Michael Gove says UK CAN leave single market in Brexit deal – but misses out one KEY word
LEADING Brexit campaigner Michael Gove has failed to guarantee the UK will leave the EU's single market.
In a newspaper article, the Cabinet minister said Britain can quit the bloc's trading area and make its own trade deals after Brexit.
But he stopped short of making a firm promise that the Government WILL pursue a hard Brexit.
He also appeared to support a transitional deal that would keep the UK wedded to the EU until at least 2021.
Related articles
During this time, Britain would be forced to respect all EU laws and the authority of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Environment Secretary Mr Gove, who headed the Vote Leave campaign, said: "Outside the EU we will take back control of our laws.
"After the end of the two-year transition period, the UK will be able to pass laws that strengthen our economy and enhance our environment, with full freedom to diverge from EU laws on the single market and customs union.
"We will have the freedom to negotiate and sign trade agreements with other countries around the world, and to regulate our own international trade policy without being fettered by EU law or the jurisdiction of the ECJ."
GETTY
Brexit negotiations continue, live pictures
Fri, December 8, 2017Britain and the EU reached a historic deal on December 8 on the terms of the Brexit divorce after the British Prime Minister rushed to Brussels for early morning talks
David Davis and EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attend a press conference by Theresa May
The wording of his article is likely to anger anti-EU campaigners who fear the UK is heading for a soft Brexit.
They have claimed Theresa May's deal with Brussels could mean the UK simply mirrors the EU's customs rules, rendering Brexit pointless.
A clause in the Phase 1 document, published yesterday, raises the possibility of "maintaining full alignment" with Brussels' trading regulations.
And Mr Gove's article, published in the Sunday Telegraph, may be seen as a further hint the Government is backtracking from a hard Brexit.
GETTY
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage raged against Mrs May's deal, branding it a "humiliation" and accusing her of making concessions.
And the Leave.EU campaign group branded Mrs May "Theresa the Appeaser" and a "gutless establishment politician".
In a furious Twitter rant, they added: "Our lily-livered politicians have sold the country down the river.
"We'll all be paying money to the EU for years to come – not what we voted for."
GETTY
Mr Gove also said voters will be able to force changes to an EU withdrawal deal at the next election if they do not like it.
He said: "If the British people dislike the agreement that we have negotiated with the EU, the agreement will allow a future government to diverge."
The comments came as it emerged the Cabinet is set to finally discuss the UK's future relationship with the EU at a meeting on December 19.
Sources close to Mr Gove said the Sunday Telegraph article had been encouraged and signed-off on by Downing Street.
