Theresa May sets out her Brexit objectives in her opening salvo for renegotiation with the EU – but what did she really mean?
On immigration, workers' rights and trade - our Westminster Correspondent reveals what the PM was actually saying
THERESA May has set out her objectives for Brexit as she launched her opening salvo for renegotiation with the EU.
Here The Sun’s Westminster Correspondent Harry Cole looks into what she really meant in key parts of her historic speech:
1. “We will take back control of our laws and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain.”
What she meant: Britain’s parliament will be sovereign now and judges at the European Court of Justice will not be able to make laws by the backdoor too — the buck will stop with Britain after Brexit.
2. Brexit must “strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the United Kingdom”.
What she meant: She is trying very hard to reassure the people of Scotland and Northern Ireland — areas of the UK where the majority did not vote Leave.
She hinted that the devolved parliaments could get more powers when they “are returned to Westminster from Brussels” in a bid to see off Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon from demanding another referendum on Scottish Independence.
3. Brexit means we must “get control of the number of people coming to Britain from the EU”.
What she meant: The Government will probably set a cap on the number of low-skilled migrants coming from the EU after we have left.
But she clearly did not rule out keeping some unskilled EU migration in the public sector and if bosses need it — in a sign that she may base the new system around job offers.
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4. “Not only will the Government protect the rights of workers set out in European legislation, we will build on them.”
What she meant: The PM moved to shoot Labour’s fox here — as the opposition claim Brexit will lead to a watering down of rights for workers such as Health and Safety legislation secured at a European level.
5. “We will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the EU.”
What she meant: We are quitting the EU Single Market which insists on free trade in goods, services, capital and people but she still wants tariff-free trade to be “as frictionless as possible”.
Britain would be prepared to pay for trade access, but could no longer “contribute vast sums to the EU budget”.
We are also quitting the Customs Union which erects common tariffs against the rest of the world — because it would stop us striking our own free trade deals.
6. “All of us in Europe face the challenge of cross-border crime and a deadly terrorist threat.”
What she meant: Britain leads the world on intelligence and security matters and the former Home Secretary knows other EU countries will want us to continue sharing our knowledge — an ace in her renegotiating pack.
7. We will not find “ourselves stuck forever in some kind of permanent political purgatory”.
What she meant: PM says she is happy to have a phased introduction of a new deal so there is no cliff edge — but we will walk away if there is no deal.