British negotiators preparing for an EU ‘surrender summit’ are operating from a blueprint used by Switzerland – which has agreed to accept EU rules and pay into the Brussels budget in return for access to the single market.
The summit, in London on May 19, is the moment Sir Keir Starmer hopes to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU, but Brexiteers fear the term is code for a capitulation to the bloc – despite Britain’s vote to leave in 2016.
Labour ministers have confirmed that the Government is ready to sign up to permanent alignment with EU rules in areas such as agriculture in return for a closer trading relationship, but deny that this amounts to reversing Brexit.
However, diplomatic sources point to the recent deal struck by the EU with Switzerland, which allows partial membership of the single market for goods alone.
The talks were deadlocked for years until the Swiss agreed to so-called ‘dynamic alignment’ – accepting EU rules – as well as signing up to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and making payments into the Brussels budget.
Also, the European Commission has made clear that no deal will be possible unless the UK starts negotiations on a ‘youth mobility scheme’ – freedom of movement for young adults, modelled on Britain’s arrangement with Canada.
Under this, young Canadians aged 18 to 35 can apply for a three-year UK visa – though there is an annual quota – allowing them to live and work in the UK.
The Prime Minister used an interview this weekend to prepare the ground for his ‘reset’ by arguing that the British public had moved on from Brexit.
The summit in London is the moment Sir Keir Starmer hopes to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU
Brexiteers fear the term is code for a capitulation to the bloc – despite Britain’s vote to leave in 2016
Labour ministers have confirmed that the Government is ready to sign up to permanent alignment with EU rules in areas such as agriculture in return for a closer trading relationship, but deny that this amounts to reversing Brexit
He told The Guardian that people should ‘look forward, not back’, saying: ‘I’m ambitious about what we can achieve there.
‘I want a closer relationship on security, defence, trade and on the economy. The mindset is important and this is, I think, a shared approach. Let’s look forward, not back.
‘Let’s recognise we’re living in a different world. We’re in a new era on security and defence. Equally, we’re in a new era on trade and the economy now.’
Sir Keir’s advisers are nervous about the electoral impact of being seen to try to reverse Brexit, given the threat posed by Reform UK in the party’s former heartlands.
The Tories have warned that the EU negotiations could also wreck hopes for a comprehensive free trade deal with the US.
The Government published details of the trade deal struck with Donald Trump last week, which left affected sectors with a number of unanswered questions about its likely impact.
Last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that the Prime Minister has established a ‘surrender squad’ in Whitehall to lead the negotiations and prepare for the EU summit.
