Boris Johnson today endorsed a warning from a former senior aide to Theresa May calling on the Prime Minister to abandon her Chequers plans.
Mrs May’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy warned the PM risks the ‘worst of both worlds’ if she waters down her Brexit vision again.
He said Mrs May would have to make new concessions to have any chance of getting a version of her Chequers plan agreed by Brussels – pointing out it had proved ‘intolerable’ to all sides of the debate.
Her blueprint – which would mean Britain following EU rules on goods while leaving the single market and customs union to pursue global trade – was ‘never’ going to be accepted by the EU, Mr Timothy said.
But he revealed fears his former boss would make concessions on immigration to try and get a deal.
The PM refuted the claims at a press conference in Kenya today, insisting Chequers was the basis of a ‘good relationship’ between Britain and the EU.
Boris Johnson (file image) today endorsed a warning from a former senior aide to Theresa May calling on the Prime Minister to abandon her Chequers plans.
The PM refuted the claims at a press conference in Kenya today (pictured), insisting Chequers was the basis of a ‘good relationship’ between Britain and the EU
Writing in his regular Telegraph column, Mr Timothy said: ‘Chequers was never going to be acceptable to the EU, because it drives a coach and horses through its core principles.
‘It seeks to cherry pick the rights ministers have decided they want – so far, de facto membership of the single market in goods – without accepting corresponding obligations, such as the free movement of people.
‘So we know what will come next.
‘The EU will say that Britain must make further concessions, including accepting free movement rules, significant annual payments to Brussels, and, perhaps, EU rules for services.
‘If the Government concedes these demands, Britain will, legally speaking, leave the EU next March, but we will be under its control and find ourselves in the worst of both worlds.
‘If no deal is better than a bad deal, as the Prime Minister reiterated this week, Chequers Minus is a bad deal.’
Mr Johnson endorsed the piece on Twitter. He said: ‘Excellent column from Nick Timothy. We must chuck Chequers.’
Mr Johnson sensationally resigned as Foreign Secretary over the plan in July, insisting it would not deliver Brexit and leave the UK tied to the EU with no say in its rules.
Mr Johnson endorsed the piece on Twitter. He said: ‘Excellent column from Nick Timothy. We must chuck Chequers.’
Nick Timothy (file image) said Mrs May would have to make new concessions to have any chance of getting a version of her Chequers plan agreed by Brussels
Speaking on the final leg of a tour of Africa, Mrs May said the Chequers proposals, which triggered high-profile Cabinet resignations and have received a cool response from Brussels, are good for the EU.
The PM said: ‘Chequers delivers on the Brexit vote. It does it in a way that I believe is good for the UK.
‘Obviously, we are in negotiations with the European Union, but I believe our proposals are not just good for the UK, but they are good for the EU as well.’
Mrs May added the Chequers plan offers economic flexibility, saying: ‘It ensures that we can maintain a good trading relationship with the EU while having the freedom to negotiate trade deals on our own behalf around the rest of the world.’
At a joint press conference with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, Mrs May said: ‘As Britain prepares to leave the European Union, we are committed to a smooth transition that ensures continuity in our trading relationship with Kenya.
‘We are pursuing, of course, a good deal for trade with the EU once we have left the EU.
‘But we will be looking to enhance our trade relationships around the rest of the world as well.
‘Trade isn’t about one country doing better than another country, actually, trade is mutually beneficial.’