Brexit is not all about immigration, PM — it’s about building Global Britain with free trade deals

Bring the best

THE Prime Minister has fallen into the Remainer trap of thinking Brexit is all about slashing immigration.

She is bandying around “an end to free movement” as the be-all and end-all of her Brexit deal, as if pulling up the drawbridge is the only thing Brits want from our departure.

In truth, thanks to the threat of the “backstop”, this appalling deal hasn’t even secured that. We have no idea what concessions we’ll have to make if the EU tries to strong-arm us over the coming years.

But even assuming we DO obtain full control of our borders, we must use those powers to build an immigration system that welcomes the world’s best, brightest and most ambitious.

Because a good Brexit is one that delivers a reinvigorated global Britain.

And that is what makes the PM’s deal so concerning. For all her warm words, we do not see HOW we can negotiate good trade deals with other countries, as the deal offers us limited ability to offer tariff reductions.

That’s not an international Britain — the sort of free-trading Britain that is relaxed about our passports being made in France and seeing Japanese cars made in Sunderland.

We must be able to embrace the world beyond our nearest neighbours.

Second’s out

IF the Remain activists calling for a second EU vote get it, what happens if they win? Best of three? Boris Johnson playing rock paper scissors against Donald Tusk?

It is a ludicrous position, ignorant of the most basic grasp of democracy.

For what it’s worth, we reckon the behaviour of Europe’s bullying leaders would see support for leaving the Brussels protection racket actually go up.

But more importantly, what message would it send to the public?

That Westminster’s politicians only listen to the public when it suits them?

That would be incredibly dangerous, and give air to the toxic views of anti-establishment figures who’d love to destabilise our whole system.

Another ballot would be playing with fire.

Pressure Putin

RUSSIA is now a rogue state.

The incident off the coast of Crimea is only the latest reckless mark on an increasingly long rap sheet.

We must bring all the pressure we can to bear on the Putin regime, including massively ramping up the use of Unexplained Wealth Orders on the Russian oligarchs running up suspiciously large tabs in London department stores.

And alongside President Trump, we must persuade France, Germany and others to put their money where their mouth is and contribute more to Nato.

Forget notions of an EU army. Give some muscle to the alliance we already have.