Yahoo News What are Theresa May's Brexit red lines?
Last week Theresa May’s Brexit deal was dealt a critical blow, handing the Prime Minister the unenviable accolade of having led the Government suffering the heaviest ever defeat in the Commons.
One week on the PM is working to get the bill back on track but the refusal of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to take part in cross-party talks, and the fact Mrs May was defeated by 230 votes has seen the process stop short of stalling.
As she attempts to kickstart negotiations around her deal, the PM is faced with a compromise but she has laid down ‘red lines’ to all – signalling where she is not prepared to budge.
Here we take a look where exactly Mrs May is seeing red.
The European Customs Union
The Customs Union allows members to send, and receive, goods across borders without customs check, or tariffs.
The conditions for membership include charging set tariffs in line with other EU members on countries outside the union.
As a result members cannot sign free-trade deals with other countries or drop tariffs in a bid to attract more business.
Mrs May has said the UK will not be remaining a member despite Treasury opposition and will instead seek an “association membership”.
This is not expected to be an easy move and big industry – including automotive, pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturers are expected to lobby strongly against leaving the union.
The European Budget
Mrs May has not ruled out making payments to the EU altogether but they would be handpicked and restricted to projects such as helping to fund developing nations, and the overseas study Erasmus programme.
Before Britain leaves the EU on March 29 there is a £50bn tab to be settled, the so-called exit payment, which is already causing friction.
Any potential contributions to Europe are sure to draw criticism from staunch Brexiteers.
The single market
Britain will leave the single market – that much has been decided.
The single market effectively means a group of countries who can trade with each other without tariffs or restrictions.
Despite being a key player in setting up the single market, which came into force in 1993, Britain will no longer be a member.
This means we will no longer be governed or restricted by the European Court of Justice, and means we can restrict immigration.
However, critics have pointed out thousands of British businesses rely on the single market to thrive.
Immigration
Immigration will always be an emotive subject.
Mrs May wants to restrict immigration as she believes, like many, that a great deal of people voting to leave the EU did so because they want greater restrictions at our borders.
Once Britain is no longer restricted by the European Court of Justice it will have the freedom to set its own border policies and quotas but so far there are few clues as to how this will play out.
Departure time
The road to Brexit has not been a smooth one and last week’s defeat has done little to help this.
Former EU commissioner Peter Mandelson believes it could take as long as a decade but Mrs May is determined the process will be complete within the two-year time frame.
However, there is a yet-to-be negotiated ‘phased process of implementation’ which will impose a time limit to stop the process going off a cliff edge.
Forever friends?
Mrs May has played hardball with EU leaders telling them while Britain wants to be a partner in terms of defence and security projects, it will not lie back and hope for the best.
Chancellor Philip Hammon has warned that if no trade deal is agreed Britain could cut corporation tax to lure big businesses to set up bases on our shores and Mrs May has stressed the impact loss of British trade will have on European businesses.
In short Mrs May has laid down the law telling the EU if there is no co-operation then Britain won’t be shy to play nasty.
