UK govt unveils Brexit plan that sparked rebellion

LONDON - The British government on Thursday published its long-awaited Brexit blueprint aimed at restarting stalled talks with the European Union, only for it to be panned by euroskeptics and the City of London.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said her plan to keep close economic ties with the EU once her country leaves the bloc next March was "principled and pragmatic".

It would see Britain follow EU rules on goods to protect cross-border trade and avoid checks on the Irish frontier, while enabling it to control migration and sign new non-EU trade deals, including in services.

Other items covered in the plan include the economic partnership, security cooperation, collaboration in aviation and nuclear power, and "institutional frameworks" that will enforce the agreement.

Free movement of people between the EU and the UK will end, the white paper says.

But the idea of staying tied to the bloc for years after Brexit prompted two ministers to quit her cabinet this week, and has revived talk of a leadership challenge in May's Conservative party.

When the details were finally published in a 98-page document on Thursday, euroskeptic MPs were quick to condemn the plan.

The plan won support from some business groups, but the City of London warned its provision for looser ties for financial services were a "real blow" for the all-important sector.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab - who was appointed on Monday after his predecessor David Davis quit, followed by foreign minister Boris Johnson - faced jeering in parliament as he said that a "deal was within reach" with Brussels.

The response from the EU, which must ultimately agree the deal, was cautious with chief negotiator Michel Barnier saying on Twitter that he would analyze the proposals.

'Not a solution'

Britain voted for Brexit in June 2016, but May has been unable to present a detailed plan to Brussels until now because of the deep divisions in her government.

"We should welcome this. It marks an obvious move by the government to try to get the negotiations going," said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank based at King's College London.

"Equally, it's not a solution. I don't see the European Union accepting it."

May had briefed a number of European leaders on the plan before it was published, including EU President Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But the EU has repeatedly warned it cannot accept any "cherry-picking" of its single market and its four freedoms, of movement, capital, goods and services.

May is also likely to have a tough time getting the plan through parliament, with the right-wing of her Conservative party increasingly rebellious.

MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads a powerful euroskeptic group, said he could not vote for the plan.

Britain would have to follow EU rules that it could not influence, and despite claims that parliament could reject any new regulations, the repercussions were such that in reality it "will have no say".

AFP - China Daily

Cecily Liu in London contributed to this story.

(China Daily 07/14/2018 page8)