David Cameron leads new calls for ‘softer Brexit’ as European leaders say Britain might NEVER leave the EU
The ex-PM said the Tories' election disaster will prevent Theresa May from carrying out her plans
DAVID CAMERON last night led calls for Britain to pursue a softer Brexit plan in the wake of the Tory election disaster.
The former Prime Minister urged Theresa May to "listen to other parties" when she goes into talks with the EU.
European leaders suggested yesterday that Brexit could be reversed altogether - Emmanuel Macron said that "the door remains open".
Mrs May had been planning to withdraw from the single market and customs union so that Britain can escape the reach of the European courts and control immigration.
But after her failure to secure a majority, she may have to negotiate with Labour and other parties to hammer out the terms of Brexit.
Speaking for the first time since the election, Mr Cameron told a conference in Poland: "I think there will be pressure for a softer Brexit."
He said Parliament "deserves a say" on the EU talks, adding that there is "an opportunity to consult more widely with the other parties on how best we can achieve it".
The ex-PM suggested that the 13 Scottish Tory MPs could push for a softer version of Brexit.
He said: "Scotland voted against Brexit. I think most of the Scottish Conservatives will want to see perhaps some changes with the policy going forward."
Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, has called for Mrs May to prioritise the economy over immigration controls.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is said to be leading calls within the Cabinet to keep Britain within the customs union.
That would ensure tariff-free trade between the UK and Europe - but it would also stop us striking free-trade deals with countries around the world.
The Prime Minister has promoted a number of leaving Remainers, such as Damian Green, the new First Secretary of State.
But she has also attempted to protect herself from criticism by anti-EU backbenchers, handing jobs to Brexiteers like Michael Gove and Steve Baker.
Gisela Stuart, a pro-Brexit former Labour MP, said it was essential that EU negotiations are "delivered in a cross-party way".
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The party leaders have to talk together, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have to talk to Theresa May and reach those broad agreements."
But she warned that talks between the parties must not be used as an excuse to delay Britain's departure from the EU.
Veteran Tory europhile Ken Clarke added: "You cannot carry out this negotiation on the basis that every aspect will have to be agreed with the DUP and then you're going to get the whole of the Conservative Party to agree with it."
Yesterday EU leaders stirred the pot by claiming that Britain could still revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU despite the referendum result.
Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaueble said: "If they wanted to change their decision, of course, they would find open doors."
Asked about the comment during a press conference with Mrs May last night, French president Emmanuel Macron said it was unlikely that Brits would change their mind about Brexit.
But he added: "Of course the door remains open, always open until the Brexit negotiations come to an end."
Speaking today, Guy Verhofstadt - the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator - bizarrely threatened to punish Britain if Brexit is reversed.
He said that if the UK decided to stay in the EU, it would not get a budget rebate or opt-outs from certain laws.
Both the Tories and Labour ran for election on a platform of quitting the single market.
But several Labour figures have suggested that Britain could strike a deal to access EU markets on the same basis as now - meaning mass immigration might continue.
Frontbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey said this morning: "What we've asked for is impediment-free access to the single market so that businesses here aren't pushed to the edge of a cliff.
"We accept the fact that, if we are going to have impediment-free access to the single market, then there will have to be some element of free movement."
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The Tory deal with the DUP could stop Britain quitting the customs union, because the Northern Irish party's priority is to avoid a hard border with Ireland.
Mrs May is currently in talks with DUP boss Arlene Foster in a bid to form a minority government as quickly as possible.
Brexit talks are due to begin officially on Monday, but they could be delayed because of the post-election chaos.