Steve Baker tells David Cameron Theresa May will NOT soften Brexit
GETTY Mr Cameron suggested the government should course on Brexit policy
Steve Baker, who was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the EU in the Prime Minister's post-election reshuffle, insisted there would be "no change" in the Government's drive for a clear break with Brussels. He spoke out to settle Euro-sceptic nerves on his first full day in his post after the former chancellor and ex-prime minister claimed Mrs May will have to alter her course and opt for a less drastic cut in ties to the EU. They have urged Prime Minister to seek a new cross-party consensus on Brexit following her failure to win a Commons majority in last week's general election.
Mr Baker said he did not "foresee any change" in the Government's approach to leaving the EU. He said: "The reality is, where we stand follows logically from leaving. "So if we are leaving, what we need to do is do it smoothly and successfully and gain economic benefit. "If we are having economic benefit that means we need to be able to control our trade policy. So that's where I think we should be."
GETTY The former PM suggested the Scottish Conservatives would want to see 'some changes' to policy
Pressed on the debate about whether Britain should quit the customs union, he added: "These are decisions which the Government will have to take, but I'm quite clear and I've made my position public in the past." Mr Baker, a leading Leave campaigner during the EU referendum, was recruited to the Brexit department by Mrs May earlier this week in a signal to Tory Euro-sceptics that she has no intention of watering down her plans. The move came in the face of growing pressure from Remain-supporters for the Government to change course by keeping Britain in the EU's Single Market and customs union. Former chancellor Mr Clarke, an outspoken opponent of Brexit and veteran Europhile, today claimed that political divisions over Brexit exacerbated by the elections meant the Prime Minister needed to find a new way.
GETTY Mr Baker was recruited to the Brexit department by Mrs May
He said: "The public are very disillusioned with knockabout party politics after low-level debates in the referendum and the General Election. "I think we'd restore confidence in politics if we could show that this Parliament can at least function in presenting a view in the national interest which could command the majority on a cross-party basis." He added: "We're in a new situation and the national interest calls for a cross-party approach." Mr Clarke's comments followed a suggestion from Mr Cameron that the Government should change course on Brexit policy. He said at a conference in Poland: "It's going to be difficult. There's no doubt about that, but perhaps an opportunity to consult more widely with the other parties on how best we can achieve it.
GETTY Mr Clarke claimed the Prime Minister needed to find a new way
"I think there will be pressure for a softer Brexit," Mr Cameron added, saying that Parliament "deserves a say" on the issue. He suggested the Scottish Tories led by Ruth Davidson could add to the pressure on Mrs May to change course. Mr Cameron said: "There's no doubt that there is a new player on the stage. "Scotland voted against Brexit. I think most of the Scottish Conservatives will want to see perhaps some changes with the policy going forward."
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