The UK could be heading for a ‘softer’ Brexit approach after Theresa May received the backing of cabinet eurosceptics Boris Johnson and Liam Fox.
Theresa May has said this week that she is willing to compromise in negotiation in order to gain a “deep and special partnership” with the European Union.
The foreign secretary and international trade secretary have backed the UK making some concessions to the EU so a more transitional agreement can be made and a new trade deal can be established.
Recently, the Prime Minister has been able to ease tensions between London and Brussels by indicating that the UK are willing to abide to some EU rules, such as the movement of citizens.
“Liam is constantly saying that we have been a member [of the EU] for 44 years. So long as it’s only for a short period and it’s in law, I think he would be pretty relaxed about it,” said a Liam Fox ally.
It did appear that the UK were heading toward a hard Brexit, with May saying she was seeking an ambitious trade deal, meaning the UK were likely to leave the single market. However, with hard eurosceptics like Fox and Johnson backing a softer approach, it could soften the blow once the UK leaves the EU.
Supermarkets had warned that a hard Brexit would put UK food supplies at risk. Europe’s largest management consultancy recently advised businesses against investing in Britain.