Investing.com - Prime Minister Theresa May’s awayday looked to achieve objectives as ministers from both factions appeared pleased as they left the eight hour gathering on Thursday evening.
Obstacles remain for the prime minister however as the European Commission rejected the UK’s ‘cherry picked’ plans while a change in stance from the opposition Labour party could prove problematic.
Reports from the BBC and Financial Times suggested that ministers from both the remain and leave camps left Chequers content after spending the day at the prime minister’s country retreat in Buckinghamshire. The ministers are said to have agreed on a ‘Canada +++’ deal and to stick current EU rules, on its own terms.
In attempt to unite her cabinet, Theresa May invited her most senior cabinet ministers, dubbed the ‘warring committee’ to the retreat to thrash out differences in order to form a more united front ahead of transition talks, which will start at the EU summit on 22 March.
The prime minister is expected to give a speech based on the outcome of the awayday, setting out ‘the way forward’ for the country post-Brexit. She is also expected to deliver the conclusions from Chequers in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
The speech will be the final of a series of six ‘road to Brexit’ speeches given by key cabinet members, which aim to clarify the government position on the future relationship of the UK and EU following the UK's exit in March 2019. The PM’s office described the speeches as a ‘rallying cry to those on both sides of the Brexit debate’.
Foreign minister Boris Johnson kicked off the speeches last Wednesday in London, while Brexit secretary David Davis delivered a speech in Vienna on Tuesday. Theresa May gave the first of her speeches Munich on Saturday. Pro-leave trade minister Liam Fox and cabinet minister David Lidington are due to speak next week.
Philip Hammond, who toured Europe last week to meet with several European finance ministers, and has been criticised for his pro-EU stance, is not scheduled to make a ‘road to Brexit’ speech.
Theresa May spoke of her 'three basket approach' to Brexit, while Davis stressed plans to remain close to the EU, but on its own terms. As more details emerge of the UK's 'cherry picked' plans, the European Commission published a 59 page document on Wednesday titled ‘Slides on Regulatory Issues’ which reject the UK government proposals for future trade relations.
The Commission said in its paper that the UK would not have the same rights and benefits as members based on its proposed rejection of EU rules, and thus there would be 'no mutual recognition'. Davis suggested in his speech that through ‘mutual recognition’ the UK and EU could forge the same kind of deal that the EU already has with Canada and South Korea.
Further trouble emerged for May this week as Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, looked to be softening his approach to Brexit as he hinted at staying in the customs union during a speech on Tuesday. Corbyn will make a Brexit speech on Monday, as his party agree on which amendments to put forward in the Brexit bill.
Corbyn’s support for a customs union muddies the waters for May as it could lead to a parliamentary majority in favour of an amendment to the Brexit bill to include a customs union clause.
The amendment, tabled by Conservative party member Stephen Hammond, has received cross-party support and could be the next big headache for Theresa May, who lost her majority in the June 2017 election.
The amendment reads: ‘It shall be the objective of an appropriate authority to take all steps to implement an international trade agreement which enables the UK to participate after exit day in a customs union with the EU.’
A vote in the House of Commons on the amendment was scheduled to take place next week, however the government announced on Friday that it would be delayed.