Brexit: A Global Britain

The plan promotes a Global Britain: best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but continuing to reach beyond Europe’s borders to new allies and old friends, such as TT . Britain’s history and culture are profoundly internationalist.

We are a European country, proud of our shared European heritage, but we have also always looked beyond Europe to the wider world.

Many fear Brexit might herald the beginning of a greater unravelling of the EU. That is not in any of our interests: we want the EU to succeed. The leave vote was no rejection of the values we share.

It was a vote to restore our parliamentary democracy, national self-determination, and to become more global and internationalist in action and in spirit.

We are leaving the EU, not Europe and have 12 objectives delivering one big goal: a new, constructive partnership between Britain and the EU.

First we will provide as much certainty and clarity as we can. We will build a stronger Britain, by taking control of our own affairs and laws, bringing an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain.

Third, we will strengthen the precious union between the four nations of the UK through a joint ministerial committee. We will maintain the common travel area with the Republic of Ireland, protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.

To ensure Britain is fair to everyone who lives and works in it we need to control immigration to Britain from Europe: we will continue to attract the brightest and best for work but with a properly managed process for European movement. We also need, sixth, to guarantee the rights of EU citizens already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals in other member states.

A fairer Britain is also a country that protects and enhances people’s rights at work, so, seventh, we will push for workers’ rights to be fully protected and maintained.

A Global Britain will be one of the firmest advocates for free trade, so we will prioritise a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU as our eighth objective. This will not mean membership of the EU’s Single Market. And a Global Britain must also be free to strike trade agreements with countries outside the EU and push for the removal of trade barriers.

Tenth, with a history of cutting- edge scientific research, we will maintain collaboration with our European partners on science, research, and technology initiatives.

A Global Britain will continue to cooperate with European partners on crime, terrorism and foreign affairs.

Finally, our 12th objective is to deliver a smooth orderly Brexit, reaching agreement by the time the two-year Article 50 process has concluded, with a phased implementation to follow.

TIM STEW High Commissioner