Brexit news: Theresa May not to betray Brexit ahead of Chequers showdown
The Prime Minister is trying to find a compromise that will secure support from both wings of her Cabinet at a meeting at Chequers on Friday. But Eurosceptic Tories today called for Mrs May to maintain her red lines on leaving the single market and customs union. A group of more than 40 Eurosceptic Tories met chief whip Julian Smith to air their concerns about the prospect of a soft Brexit. Such a move would be highly controversial because it would stop Britain being free to strike its own global trade deals.
Influential backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg admitted he was worried about the outcome of Friday's Cabinet meeting at Chequers. He said: "I won't be reassured until I know the details of what comes out on Friday, one way or the other. "The chief whip was listening to our concerns, but he's not a policy-maker so it's not for him to set out policy." Mr Rees-Mogg also warned the Prime Minister to oppose any continued alignment with the EU on rules for goods and tariffs.
GETTY Brexit news: Jacob Rees-Mogg is worried about Theresa May backtracking on her promises
EU Summit 2018 LIVE pictures as talks progress to Brexit Fri, June 29, 2018 EU countries' leaders meet on 28 and 29 June for a summit to discuss migration in general, the installation of asylum-seeker processing centres in northern Africa, and other security- and economy-related topics including Brexit. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 36 Hungarian Prime Minister Vickor Orban talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel
It's very important that we are not in regulatory alignment Jacob Rees-Mogg
He said: "It's very important that we are not in regulatory alignment, because we will need to do trade deals with other countries. "This would be a serious mistake. It's hard to think of a worse idea." Mrs May attempted to address her MPs' fears at Prime Minister's Questions by insisting the UK would quit the single market and customs union. She added that her Government would "bring an end to free movement" and "take control of our borders". The meeting with the chief whip was used by the Eurosceptic MPs to spell out their demands for the forthcoming Brexit white paper.
GETTY Brexit news: The Prime Minister will chair a crunch meeting of her Cabinet at Chequers