Britain might NEVER be able to control its own borders under PM’s ‘fatal’ Brexit deal, ex-minister Dominic Raab warns
THERESA May's Brexit plan will stop Britain from controlling its own borders, Dominic Raab warned today.
The former Brexit Secretary claimed the "fatally flawed" withdrawal agreement would lock the UK into free movement for good.
He called on fellow Tories to choose "hope" as he blasted the PM for launching a new round of Project Fear to try and force her deal through.
Mr Raab resigned last week after deciding he couldn't support the withdrawal agreement Mrs May agreed with Brussels.
Laying out his reasons today, the ex-minister pointed to the controversial Irish backstop and the additional text outlining the future trade deal between Britain and the EU.
He said the trade document "takes the customs union-single market regime as the starting point".
Mr Raab added: "In practice, the backstop would become permanent, or worse, as the EU - arguing the indivisibility of the single market - insists that the UK accept some free movement rules as the price of a deal.
"Once locked into the backstop, the EU would have zero incentive to agree to any alternative approach in subsequent negotiations.
"Instead of taking back control, we would be giving up even more control over swathes of UK economic and social policy, and forfeiting all hope of an independent global trade policy."
Keeping EU free movement rules would stop Britain from deciding which migrants are allowed to move here.
The former Brexit Secretary concluded: "This is a historic struggle for the heart and soul of our country - between those who believe that managed decline is all we have left, and those of us who believe that this country's best days lie ahead.
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"Buried beneath the rafts of technical detail, it is a struggle between hope and fear."
Mr Raab was replaced by Stephen Barclay when he quit 12 hours after the Cabinet signed off on Mrs May's Brexit deal.
He insists he still backs the PM - but wants her to ditch her deal and prepare Britain for a No Deal outcome.
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