Theresa May's Brexit plan attacked as 'threat' and 'theft'

Labour claims Britain will be turned into a "bargain basement tax haven" as UK business responds to the increased clarity over the plan for Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn expressed his concern at the tone of Mrs May's speech, and called for more details on the strategy for the UK's exit from the EU.

He said: "Theresa May has made clear that she is determined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven on the shores of Europe.

"She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) makes out this is a negotiating threat to the 27 EU countries but it's actually a threat to the British people's jobs, services and living standards."

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron called the decision not to give the British people a say on the final exit deal a "theft of democracy".

He said: "Theresa May has confirmed Britain is heading for a hard Brexit. She claimed people voted to leave the single market. They didn't.

"Instead of a democratic decision by the people in the country, she wants a stitch-up by politicians in Westminster. The people voted for departure, they should be given a vote on the destination. This is a theft of democracy."

The announcement that the final Brexit deal for Britain will mean leaving the single market will reignite speculation there could be a second independence referendum in Scotland.

Commenting on Mrs May's speech, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said leaving the single market was "not in our national interests".

She said: "For all her warm words, it is now clear that the UK is heading for a hard Brexit, which threatens to be economically catastrophic.

"The UK Government cannot be allowed to take us out of the EU and the single market, regardless of the impact on our economy, jobs, living standards and our reputation as an open, tolerant country, without Scotland having the ability to choose between that and a different future.

:: LIVE: Brexit plan 'cherry picking and ambitious'

"With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) her comments today, the Prime Minister has only succeeded in making that choice more likely."

Brexit minister David Davis told Parliament that Britain's approach to leaving the EU was not about "cherry-picking".

He said it was "about reaching a deal which fits the aims of both sides".

"We understand the EU wants to preserve its four freedoms, and to chart its own course. That is not a project the UK will now be a part of, and so we will leave the single market and the institutions of the European Union."

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall claimed Mrs May's speech "sounded like a UKIP conference speech".

He added: "I am concerned that what we're getting is some sort of slow-motion Brexit where she is speaking about interim measures, or a transitional period, which will only begin after April 2019.

"She has given no end date to these transitional measures. I challenge the Prime Minister: let's have this all done and clean before the next General Election in 2020."

Donald Tusk, European Council president, said the speech meant the EU had a "more realistic" view of British hopes.

Writing on Twitter (Frankfurt: A1W6XZ - news) , he said: "Sad process, surrealistic times but at least more realistic announcement on Brexit. EU27 united and ready to negotiate after Article 50."

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the PM was trying to "appease the hard right" in her party and warned the plan put jobs at risk.

He said: "Out of the single market, possibly out of the customs union, then investment in core sectors like car manufacturing, chemicals, aerospace, even food manufacturing, will be threatened as companies face hefty on-costs and serious disruption to their supply chains."

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Signs that the UK will leave the single market are reducing confidence in the British economy and the falling pound looks likely to keep pushing up prices on everyday goods this year."

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "While businesses now have a clearer sense of the Prime Minister's top-line priorities, they will come away from her speech knowing little more about the likely outcome of the Brexit negotiations than they did yesterday."

Mark Boleat, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: "The Government's phased implementation plan must avoid a cliff-edge and will be beneficial for firms across all sectors, especially financial and professional services firms.

"Britain has long been a magnet for global talent. To continue the sector's success, with 12% of City workers made up of European staff, it is important the flow of leading talent to the UK continues."

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said: "Ruling out membership of the single market has reduced options for maintaining a barrier-free trading relationship between the UK and the EU.

"But businesses will welcome the greater clarity and the ambition to create a more prosperous, open and global Britain, with the freest possible trade between the UK and the EU."

Mike Hawes, chief executive of motoring body SMMT, said: "We need government to deliver a deal which includes participation in the Customs Union to help safeguard EU trade, trade that is tariff-free and avoids the non-tariff and regulatory barriers that would jeopardise investment, growth and consumer choice."

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