Cabinet backs Theresa May’s ‘soft Brexit’ but Boris and Gove hold out for more

Cabinet ministers are set to endorse Theresa May’s opening moves for Brexit trade talks on Tuesday, at a special session marking the shift from the “divorce” phase to negotiations on a future EU/UK relationship.

Soundings among ministers by the Standard suggest a majority in the Cabinet for her broad approach, which ministers see as alignment with EU rules in some areas in order to maximise trade opportunities.

Differences are emerging, however, with some Brexiteers like Boris Johnson and Michael Gove urging a looser alignment to allow trade deals elsewhere.

Others, like Home Secretary Amber Rudd, want to maintain maximum trade with the EU, currently Britain’s biggest market.

But there seems to be little appetite for a “hard Brexit” on World Trade Organisation terms, nor significant opposition even among “soft Brexit” supporters to Mrs May’s vow to quit the single market and the customs union.

“The definition of soft Brexit has hardened in the past six months,” a senior minister who backed Remain said. “It used to mean staying in the single market but now it means aligning outcomes rather than harmonising rules.”

Another senior minister, who backed Brexit, said: “Nobody wants a no-deal outcome. I suspect there will be a great deal more unanimity than people realise.” Mrs May has scheduled a 90-minute debate on Tuesday to give every member of the Cabinet an opportunity to air their views.

The door to trade talks starting in March was opened when leaders of the 27 other EU countries at a summit in Brussels endorsed the divorce deal agreed by Mrs May last week. She was applauded at a dinner last night — but EU leaders today urged her to make clear what sort of trade deal she wants.

On Monday, the PM will chair a 90-minute meeting of the Brexit “war cabinet”.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling wants to send a message that Britain could not give full access to French farm produce if there is no reciprocal access for City of London services.

In an interview with the Evening Standard today, rebel former Attorney General Dominic Grieve urged Mrs May to abandon her bid to set the Brexit date in law.