Gove threatens to scrap Brexit talks by the summer

Michael Gove has spent the morning updating MPs on the government’s official Brexit position. Following a series of speeches in recent weeks from senior members of the government, Gove confirmed in the chamber that the UK is seeking ‘regulatory’ freedom from the EU. He said that the UK should not be subject to EU rules under a free trade agreement – but added that he believed the UK government would go further than EU rules on the environment. In a bid to win over the EU to the benefits of agreeing a free trade deal on the UK’s terms, Gove said it would allow the EU to benefit from ‘the dynamism of the UK economy’.

His comments came as Downing Street published a written version of its negotiating mandate for EU talks – seeking ‘regulatory freedom’ from the EU. The document states that the UK will not accept any role for the European Court of Justice in dispute resolution mechanisms.