Jacob Rees-Mogg urged Theresa May to adopt a new Brexit blueprint which he hailed as ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’.
He spoke out yesterday at the launch of the alternative dubbed ‘Plan A+’ advocating a Canada-style trade deal with the EU.
It was unveiled in London by trade expert Shanker Singham, who drew it up at the Institute for Economic Affairs think-tank.
Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at the launch of the Institute of Economic Affairs Brexit research paper in central London
Mr Rees-Mogg, head of the European Research Group of hard Brexiteers, said: ‘This is about how you can have a fantastic Brexit that sets us up for the next generation and ensures our prosperity.
‘This has been offered to us by the [European] Commission, they have offered us the best trade deal they have ever done with any country so if you want to call it Canada-plus, or super Canada or supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Canada, that is what is being aimed and it’s being offered.’
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said the blueprint was a ‘fine piece of work’. In an apparent reference to the row between Mrs May and EU leaders in Salzburg last week, he added it was one which the EU would ‘understand and respect’.
(Left to right) David Davis, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Theresa Villiers attend the launch of the Institute of Economic Affairs latest Brexit research paper in central London
Ex-Brexit secretary David Davis said it was time to ‘reset negotiations’ and that the Salzburg stand-off was ‘all too predictable’.
Mr Singham warned that Mrs May’s Chequers plan would make a free trade deal with the US impossible as it would keep Britain locked into EU rules for agriculture and manufactured goods.
He said US government officials had told him this would ‘absolutely preclude’ a free trade agreement with the UK.
Mr Singham argued there was still a great ‘Brexit Prize’ available, which could increase Britain’s GDP by up to 7 per cent.
He urged Mrs May to begin talks with other countries, including the US, to encourage the EU to give Britain a better deal.
Downing Street dismissed the plan, saying a Canada-style deal would mean ‘Northern Ireland effectively remaining in parts of the single market and customs union’.
A spokesman added: ‘The PM has repeatedly set out that we must protect the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom as a whole.’