Michael Gove warns hardline Brexiteers to 'face facts' over no-deal Brexit
2 min read
Michael Gove warned hardline Brexiteers to "face facts" over the lack of support for a no-deal Brexit in the House of Commons.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the Environment Secretary insisted he is not "going on soft" on Brexit.
However, he said: "We have to face facts. At the moment the arithmetic in the House of Commons is opposed to leaving without a deal. There would be economic challenges. We could get through them but they would undoubtedly be there in the short term."
Prior to addressing the Scottish Conservative party conference in Aberdeen today, he argued: "I don't think we should do anything which undermines the Union. The best way of bringing the country together is to leave with a good deal." we should do anything which undermines the Union. The best way of bringing the country together is to leave with a good deal."
Mr Gove also laid out his opposition to remaining in a customs union with the EU. "I think it's critical we do everything we can to make sure that Britain has the chance of an independent trade policy in the future and what we need to do in order to secure that future independent trade policy is make sure we get the Withdrawal Bill through and that's what we're trying to persuade Labour of the merits of," he said.
He urged Labour to work with the government to get a deal over the line.
Speaking candidly, the Surrey Heath MP admitted his much-criticised 2016 leadership bid was not "my finest hour". However, he said that "over the course of the last couple of years, I've been very lucky to have been recalled from the subs bench and I have put my heart and soul into being as good a member of the team as I can be."
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