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| Theresa May's Brexit plans: What we know so far | Theresa May's Brexit plans: What we know so far |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Theresa May's speech on Brexit on Tuesday has been hotly-anticipated because it will reportedly reveal the most detail so far about the government's plans for leaving the EU. Here's a guide to what we already know about the key issues: | Theresa May's speech on Brexit on Tuesday has been hotly-anticipated because it will reportedly reveal the most detail so far about the government's plans for leaving the EU. Here's a guide to what we already know about the key issues: |
| Timings | Timings |
| The government has already set itself a Brexit deadline - Theresa May will give notice of the UK's departure from the EU under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty before the end of March. | The government has already set itself a Brexit deadline - Theresa May will give notice of the UK's departure from the EU under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty before the end of March. |
| This allows two years for the negotiations to be completed before the UK leaves. The government has insisted neither a pending Supreme Court judgement nor the political upheaval in Northern Ireland will delay its timetable. | This allows two years for the negotiations to be completed before the UK leaves. The government has insisted neither a pending Supreme Court judgement nor the political upheaval in Northern Ireland will delay its timetable. |
| But we know rather less about the likely battlegrounds in the negotiations: | But we know rather less about the likely battlegrounds in the negotiations: |
| Single market | Single market |
| What it is: The single market aims to make it easy for EU nations to trade with one another. It allows free movement of goods, workers, services and capital around the EU, without any tariffs, pretty much as if it was all one country. While it remains in the EU, the UK is a full member of the single market, and much of the Brexit debate has been about what will happen when it leaves. Some non-EU countries - such as Norway - have arrangements with the EU that allow them to be part of the single market if they meet certain conditions. EU leaders have stressed that the UK cannot "cherry pick" single market access without also accepting the free movement of people. | What it is: The single market aims to make it easy for EU nations to trade with one another. It allows free movement of goods, workers, services and capital around the EU, without any tariffs, pretty much as if it was all one country. While it remains in the EU, the UK is a full member of the single market, and much of the Brexit debate has been about what will happen when it leaves. Some non-EU countries - such as Norway - have arrangements with the EU that allow them to be part of the single market if they meet certain conditions. EU leaders have stressed that the UK cannot "cherry pick" single market access without also accepting the free movement of people. |
| What's been said so far: The government has not formally ruled out seeking continued membership of the EU single market. However, most of the statements made by Theresa May and government ministers suggest the UK will prioritise border controls and leaving the European Court of Justice, which appear to be incompatible with single market membership. | What's been said so far: The government has not formally ruled out seeking continued membership of the EU single market. However, most of the statements made by Theresa May and government ministers suggest the UK will prioritise border controls and leaving the European Court of Justice, which appear to be incompatible with single market membership. |
| In a recent Sky News interview, the PM was asked repeatedly whether the UK would be leaving the single market in order to secure immigration controls - she said it was not a "binary" choice between migration controls and trade deals, but her comments were interpreted by some reports as signalling the UK could quit the single market. | In a recent Sky News interview, the PM was asked repeatedly whether the UK would be leaving the single market in order to secure immigration controls - she said it was not a "binary" choice between migration controls and trade deals, but her comments were interpreted by some reports as signalling the UK could quit the single market. |
| She also said the UK cannot expect to hold on to "bits" of its membership after leaving the EU. | She also said the UK cannot expect to hold on to "bits" of its membership after leaving the EU. |
| The government has consistently said it will look for a "bespoke deal" rather than adopting one of the models used by other countries to secure single market access. | The government has consistently said it will look for a "bespoke deal" rather than adopting one of the models used by other countries to secure single market access. |
| Brexit Secretary David Davis has not ruled out making financial contributions to the EU budget in order to get "the best possible access" to the single market. | Brexit Secretary David Davis has not ruled out making financial contributions to the EU budget in order to get "the best possible access" to the single market. |
| And Chancellor Philip Hammond has called for the UK's financial services industry to have access to the single market, following concerns about the City of London losing access to EU financial markets. | And Chancellor Philip Hammond has called for the UK's financial services industry to have access to the single market, following concerns about the City of London losing access to EU financial markets. |
| What we might learn: Some reports suggest the PM will say she is prepared to accept the UK giving up its single market membership, with a source telling the Sunday Telegraph: "She's gone for the full works." Downing Street dismissed this as "speculation". | What we might learn: Some reports suggest the PM will say she is prepared to accept the UK giving up its single market membership, with a source telling the Sunday Telegraph: "She's gone for the full works." Downing Street dismissed this as "speculation". |
| Customs union | Customs union |
| What it is: A customs union is an arrangement between countries who agree not to impose tariffs on each other's goods. They also agree to impose common external tariffs on goods from countries outside their customs union. Setting common external tariffs is what distinguishes a customs union from a free trade area, where members are able to set their own tariffs on goods from the rest of the world. As an EU member, the UK is currently part of its customs union. | What it is: A customs union is an arrangement between countries who agree not to impose tariffs on each other's goods. They also agree to impose common external tariffs on goods from countries outside their customs union. Setting common external tariffs is what distinguishes a customs union from a free trade area, where members are able to set their own tariffs on goods from the rest of the world. As an EU member, the UK is currently part of its customs union. |
| What we know: There has been no explicit statement so far from the government, although it has promised the UK will strike trade deals around the world, a power that would be limited by being part of a customs union. | What we know: There has been no explicit statement so far from the government, although it has promised the UK will strike trade deals around the world, a power that would be limited by being part of a customs union. |
