Boris Johnson ramps up calls for short Brexit transition period
2 min read
Boris Johnson has urged Theresa May to make sure the post-Brexit transition period with the EU is not "too long" – less than a week after the Prime Minister laid out her proposed timetable.
The Foreign Secretary's remarks follow Mrs May’s speech in Florence last week, where she set out plans for Britain to continue paying into the EU's coffers for two years, in return for continued access to the European single market.
The Prime Minister’s statement came after a number of senior Cabinet clashes over the issue, most recently between Chancellor Philip Hammond and prominent Brexiteer, Mr Johnson.
Speaking at the launch of the new Institute for Free Trade, Mr Johnson said: “When you consider what we have done in the past, you can imagine what our brilliant companies are going to be able to do when they are finally unbound, unshackled, unleashed from the coils and toils of the common commercial policy.
“We have an extraordinary future ahead of us.
“Let’s hope the date is soon upon us without too long a transition period, n’est pas?”
He added: “It is only now that the UK is able to resume its historic function as the world’s leading campaigner and agitator for free trade.”
Open Britain campaigner Pat McFadden said the Foreign Secretary’s latest move was proof of the Prime Minister’s “weak” position.
“Any Prime Minister with an ounce of strength would not permit her Cabinet colleagues to launch think tanks undermining the Government’s policy, let alone in a Government building.
“But this just shows how weak Theresa May’s position has become.”
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