Theresa May’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy
Britain would be signing itself up to the worst possible Brexit deal if it accepts freedom of movement, Theresa May’s former chief of staff has warned.
Nick Timothy issued a strong warning to the Prime Minister to toughen up her negotiating strategy after it emerged that several Cabinet ministers want freedom of movement to continue after Britain leaves the EU.
Mr Timothy, one of Mrs May’s closest allies, said she has been ‘undermined’ by Parliament and her own Cabinet, adding: ‘The time for playing nice and being exploited is over.’
He accused Chancellor Philip Hammond of blocking ‘meaningful no-deal planning’.
‘This is ridiculous, and it has to stop,’ he wrote in The Daily Telegraph. ‘The EU showed last December – when the talks faltered over Northern Ireland that they want a deal. But they want a deal on the best terms for them, and the very worst for Britain. As things stand, they might well succeed.
‘There is little point complaining, but we should listen and our strategy should change… The time for sincere cooperation with a partner that does not want to sincerely cooperate is over: we must toughen up.’
His intervention comes as cabinet ministers prepare for a crunch Chequers meeting to discuss detailed plans for Brexit.
Theresa May is being undermined in Parliament by her own MPs according to a close ally
Brexiteers are becoming concerned that they will be pushed into backing a watered down deal, which could see Britain tied to both the customs union and single market.
Mr Timothy, who resigned after last year’s election, criticised Remainers for handing the initiative to the EU during negotiations.
He said: ‘Pro-EU rebels want to prevent a ‘no deal’ outcome while forcing us into a customs union and, perhaps, the single market. They have allowed the Europeans to divide and rule us, and cherry pick what they want from the future relationship.
‘But within government it is just as bad. The Chancellor blocked meaningful no-deal planning, and refused pointblank to consider alternatives to EU financial regulations. Instead, the Treasury produced negative economic forecasts based on outcomes the Government did not seek, and leaked them to the media.’
He also slammed Business Secretary Greg Clark for pushing for free movement within the EU.
‘This not only breaches one of the Prime Minister’s red lines: it is one of Brussels’ main demands of Britain,’ he said.
Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, two of Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May’s closest advisers, were removed from their posts after the failed snap election
But he argued that the government’s position was ‘far from hopeless’, pointing out divisions between EU member states over what Brexit should mean for security and trade.
He said the upcoming Brexit white paper ‘should herald a new approach’.
‘We should say we want a partnership encompassing trade and security where rights and obligations are reciprocal and in balance,’ he said. ‘We will not accept the jurisdiction of the European Court, free movement or massive annual payments for market access that should be free.
‘Ministers should point out that it is not Britain jeopardising the Good Friday Agreement, but the Irish, who are failing to respect the integrity of the United Kingdom.
‘And the Chancellor should immediately increase spending and staffing to prepare for ‘no deal’.
‘The time for sincere cooperation with a partner that does not want to sincerely cooperate is over: we must toughen up.’