Theresa May suggests UK may pay to stay in EU single market as part of ‘ambitious’ Brexit plan

THERESA May hinted last night that Britain could continue paying membership fees to remain in the EU single market.

Probed on whether our Brexit deal would include financial contributions to the EU, the PM said she was seeking an "ambitious" plan for continued access to trade with our European partners.

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Rather than rule out a continuation of paying EU fees, Mrs May said: "I want a deal that is right the Europe and right for the UK."

She said: "I think it's  not just in our interests to have a good deal on trade with and operations within the single European market, I think its actual in the interests of European business who want to have access to the market in the UK as well."

Pushed on whether that included paying any membership-type fees, Mrs May said: "Crucially this is not about how we retain bits of what we have already got."

She added: "I'm ambitious for what we can achieve in that deal, and we will be looking to negotiate the best possible terms that we can with the EU.

The PM appeared to throw her weight behind David Davis and his claim Britain could continuing paying contributions to the EU for access to the Single Market.

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Last Thursday the Brexit Secretary said the government had not ruled cash contributions out though Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson played down the idea, saying Britain should not pay "large" sums.

Having arrived in Bahrain to address the Gulf Cooperation Council and visit British serviceman, Mrs May also hinted the resignation of her Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi was bad news for Brexit Britain.

Following the Italian Premier's resignation after his shock referendum defeat, the PM said it was in the UK's interest to have a strong and stable Europe.

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As the EU reeled from the latest devastating public vote, Mrs May claimed the historic decision was "a matter for the Italian people, they have made their choice."
But responding to concerns the EU was "disentangling itself", she said: "I think its in the UK's interest to have a strong EU and to have that good relationship with that strong EU."

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Despite the concerns, the PM stressed that the upset would not have any bearing on "our path in relation to our future relationship with the EU."