we want our future relationship with the EU to include practical arrangements on matters of law enforcement and intelligence.
A smooth, orderly Brexit: we want to have reached an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two year Article 50 process has concluded. From that point onwards, we expect a phased process of implementation. We will work to avoid a disruptive cliff-edge.