British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering steps to remove a large number of trade barriers with the European Union. There is also the possibility of a similar model being used for Switzerland, which would generate great discontent on the right wing of the Conservative Party. It writes Bloomberg.
Switzerland has access to the European bloc through several bilateral agreements, but a similar deal would require the UK to take a more liberal stance on migrants from the EU. More liberal than hardline Brexit supporters are likely to be willing to accept it.
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The UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay told Sky News this morning he would not support such a deal. “It’s very important for us to take advantage of the many Brexit freedoms that we have,” he said. ‘We should also take advantage of the opportunities we get in sectors where massive growth awaits, such as green industries and science.’
‘Not acceptable’
According to former Brexit negotiator David Frost, any approach taken by the UK which would conform to European regulations to achieve trade benefits would be ‘unacceptable’. Frost was a fierce opponent of such an approach under Prime Minister Boris Johnson when the mandate to negotiate was signed in 2020.
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