Britain must break free of EU’ Boris urges Remoaners to back free trade deal
BORIS Johnson last night sent an unequivocal message to pro-Brussels Cabinet ministers that Britain must "break free of the constraints of the EU" and look towards global trade.
In a fresh sign of simmering Brexit tensions within the Government, the Foreign Secretary warned colleagues of his refusal to accept continuing ties to the EU after the UK's departure from the bloc.
And in a provocative gesture, Mr Johnson will line up with fellow hard-line Brexiteers Liam Fox and Priti Patel to call for the country to become "the world’s leading proselytiser and agitator for free trade".
His remarks last night were expected to be seen at Westminster as a warning to Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is leading the charge within the Cabinet for keeping long-term ties to Brussels after Brexit.
They follow a series of barbed exchanges between allies of the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor over the last week.
Mr Johnson will join the International Trade Secretary and the International Development Secretary at the launch of a new think tank being set up to campaign for global free trade.
Their joint appearance is a sign of the growing alliance between Brexiteers in the Cabinet against enthusiasts for staying close to the EU.
Ahead of the launch of the Institute for Free Trade at the Foreign Office's Whitehall headquarters today, Mr Johnson will say: “Free trade is not only the key to economic success, but also serves as a force for peace and progress in every sense, giving millions more people the chance to lift themselves out of poverty.
“We must ensure that Global Britain breaks free of the constraints of the EU and becomes the world’s leading proselytiser and agitator for free trade
I am delighted to attend the launch of the Institute for Free Trade and to support its noble mission. It is no exaggeration to say that the livelihoods of millions of people depend on its success.”
Dr Liam said: “Our work as an international economic department has never been more critical in making the moral case for free trade to help provide economic stability and lift millions out of poverty, whilst increasing productivity and offering consumers better choices.
“There are huge opportunities for the UK to be a global leader in helping growing economies realise the benefits of open and fair trade, and the launch of the Institute for Free Trade will further help us highlight the importance trade has on the prosperity of the world economy.”
And Ms Patel said: “The UK is taking the lead globally in our commitment to increasing trade, investment and economic opportunities in the world’s poorest countries.
By generating wealth and much needed jobs - open markets and free trade play a transformative role in lifting people out of poverty while also creating Britain’s future trading partners.
“I welcome the Institute of Free Trade’s focus on the formidable power of trade in development, and I look forward to working with them as we build a more prosperous world, which is firmly in all our interests.”
The Institute of Free Trade will be headed by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, a leading figure in the Leave campaign in the run up to the EU referendum.
He said: "Leaving the EU is an opportunity to revitalise the global trading system."
The think tank will have an advisory panel including former Tory leader Lord Howard and former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott.
We're worried' Labour exhibitor's plan to thwart Trump's post-Brexit UK trade deal
AN EXHIBITOR at the Labour Party conference has warned against the UK signing a quick trade deal with the US after Brexit.
Donald Trump told Theresa May he was keen to set up a trade deal with the United Kingdom once Britain had fully cut ties with the Brussels club.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Guy Taylor, campaigns officer for trade for Global Justice Now has warned about the impacts of a trade deal with the US.
The campaigner also brought a Trump mascot to the event, which was waving cash and chickens, to emphasise his point about food safety.
He told Express.co.uk: “We are worried on a number of fronts, especially with trade deals, especially with the US.
“Their regulations on food, on workers rights and on safety are very different from us.
“In Europe, we have worked under the precautionary principle, which means you have got to prove it’s safe before you put it on the market, it’s the other way around in the states.
“So we are worried that things might become a lot more dangerous and a lot less regulated and it’s to people's disadvantage.”
Mr Taylor said when the UK was under the umbrella of the European Union, negotiating trade deals with the US was “equal pegging” but now Britain has “weakened” itself.
He added: “We are the small UK with the big US. I think there is a very unequal partnership there and I think the bidding will have to be done on the US terms rather than ourselves.”
The campaigner called for parliamentary scrutiny over future trade deals and for the Government to put the British people’s interests first when securing agreements with other countries across the globe.
The exhibitor described the Trump stunt as “a bit of a joke” to get his message across.
“He’s going to be setting your standards if you’re not careful,” Mr Taylor said. “I think it’s turning a few heads and hopefully having a bit of an impact.”
Mr Trump is reportedly keen to sign a trade deal with the UK by 2020, however, proposals in Mrs May’s Florence speech means Britain will remain under EU control until 2021.
The US elections take place in 2020, in which the billionaire has no guarantee of securing a second term.
Robert Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK told the Daily Telegraph he was “comfortable” Britain made the right decision to leave the EU.
He said: “Donald Trump told me to focus on prosperity and security. We want to have a healthy economic relationship. They want to see business continue as harmoniously as possible.”
He said Mr Trump’s plan was “jobs, jobs, jobs, both in the US and the UK”.
