Brexit news: Rees-Mogg warns May must avoid soft Brexit at ALL costs
The Tory Brexiteer demanded the Cabinet reject any type of customs deal with the European Union that would not stand by the commitments made in the Conservative Party manifesto. Speaking on Channel 4 News, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “It’s not for me to issue warnings to the Prime Minister. I fully support the Prime Minister. But I cannot guarantee to support a policy that doesn’t deliver on the manifesto commitments.” During this week’s crunch Brexit meeting at Chequers, Mrs May is expected to propose a so-called "third-way" arrangement that would see the UK stay in a single market with the EU indefinitely. It has been trailed at the "softest possible Brexit." The plans are expected to potentially allow the European Courts of Justice to have a say on trade disputes and see Britain enter a single market on goods with Brussels.
Getty•Channel 4 Brexit news: Jacob Rees-Mogg said a soft Brexit will "cheat" the British people
It would be a cheat on the British electorate to do that which was not in the manifesto Jacob Rees-Mogg
In response to speculation about Britain being forced into a soft Brexit, Mr Rees-Mogg demanded the Prime Minister stick to the Tory manifesto. He said: “What is best for the country is sticking for the manifesto so that is the great opportunity and it is also what people voted for. “Politicians must be honest. It would be a cheat on the British electorate to do that which was not in the manifesto. “It would be a cheat on the referendum result. And I believe in politicians sticking to their word. He added: “I’m saying the future of this country depends on following what 17.4 million people said and that is leaving the European Union and then being free to set and chart our own course.
“It is an enormous opportunity and will help us be prosperous in the next century.” Mr Rees-Mogg, who is the chairman of the European Research Group, demanded the Prime Minister must stick to her original mantra that “no deal is better than a bad one”. He said: “If we don’t get a deal, no deal is better than a bad deal or a WTO deal. Trading with the EU on a WTO deal will make us prosperous. “It will free us from EU regulation, from EU laws, from the requirement to follow whatever we are told by Brussels. This will be a great liberation, economic as well as social for this nation.” Writing in The Telegraph column, Mr Rees-Mogg warned the Prime Minister could face a coup if she does not deliver on Brexit.
Top 10 of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s best Brexit quotes Thu, February 8, 2018 The Conservative MP is known for his upper-class mannerisms and traditionalist views Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 10 ‘Civil servants are anti-Brexit’