Are we heading for a return to Brexit wars? It’s been the theme of the week so far after the Sunday Times splashed on a report that senior government figures plan to put Britain on the path towards a Swiss-style relationship with the European Union.
A backlash quickly ensued, with Tory MPs privately sounding the alarm. Former leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage threatened a political comeback if it proved true. Little wonder then that since the weekend, there has been a concerted effort in No. 10 to pour cold water on the reports.
As one minister puts it: ‘We need to do a much better job of promoting the benefits of Brexit.’
Rishi Sunak’s Parliamentary Private Secretary Craig Williams has been busy trying to assure MPs that the story does not reflect the government’s intentions. On Monday, in a speech to the CBI, Sunak also publicly ruled out such an arrangement:
‘On trade, let me be unequivocal about this.
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