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| Theresa May says Brexit deal 'cannot mean membership of single market' | Theresa May says Brexit deal 'cannot mean membership of single market' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain will pull out of the single market when it leaves the European Union, Theresa May said today - finally ending months of uncertainty and confusion. | Britain will pull out of the single market when it leaves the European Union, Theresa May said today - finally ending months of uncertainty and confusion. |
| In her landmark Brexit speech, the Prime Minister said the deal she would be pursuing when the negotiations get underway "cannot mean membership of single market". | In her landmark Brexit speech, the Prime Minister said the deal she would be pursuing when the negotiations get underway "cannot mean membership of single market". |
| She pointed to the EU's demand that all members comply with ‘four freedoms’ – including, crucially, freedom of movement of EU citizens. | She pointed to the EU's demand that all members comply with ‘four freedoms’ – including, crucially, freedom of movement of EU citizens. |
| Follow our live blog from Theresa May's key speech on Brexit | Follow our live blog from Theresa May's key speech on Brexit |
| It would also mean “complying with EU rules and regulations that implement those freedoms without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are," Ms May told her audience at London's Lancaster House. | It would also mean “complying with EU rules and regulations that implement those freedoms without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are," Ms May told her audience at London's Lancaster House. |
| The Prime Minister said single market membership would also mean the European Court of Justice having “direct legal authority in our country”. | The Prime Minister said single market membership would also mean the European Court of Justice having “direct legal authority in our country”. |
| In her most significant comments on her Brexit strategy yet, she said: “What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” | In her most significant comments on her Brexit strategy yet, she said: “What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” |
| She added: "It would, to all intents and purposes, mean not leaving the EU at all”. | She added: "It would, to all intents and purposes, mean not leaving the EU at all”. |
| Ms May claimed that “both sides” in the referendum debate had “made clear” that a ‘No’ vote would mean leaving the single market. | Ms May claimed that “both sides” in the referendum debate had “made clear” that a ‘No’ vote would mean leaving the single market. |
| She said her aim would be the “greatest possible access” to EU markets through a “comprehensive free trade agreement” – although, critics say, that could take many years to achieve. | She said her aim would be the “greatest possible access” to EU markets through a “comprehensive free trade agreement” – although, critics say, that could take many years to achieve. |
| Britain would continue to pay into the EU budget for “specific EU programmes” of its choosing, adding: “The days of making vast contributions to the EU every year will end”. | Britain would continue to pay into the EU budget for “specific EU programmes” of its choosing, adding: “The days of making vast contributions to the EU every year will end”. |
| On the customs union, the Prime Minister suggested the UK could negotiate some sort of "associate member" access while retaining the right to carry out its own deals with non-EU nations - in other words, becoming exempt from the "common external tariff". | |
| Ms May said full customs union membership would prevent the UK from striking its own comprehensive trade deals. | |
| "I want Britain to be able to negotiate its own trade agreements but I also want tariff-free trade with Europe, and cross-border trade there to be as frictionless as possible. | |
| "That means I do not want Britain to be part of the common commercial policy and I do not want us to be bound by the common external tariff. | |
| "These are the elements of the customs union that prevent us from striking our own comprehensive trade agreements with other countries. But I do want us to have a customs agreement with the EU." | |
| She highlighted Donald Trump's recent comments, in which he said he is keen to do a trade deal with the UK. | |
| "Countries including China, Brazil and the Gulf states have already expressed interest in striking trade deals with us," she said. | |
| "We have started discussions on future trade ties with countries like Australia, New Zealand and India. And President-elect Trump has said that Britain is not at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States, the world's biggest economy, but front of the line." |