Leavers and Remainers need to come together so UK flourishes outside of the EU post Brexit
In 2016, 17.4 million people voted to leave the EU. It was the biggest vote for anything in our history but it was a close result and Parliament is divided. We must move on.
We all want certainty that we will be leaving the EU on 29th March. That would enable us all to plan for life beyond Brexit and lead to a period of political calm.
The Government’s deal has been rejected by Parliament. Therefore, leavers and remainers need to come together to develop a new plan so that we can deliver the referendum result and ensure that we flourish outside the EU.
This is exactly what we have tried to do with the help of Kit Malthouse. Nicky Morgan, Robert Buckland and Stephen Hammond were on different sides to me and Steve Baker during the referendum. But we have decided to put our differences aside and unite to publish a new proposal on how we should leave the EU.
Leavers rejected the Government’s EU deal because the backstop would have stopped us from agreeing trade deals. So, we have suggested replacing the backstop with a new protocol that solves the concerns people have about the Irish border and which protects the Union of the United Kingdom.
Remainers want a guaranteed Implementation Period – a period which allows us all to adjust to life beyond the EU. Our plan offers a smooth transition with an additional year of the Implementation Period, making it last until no later than the end of December 2021.
Parliament, our country and the 27 member states of the EU are united in wanting a deal and this proposal can pass through Parliament and restore Government unity, purpose and direction.
If the EU ignores this consensus, we have proposed a Plan B – a “triple safety net” to protect us. It includes cooperation on security, a guarantee by the UK of zero tariffs, no quantitative restrictions and no new trading barriers, along with a generous offer to pay our financial contributions in return for an Implementation Period.
These proposals would allow everyone to prepare fully for the UK leaving the EU and gives us the space to have proper trade talks so that we can develop a close trading relationship – which, after all, is what Brexit was supposed to be about.
Millions of people voted to leave the EU so that we could become an outward- looking, strong, free-trading nation.
most read in opinion
They also wanted us to maintain the closest of friendships with our allies on the continent, to continue to trade closely with our European counterparts and to let EU citizens - who have become our friends and neighbours and made the UK their home - feel welcome here.
We can still be proud of our shared European heritage after leaving the EU but we must do this as an independent nation.
This plan gives us a way of doing this and we invite everyone across the House of Commons and the country to support us as we forge a deal that brings the whole country together.
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email [email protected].