| International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has reportedly put pressure on Theresa May to leave the EU customs union in order to have greater freedom in negotiating future trade deals. | International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has reportedly put pressure on Theresa May to leave the EU customs union in order to have greater freedom in negotiating future trade deals. |
| Greg Hands, a minister in Mr Fox's department, has said being part of the customs union need not be a "binary" choice and suggested the UK could be selective about which individual sectors it wished to be covered. | Greg Hands, a minister in Mr Fox's department, has said being part of the customs union need not be a "binary" choice and suggested the UK could be selective about which individual sectors it wished to be covered. |
| What we might learn: Again, reports suggest the PM will say she is prepared to take the UK out of the single market. Will this be confirmed? | What we might learn: Again, reports suggest the PM will say she is prepared to take the UK out of the single market. Will this be confirmed? |
| Immigration | Immigration |
| The government has made clear that there will be restrictions to EU migration as a result of the referendum. | The government has made clear that there will be restrictions to EU migration as a result of the referendum. |
| "We will be able to have control of our borders," the PM said recently, and ministers have been clear that the Leave vote sent a message that new powers were needed to limit EU migration. | "We will be able to have control of our borders," the PM said recently, and ministers have been clear that the Leave vote sent a message that new powers were needed to limit EU migration. |
| But the precise model to be used has not yet been confirmed. | But the precise model to be used has not yet been confirmed. |
| During the referendum campaign, Vote Leave called for a "points-based" system, similar to that used in Australia. | During the referendum campaign, Vote Leave called for a "points-based" system, similar to that used in Australia. |
| But this model, which would involve applications being accepted on the basis of skills, has been rejected by Mrs May, who says it would not give sufficient control to the government. | But this model, which would involve applications being accepted on the basis of skills, has been rejected by Mrs May, who says it would not give sufficient control to the government. |
| An alternative, which Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said is under consideration, is to require migrants to have a work permit before coming to work in the UK, with ministers able to prioritise different sectors. | An alternative, which Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said is under consideration, is to require migrants to have a work permit before coming to work in the UK, with ministers able to prioritise different sectors. |
| The government has said all possibilities are being considered. | The government has said all possibilities are being considered. |
| What about expats? | What about expats? |
| The fate of EU citizens currently living in the UK and of UK citizens living in the rest of the EU has become another pressing question. | The fate of EU citizens currently living in the UK and of UK citizens living in the rest of the EU has become another pressing question. |
| The government has repeatedly stated that the UK could not make commitments on the right of EU citizens to remain in the UK without securing a reciprocal deal for British citizens living abroad in Europe. | The government has repeatedly stated that the UK could not make commitments on the right of EU citizens to remain in the UK without securing a reciprocal deal for British citizens living abroad in Europe. |
| "I have said on many occasions that I expect to be able to, and wish to be able to, guarantee their status here in the UK, but we do need reciprocity - we need to have care and concern for UK citizens who are living in the European Union," Mrs May told MPs last month. | "I have said on many occasions that I expect to be able to, and wish to be able to, guarantee their status here in the UK, but we do need reciprocity - we need to have care and concern for UK citizens who are living in the European Union," Mrs May told MPs last month. |
| European Court of Justice | |
| The prime minister has been clear the UK will no longer be bound by the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice, which ensures the application of EU legislation, after Brexit. | |
| "We are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice," she told the Conservative Party conference. | |
| "That's not going to happen." | |
| Transitional deal | Transitional deal |
| There has been much talk of an interim deal between the UK and the EU before the final terms are agreed. | There has been much talk of an interim deal between the UK and the EU before the final terms are agreed. |
| This appeared to get more likely after Chancellor Philip Hammond said there was an "emerging view" that having longer than two years to negotiate the UK's departure would tend towards a "smoother transition" . | This appeared to get more likely after Chancellor Philip Hammond said there was an "emerging view" that having longer than two years to negotiate the UK's departure would tend towards a "smoother transition" . |
| Writing in the Sunday Times, Brexit Secretary David Davis suggested there might be a transitional arrangement to ensure Britain's exit was a smooth process. | Writing in the Sunday Times, Brexit Secretary David Davis suggested there might be a transitional arrangement to ensure Britain's exit was a smooth process. |
| The PM has said a transitional period could mean different things to different people, suggesting one might be necessary "once we have the deal" to allow people to adjust to the "new arrangements". | The PM has said a transitional period could mean different things to different people, suggesting one might be necessary "once we have the deal" to allow people to adjust to the "new arrangements". |
| EU funding | EU funding |
| What will happen to EU funding currently given to projects and different regions across the UK? | What will happen to EU funding currently given to projects and different regions across the UK? |
| We know that during negotiations with the EU, all rights and obligations from EU membership will continue as normal. This means that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget and that all projects in the UK that currently benefit from EU funding will continue to do so while the UK remains a member of the EU. | We know that during negotiations with the EU, all rights and obligations from EU membership will continue as normal. This means that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget and that all projects in the UK that currently benefit from EU funding will continue to do so while the UK remains a member of the EU. |
| In August, the Treasury said it would guarantee to back EU-funded projects signed before the Autumn Statement (23 November). | In August, the Treasury said it would guarantee to back EU-funded projects signed before the Autumn Statement (23 November). |
| Agricultural funding now provided by the EU will also continue until 2020. | Agricultural funding now provided by the EU will also continue until 2020. |
| In October, Chancellor Philip Hammond told the Conservative Party conference the Treasury would guarantee payments for multi-year EU funding secured before Brexit after Britain left the EU. | In October, Chancellor Philip Hammond told the Conservative Party conference the Treasury would guarantee payments for multi-year EU funding secured before Brexit after Britain left the EU. |