Advertisement

May Promises Brexit Success At Chequers Away Day

Theresa May has ordered her senior ministers to make a success of Brexit.

And the new Prime Minister insisted there will be no second referendum and no attempts to remain in the EU by the back door.

Her uncompromising message to ministers came during lengthy talks at an all-day Cabinet away-day at Chequers dominated by preparations for Brexit negotiations.

"Ministers agreed that we should be seizing the opportunity of Brexit to confirm the UK's place as one of the great trading nations in the world, fostering entrepreneurialism and setting out a long term vision for the country," the PM's spokeswoman said after the meeting.

:: May Facing Legal Challenge Over Triggering Brexit

While Brexit was top of the Chequers agenda, ministers also held substantial discussions on the economy and the terror threat facing the UK from Islamist extremists and the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Iraq and Libya.

On the economy, the PM's spokeswoman said: "The Cabinet reiterated the Government's commitment to fiscal discipline and living within our means.

"They also agreed on the vital need to increase productivity and the importance of doing more to foster economic growth and industrial development in regions up and down the country."

On the campaign to defeat Daesh (Islamic State) in Syria, Iraq and Libya and the UK's role, the spokeswoman added: "The Cabinet agreed that Islamist terrorism continues to be one of the greatest security threats we face.

"And therefore we must continue to work closely with our allies to defeat Daesh and to support strong, stable governance in countries around the world, particularly in countries where terrorists are trying to establish safe havens."

Opening the discussions on Brexit, the Prime Minister spoke of "the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the UK in the world".

She said the EU referendum result meant that now was a "very significant moment for the country, as we look ahead to the next steps that we need to take".

She told ministers: "We must continue to be very clear that 'Brexit means Brexit', that we're going to make a success of it. That means there's no second referendum; no attempts to sort of stay in the EU by the back door; that we're actually going to deliver on this."

And she added: "We have the opportunity to forge a new positive role for the UK in the world; to make sure that we are that government and country that works for everyone - that everyone can share in the country's prosperity."

The Prime Minister is understood to have used the meeting to attempt to resolve a bitter split between senior Cabinet ministers over the deal Britain wants to leave the European Union.

It was claimed she intended to "bang a few heads together" to halt the feuding between the so-called "Three Brexiteers", Liam Fox, David Davis and Boris Johnson.

Besides Brexit, other big issues discussed included:

:: Hinkley Point C - The Prime Minister has launched an inquiry into the project before giving it the go-ahead, amid concerns about security and value for money.

:: Social reforms - Mrs May has promised "a country that works for everyone" and set up a Cabinet committee which will meet on Thursday with housing and racial inequality on its agenda.

:: Heathrow - The long-delayed decision on whether to back a third runway - or other options such as expanding Gatwick - has been promised in the autumn.

Ahead of the discussion on social reform, the PM said: "We want to be a government and a country that works for everyone, and we'll be talking about some of the steps that we need to take in order to build that society that works for everyone.

"And I want it to be a society where it's the talent that you have and how hard you're prepared to work that determines how you get on, rather than your background."

After the full Cabinet meeting - which was also attended by senior Whitehall officials - and then lunch, a "political cabinet" without civil servants was held in the afternoon.

This session was dominated by planning for the Tory conference in Birmingham, the first under Mrs May's leadership, with new party chairman Patrick McLoughlin unveiling his proposals.